Nate Diaz Explains UFC 202 Press Conference Chaos
Another press conference featuring Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz, another very memorable evening. Ever since their pairing back in March we’ve regarded Diaz and McGregor’s rivalry as one of the greatest ever. The Stockton anti-hero came in on short notice and choked the featherweight champion in two rounds at UFC 196. The historic moment led to a surge in Diaz’s popularity as he threw a massive spanner in the works.
The promotion reportedly had plans of a superfight with Georges St-Pierre had McGregor won. A scheme that Diaz was only too happy to expose after his victory. He also claimed the UFC was trying to ‘get him out of there’ by booking him in to an immediate rematch, but he was willing to accept the fight for UFC 202’s main event. Then came the press conference melee in Vegas.
Bottle Wars
First off McGregor showed up 30 minutes late to the UFC 202 pre-fight presser, but that was a minor story in comparison to what happened soon after. Diaz stormed off stage with his crew, older brother Nick in tow, and then all hell broke loose. The 209 posse launched water bottles at the Irishman as he hurled abuse at them, before picking up some canned drinks and hurling them back at the angry mob.
UFC president Dana White cut the press conference at this point. It was one of the most highly entertaining, some might say staged, moments in MMA history. Was it real? Well it happened, and it got the attention of millions. In response to the chaotic events of the presser Nate Diaz spoke to UFC Tonight, as per MMAFighting.com:
Nate Diaz’s Side
“Like I said, that guy [McGregor] walks in like he was the show. But I thought the show was over, so I left the show.”
“I’m too real for this whole game, and they can’t have a guy like me winning because look at what’s happening,” he said. “I get paid finally, I’ve been stuck in contracts for years, and then they sell the UFC. It’s changing baby, and it’s because of what’s going on here. And if people don’t recognize that they’re tripping.”
“And the same thing, that’s why they threw me right back in there, they want to weed me out and get me out of here before it gets too big. But it’s already an unstoppable force that’s going at a high pace, so the game is in trouble with someone like me winning. So that’s why. They know me and they know that, they hope I don’t win.”
“… It’s all good either way though because I cannot be killed and regardless, win or lose, which I plan on winning, my voice is still going to be heard. My mic got too big to not be heard.”
Diaz will once again look to play the role of spoiler, and honestly he seems to be fighting against the promotion, if his words are anything to go by. After 25 fights over 10 years in the UFC, winning The Ultimate Fighter and taking out Conor McGregor, should Diaz’s uphill struggle still be a factor?
