Before every boxing match these days, we are subjected to the fighters engaging in some pushing and shoving at the weigh-ins and press conferences.

It’s all become a little boring, but that’s one word you wouldn’t really use to describe Conor McGregor’s behaviour at his first UFC press conference in almost two years.

Talking ahead of his fight against rival Khabib Nurmagomedov, McGregor was his usual, cocky self, but there were parts of the press conference that some people found genuinely disturbing.

UFC president Dana White declared it the “darkest press conference” he’d seen in his 17 years in charge. I know much of it is performance, and it’s all about racking up the ratings, but White also added that “these guys hate each other worse than I’ve ever seen”.

The conference went on for more than 40 minutes, but here’s a condensed four-minute highlights package of sorts:

If you’re wondering what all that bus window tapping talk is, the fighters are referring to that time Conor attacked a bus carrying UFC competitors.

You can see that footage here.

To spell that exchange out, here’s NewsAU:

The McGregor-a-thon delved into its darkest corner as he reflected on his chilling bus attack, claiming he would “be in a cell” if Khabib came out to face him.

“If that bus door had opened, this man would be dead right now,” McGregor said.

“He would be in a box and I would be in a cell — and we would not have this great fight ahead of us.”

“He (did) f***ing nothing. He sat and took a s*** on that bus. He had to cower behind women and cause what happened to happen. Here’s my location you little fool. Right in front of you. Do something about it. You’ll do nothing.”

Khabib shrugged off the encounter and claimed McGregor’s outburst “showed me his weakness”…

Then there was a Putin jibe in there, too, alluding to the fact that the Russian fighter is afraid to stand up to the country’s leader:

McGregor stunningly swiped Khabib for failing to speak up about Russian billionaire and owner of Summa Group, Ziyavudin Magomedov, who helped fund his rise to MMA stardom. Magomedov — who is facing a lengthy stint in jail after being arrested and charged with embezzling over two billion rubles — funded Khabib’s back surgery and expenses during training camps.

McGregor claimed Khabib was a “rat” for refusing to pull up Russian president Vladimir Putin about his friend being locked up.

“You took money from (Ziyavudin) Magomedov, you little lick a** rat, now what? (Vladimir) Putin locked him up,” McGregor said.

“Say something to Putin about locking Magomedov up. Say something. Ask him to release him. Now you don’t understand, you mad rat. You’re a fake, lying rat.”

“His own countrymen, his own people that he’s turned his back on, they want to see him gone, too. And I am going to do it, too, in the name of the Russian people.

“When money got pumped into your camp by that little scumbag that’s now in the little eight by 10 cell, you thought you were a don. Now look at you. No money left.”

I guess we can rule out a rematch in Russia, then, because I’m not sure Putin would be rolling out the red carpet.

As much as I dislike a Putin stooge, wouldn’t it be great to see Conor get his head kicked in?

The fight takes place on Saturday, October 6 in Las Vegas, which will be some time early on Sunday morning our side, if you can be bothered to get out of bed.

[source:newsau]