LAS VEGAS — Conor McGregor came late. Nate Diaz left early. And then all hell broke loose.
Diaz and his entire team walked out of the UFC 202 press conference Wednesday at the MGM Grand here. As he left, Diaz flipped McGregor the bird and said, "F*ck your whole team."
"F*ck your whole team — crackhead eses," McGregor said, using slang for Hispanic people or Mexicans. "You'll do nothing."
When Diaz and his team neared the Copperfield Theater door, a skirmish began with Diaz in the back of the room and McGregor egging him on. Diaz tossed a water bottle toward the stage. Another was thrown back toward Diaz's team that Nick Diaz had to dodge. Things got heated and Team Diaz had to be held back. Jake Shields also tossed a bottle.
"Not one of you will do nothing," McGregor said. "Get the f*ck out of here."
Then, McGregor tossed a water bottle of his own and picked up a Monster Energy can rolling on the floor and launched it toward the Diaz squad. Luckily for everyone involved, it missed.
UFC vice president of public relations Dave Sholler grabbed McGregor in a bear hug and held him back. UFC president Dana White then came over to talk to McGregor. Team Diaz was whisked off.
It's unclear what prompted Diaz and team to leave early, but it likely had to do with McGregor coming a half hour late. The question McGregor was asked prior to Diaz leaving was about a potential trilogy fight between the two men.
McGregor and Diaz will meet in the main event of UFC 202 on Saturday across the street at T-Mobile Arena. Diaz beat McGregor by second-round submission at UFC 196 in March.
Tempers flared before that bout with McGregor punching Diaz's hand during a face-off in the very same Copperfield Theater. Tensions have only simmered between the two men since then, with the rematch originally booked for UFC 200 and now this weekend.
Diaz and McGregor will face off again Friday at the ceremonial weigh-ins at T-Mobile Arena.
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