Most Heated Press Conferences and Trash-Talk Battles in UFC

The UFC has never been just about the bouts that take place in the cage; in fact, the fighting has always been just a means to an end. It is a show that entails introductions to the fight, animosity, and storylines that fans across the globe are keen to see. From these elements, press conferences are particularly distinguished as a platform for fighters to promote their persona, their fight, and occasionally attack their opponents verbally. These have been some of the most memorable moments in MMA history for so many reasons. This article focuses on the most memorable press conferences that are discussed in this article as the main moments in the history of the UFC.

The Birth of the Modern UFC Press Conference

However, to fully appreciate the details of certain press conferences, one must first appreciate the historical progression of the UFC press conference. In the early days of this promotional tool, press conferences were much more tame and consisted mostly of an announcement of future bouts and providing an opportunity for fighters to talk to the media. Nevertheless, as the sport developed, such events started to gain their own dynamics. Even promoters began to use press conferences to sell their bouts, connect with fans, and, sometimes, have a confrontation. This change was crucial in turning press conferences into events that people did not want to miss.

Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz:

UFC 196 Press Conference
Perhaps the most notorious press conferences in the history of the UFC happened before the UFC 196 event, where Conor McGregor was scheduled to fight Rafael dos Anjos for the light-weight championship. When Dos Anjos withdrew due to injury, Nate Diaz was to fill in the gap as a replacement. The press conference following was charged up. The rivalry between McGregor and Diaz can be described as intriguing due to the fact that the former was quick-witted and aggressive while the latter was rather calm and composed. McGregor’s line, “I don’t give a f*** about Diaz. He’s a little skinny, fat, little… whatever,” is still remembered today.

UFC 202 Press Conference
This was a rematch at UFC 202, and the fight was even more explosive. It erupted into a debacle, during which Diaz left with his group, and a now-iconic bottle-throwing moment ensued. Such as the famous quote from McGregor, ‘Nate can only count to five’ and the reply from Diaz, ‘You’re on steroids’. This press conference not only built the fight but also established their enmity, one of the most memorable feuds in UFC history.

Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor

The UFC 229 press conference
It is easily the most hostile and personal in the entire history of the organization. The rivalry between McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov was evident due to a bus attack that happened earlier in the year. McGregor went ahead and insulted Khabib, his family, and his culture, which brought a level of animosity to the competition.
The difference in character between McGregor, who was attacking throughout the press conference, and Khabib, who was calm and collected on the opposite side, was evident. Mcgregor’s statement, “I just thank the Lord Jesus Christ that that man did not have the balls to step foot off that bus,” and Khabib replying to that with, “We talk here. We talk here. Smash your boy,” reflected the heatedness. This fact led to a press conference for the fight, which became the UFC’s highest-grossing fight in history, and a post-fight brawl to add to the rivalry.

Chael Sonnen vs. Anderson Silva

Chael Sonnen is among the best in the business when it comes to trash talking, and his rivalry with Anderson Silva sparked some of the best moments in the UFC press conference. Before the rematch of the bout at UFC 148, the trash talking was put to work by Sonnen. He provoked Silva at every turn, challenging his skills and threatening to call him out on his boasts.

The line said by Sonnen, ‘Anderson Silva, you absolutely suck’ was catchy and paved the way for a very intense rematch. Silva, who is very calm most of the time, angrily replied that he would break Sonnen’s face and arms. This press conference raised the level of their animosity, making the fight one that all fans should look forward to.

Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier
Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier both share one of the most intense rivalries in UFC history, and their press conferences were proof of this. The UFC 178 media day brawl is one of the most famous ones, where the face-off escalated into punches flying and backdrops falling on them both.

The tension did not decrease at all when the two fighters were face-to-face at the UFC 182 press conference. The verbal confrontation between Jones and Cormier is quite infamous, with Jones stating that he would ‘literally kill’ Cormier and Cormier promising to’maul’ him, which only added to the bitter rivalry between the two fighters and contributed to the highly anticipated nature of their fights in the UFC.

