Maybe Conor McGregor doesn’t like energy drinks.
McGregor used cans of Monster energy drink as missiles to fire at UFC 202 opponent Nate Diaz during a rowdy press conference Wednesday afternoon in Las Vegas.
Diaz ducked out of the way of the incoming cans and water bottles after walking away from the podium while flipping two specific fingers in the air and launching a verbal tirade at McGregor.
McGregor was quickly subdued by UFC president Dana White, who immediately ended the press conference to deescalate the situation.
The fireworks began after Diaz gave his reaction to McGregor moving back down to the 145-pound weight class no matter the result of their heavily hyped rematch Saturday night.
“They’re giving him an escape hatch,” Diaz said before getting up from the table and walking out.
The latest rowdy incident is not out of character for either fighter.
McGregor’s candid press conferences, world-class trash-talk and dominance in the ring have made him UFC’s single biggest star apart from Ronda Rousey. Except this time around, McGregor is in the unfamiliar position of being the hunter, not the hunted.
Diaz took a fight against McGregor at UFC 196 on two weeks’ notice — Rafael Dos Anjos, McGregor’s originally scheduled opponent, pulled out due to injury — and McGregor moved up to 170 pounds for the bout.
The rest is history.
After absorbing big initial shots, Diaz (20-10) wore down McGregor (19-3) in the second round to finish off the featherweight champion via rear naked choke, setting the stage for a rematch. That fight was initially booked for UFC 200, but was postponed due to McGregor’s brief, faux retirement.
“I’m ready for whatever this man has to bring,” McGregor said. “Let me see that full camp. I can’t wait to see it. Bring that clinch, bring the jiu-jitsu. I’m ready for everything he has to bring.”
After the press conference, so is everyone else.