Conor McGregor returns to the Octagon next month after last year’s defeat by Floyd Mayweather in the boxing ring.
The Irishman goes head to head with the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov on 6 October, in what will be arguably the biggest match-up MMA has seen in its history.
The pair meet at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, home to where McGregor was stopped by Mayweather last August, with a stellar night of bouts scheduled for UFC 229.
With little under than three weeks to go until the big date, McGregor spoke alongside Khabib in their first press conference for the fight.
"Don't come at the king, don't ever come at the king," McGregor yelled at Khabib, who remained calm and quiet for the duration of the press conference.
McGregor spent much of the press conference animated and threatening Khabib.
"I am in a war state of mind," McGregor said at one point when asked how he had prepared himself. "That's how I'm getting ready. That's how I am getting ready".
The fight will be McGregor's first in two years and the first one since his arrest in New York over an incident in which he threw a metal dolly at a bus that Khabib was riding in Brooklyn.
McGregor said that he is thankful Khabib was a "coward" who did not get off of the bus then.
"I just thank the lord Jesus Christ that that man did not have the balls to step foot off that bus because trust me — or that the bus door did not open — because if that bus door had opened, I would not be here right now," McGregor said. "He would be in a box, and I would be in a cell".
The press conference is over now, but you can read along for the updates we sent along as the event was ongoing.
Live Updates
“First responders all over the world are the unsung heroes who act with courage and answer the call of duty every day for people in need,” McGregor said.
“I have great respect for these men and women. The company has committed to donate $5 for every case sold to local first responder organisations/charities, up to $1 million annually.
"The organisations/charities will be identified for each state and country around the world and donations will go directly to specific states and countries where sales take place." he said.
“I’m gonna go crazy on the 6th October,” added Nurmagomedov. "I’m going to make him tired and make him look bad, this is my plan. He cannot fight all 25 minutes, maybe he thinks he can knock me out, we will see.”
The famed NFL quarterback told TMZ Sports that he is pumped for the big fight, which has been billed as the biggest MMA fight ever.
Loads of people are chiming in to show their support for the fighters, and hoping that things go off the rails a bit during today's event.
Stay tuned for more updates when this thing sets off.
There are already about 2.5 million subscriptions for the fight — and each one goes for $60.
Excited to see what he is wearing today in New York, and whether he lets us know how much it put him back to get the duds.
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