Michael Bisping vs. Luke Rockhold
The ultimate display of Michael Bisping’s ability to trash talk happened prior to the UFC 199 bout, where he faced Luke Rockhold for the middleweight championship. Bisping, who replaced Weidman at short notice, was on full display as he mocked Rockhold’s arrogance and how the latter beat him in the past.

Bisping most vividly followed that line when he said, “I’ve got a pint of beer; I’m going to drink it” after the press conference, which reflected his non-rough, unapologetic nature. The desperation to keep on smiling in front of Bisping only served to intensify Bisping’s goading of Rockhold. This press conference laid the groundwork for that night’s stunning win, when Bisping defeated Alves to claim his first UFC title, and contributed another exciting story to the fighter’s exciting career.

Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm
It is evident that the press conference for UFC 193—the Ronda Rousey and Holly Holms fight—was quite an eventful one. Rousey, the dominant champion, was furious; on the other hand, Holm was composed all through. Rousey’s efforts to psyche out Holm from both utterance and gesture—a pre-fight stare-down—backfired as Holm remained calm and collected.

The quote that Rousey came up with, ‘She’s going to try and keep distance and keep far away from me and get frustrated, and when she gets frustrated, she’s going to make a mistake,’ paved the way to the fight’s progression. The fight between Holly Holm and Rousey was a major upset when Holm knocked down Rousey, and thus their press conference was one of the interesting buildups to one of the biggest shocks that UFC has ever seen.

Nate Diaz vs. Conor McGregor

UFC 196 Press Conference
The lead-up to UFC 196 also provided another classic press conference moment. Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor showed the true spirit of the fight with a great view and many quotes. Diaz’s poker-faced approach and direct words are packaged with an opponent like McGregor, who is skilled in using words to build up his opponent. The final words said by Diaz, “I’m not surprised, motherf***ers,” after the fight sealed their fate.

UFC 202 Press Conference
A rematch of the UFC 202 fight proved to be even more spectacular, especially the famous case of the bottles being thrown. McGregor’s cockiness and Diaz’s real-life persona complemented each other very well to make one of the most intense and hilarious UFC press conferences ever. Thus, the verbal and physical fight increased the excitement for their second fight, which was a five-round fight.

Colby Covington vs. Kamaru Usman
Contender Colby Covington and champion Kamaru Usman took up their positions at UFC 245 to exhibit pure hatred. Covington has always been in the news for his outrageous behavior and has not spared Usman either in this regard. Covington continued to mock Usman’s fighting style and personal life at every opportunity he got in the interview.

Covington, however, was able to keep his composure and kept on throwing intimidating statements such as “You are not on my level” and “I will leave you in a pool of blood” as the two gave a good buildup for a highly anticipated fight that later saw Usman retaining his title.

Jorge Masvidal vs. Ben Askren
The build-up to UFC 239 had a striking moment during a face-off between Jorge Masvidal and Ben Askren. They have an undefeated record and loved to speak trash to Masvidal, which he continued to do in the fight. Nonetheless, that was overshadowed once more by Masvidal’s coolness and sharp comebacks.

‘I’m going to baptize you,’ said Masvidal, which also became popular. The pre-event buildup was at its climax when Masvidal knocked down Askren with a flying knee kick within five seconds, making it the shortest fight in UFC history. This was a great climax and a well-deserved reward for the preparation and outstanding verbal sparring at the press conference.

The UFC press conferences are now like circus acts where fighters act and perform almost as much as they do in the cage. These events enable the fighters to show their characters, create psychological warfare and set up entertainment that is easily understandable by the fans. Whether it was the sharp talking of Conor McGregor or the street wise talking of Nate Diaz, these press conferences have provided great quotes and scenes.

These press conferences do not only show the great athletic competition between the fighters, but they also depict the rivalries and tensions that are present in the fight.