Diaz, McGregor nearly come to blows at UFC 196 presser

FILE — UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor (L) and lightweight contender Nate Diaz (R) are held apart by Dave Sholler (C), UFC vice president of public relations, after a news conference at UFC Gym February 24, 2016, in Torrance, California. Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images/AFP

As if the tension between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz couldn’t get any more heated, the two almost came to
blows during the UFC 196 pre-fight press conference on Thursday (Friday Manila time).

With the two fighters engaging in a staredown, Diaz put his hands up in a fighting stance, with his right fist directly targeted on McGregor’s face. The Irish didn’t take that act kindly and slapped his opponent’s hand away with UFC president Dana White in between them.

READ: Conor McGregor takes weighty challenge with Diaz at UFC 196

Diaz tried to get to the UFC featherweght champion, with his brother Nick and training partner Jake Shields joining him in the stage. But White, UFC executive Dave Scholler, and the security forces were able to pacify and averted a full-blown brawl.

McGregor will be making his welterweight division debut on Saturday (Sunday Manila time) at UFC 196 in Las Vegas.

READ: Frankie Edgar rips UFC chief for saying he ‘refused’ McGregor fight

The Irish was originally slated to challenge reigning welterweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos for the title, but the Brazilian had to forego the fight due to a foot injury. The fight would’ve given McGregor a shot to be the first man to hold titles in two weight divisions.

Diaz was named as a late replacement for Dos Anjos, and since then, he and McGregor have never stopped trading barbs even before the two faced off in the Octagon.