The weigh-ins for the UFC 202 main event between Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor were intense, and that's not at all surprising.
After checking in at 170.5 and 168 pounds respectively, the two faced off and had a bitter staredown, with Diaz once again faking McGregor out, and McGregor stepping in on him before being pulled back by security on stage. You can check out the video here:
FIREWORKS!! Today's square off between #ConorMcGregor and #NateDiaz was ????????! The time for #UFC202 is almost here.https://t.co/XXZA8WQGXy
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) August 19, 2016
Even hotter was what both men had to say on the microphone (and warning, NSFW language):
#ConorMcGregor say Diaz should've killed him the first time #UFC202 pic.twitter.com/kzP2XtfADX
— Jim Edwards (@MMA_Jim) August 19, 2016
#NateDiaz "this is America motherf*cker wut" #UFC202 pic.twitter.com/KKHj3XacZJ
— Jim Edwards (@MMA_Jim) August 19, 2016
Diaz vs. McGregor has been the hottest rivalry in MMA over recent months. The two faced off at UFC 196 in a bloody, brutal contest in which Diaz caught McGregor with a hard combination and sunk in a rear-naked choke for a second-round submission.
But while the fight itself was incredibly fun to watch, it's the out-of-the-cage wackiness that has made the feud stick out. Starting with their heated press conference in February and continuing all the way to their recent drink-throwing contest on Wednesday, the two have consistently provided fireworks when in the same room.
This weigh-in exchange is the latest example of that, and also the latest chapter in what has become a pattern for McGregor weigh-ins.
One of the fine Las Vegas police officers was having a ball of a time. pic.twitter.com/1HFc97mi9k
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) August 19, 2016
At UFC 194, McGregor was riled up by longtime rival Jose Aldo, who taunted him with a variation of his signature weigh-in pose. At 196, Diaz made McGregor jump out of his proverbial shoes with a feinted lean-in.
All the mind games and posturing go out the window Saturday night, though, as they step into the cage for what could go down as the fight of the year.
