No shocker: Conor McGregor's mouth dominates UFC 196 news conference

Conor McGregor (L) throws a punch at Nate Diaz during a photo opportunity at Thursday's news conference at the MGM as UFC president Dana White attempts to break them up. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Getty Images)

There was a lot of cursing, a slew of obscene gestures, numerous funny lines and a near-brawl during a photo conference.

In other words, it was just a typical Conor McGregor public appearance.

The UFC featherweight champion, who meets Nate Diaz Saturday in the main event of UFC 196 in a five-round non-title bout, was more than a half-hour late once again. But he was the life of the party during a raucous news conference that ended quickly when he swiped Diaz's right fist away from his face.

As McGregor and Diaz posed for a photograph, Diaz took a wide stance and held his fists high, with his right fist just inches from McGregor's nose. After about a five-second staredown, McGregor used his left hand to chop Diaz's right away from his face.

Members of both fighters' camps, as well as UFC staff and security, quickly followed. Though there were a few tense moments, it was broken up without further incident.

Diaz took a lot of verbal abuse from McGregor, to no one's surprise, through the news conference.

At one point, when a question was asked about why the fight was at 170 pounds, Diaz said he was calling the shots.

"You call no shots, Nate," McGregor said. "You sit there and take orders."

McGregor also said he was planning to rip the poster of boxer Floyd Mayweather off the back of the MGM Grand, and eschewed comparisons to legendary fighter Muhammad Ali.

"I cannot accept a comparison to Muhammad Ali," McGregor said. "He's a special man. ... But I'm honored to be put in that bracket."