Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz make weight for UFC 196 headliner
— -- LAS VEGAS -- Conor McGregor walked to the official weigh-in scale on Friday with a smile on his face, patting his belly the entire way.
McGregor, who won the UFC featherweight title in December, weighed in at 168 pounds for his non-title welterweight bout against Nate Diaz, scheduled to headline UFC 196 on Saturday inside MGM Grand Garden Arena. Diaz (18-10) came in one pound heavier at 169 pounds.
The matchup was made on 11 days' notice, after McGregor's original opponent, lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos, pulled out with a broken foot. With such little time ahead of the matchup, McGregor (19-2) and Diaz agreed to meet at 170 pounds.
"It's another day for me," said McGregor, who is moving up two weight classes after fighting at 145 pounds in December. "One pulls out, another steps in. I'm used to it.
"I'm looking forward to going in there and putting the martial arts back in the game. Weight should never be an issue. Champions should be able to go up and down and fight any challenge that comes before them. So I'm looking forward to going in there [Saturday] night fresh and put on a show for the fans, because I always step up for the fans."
One day after McGregor and Diaz nearly came to blows at a news conference, UFC officials kept them well separated during the final stare-down. Diaz flipped off McGregor as UFC commentator Joe Rogan asked for his comments.
"I'm here to kill or be killed," Diaz said before directing an expletive-laced rant at McGregor.
Not to be outdone, McGregor laughed while commenting on Diaz's physique:
"I'm just giggling at his little soft body," he said. "How can a fat guy be so skinny at the same time? It amuses me."
Defending female bantamweight champion Holly Holm (10-0) weighed in at 134.5 pounds for her first title defense against Miesha Tate (17-5). Tate came in at 135. Holm is looking to maintain the belt she won in shocking fashion in November, when she knocked out Ronda Rousey.
"Whole new training camp, whole new nerves, whole new fight," Holm said. "I'm ready."
