CONOR McGREGOR WAS angered at this evening’s UFC 196 press conference in California when opponent Nate Diaz accused him of using performance-enhancing drugs.
McGregor will meet Diaz on Saturday week in Las Vegas after the American fighter stepped in to replace Rafael dos Anjos, who withdrew from the headline bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena yesterday due to an injury.
“They’re all on steroids,” said Diaz, while McGregor was answering a question regarding competing in different weight classes. McGregor, the reigning featherweight (145lbs) champion, will take on Diaz in a welterweight (170lbs) bout.
Taken aback, McGregor responded: “Steroids? What are you talking about, steroids? Don’t be putting my name with steroids! I’m major against that. Don’t put my name in the name of steroids, Nate!”
When asked to elaborate on his comments later on, Diaz — whose older brother Nick is currently serving an 18-month ban for marijuana use — said: “Everybody’s on steroids. The whole UFC. Everybody.”
McGregor countered by pointing out that Diaz’s team-mates, Gilbert Melendez and Jake Shields, have both previously failed drug tests: “Your team-mates, Gil and Jake, were two caught on steroids. Not me. Not me.”
Neither McGregor, Rafael dos Anjos nor former lightweight champion Anthony Pettis have failed tests before, but Diaz nevertheless responded: “And you and dos Anjos and Pettis and everybody…”
A furious McGregor stood up to interject: “What are you talking about? Not me. I’m not on no steroids. What the fuck are you talking about? Your two team-mates were on steroids. Your two boys. The scrap pack. What happened there? Did you know they were taking that stuff? Did ya?”
Diaz: “You’re on steroids.”
McGregor: “Sure I am. I’m just an animal. I’m just an animal.”
Watch the exchange at 37:40 below…
