Vladimir Putin is renowned for his deep mistrust in everything and everyone - and it seems fighting champion Conor McGregor is no exception.
The Russian leader, who set into motion his unprovoked and merciless invasion of Ukraine last month, met the MMA star during the 2018 Russia World Cup.
During their brief introduction, the Notorious gifted the country's president a bottle of his Proper Twelve whiskey, the Daily Star reports.
However, security swiftly intervened, taking the booze to be checked for potentially poisonous ingredients.
McGregor told a Russian press conference in 2019: "Many people don't know, the very first bottle of Proper Twelve Irish whiskey, I gifted to Vladimir Putin."
"President Putin's security detail is second to none as I'm sure you know, you don't mess around with Vladimir.
"So, I gifted the bottle and I gifted it to his security.
"They had to take the liquid from the bottle to make sure the liquid was safe and it was not maybe poisoned or what not and then it was gifted to Vladimir Putin."
McGregor added that he wasn't able to have a drink with the president, saying: "I haven't got to speak to him since to see what he thought of it, although I'm sure he did have a taste and I'm sure he enjoyed it."
The Irishman was in Russia to promote his whiskey, as well as to announce plans for his UFC comeback.
McGregor did indeed return to the octagon later that year, losing to Dagestan fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov.
He's now on the comeback trail once again, albeit for different reasons this time around.
The Notorious has been out of action since breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier in their trilogy fight last summer.
McGregor is closing in on his comeback, and he's been busy in other areas, too - announcing his intention to launch a bid for Chelsea Football Club as Roman Abramovich looks to sell the Premier League giants.
The Irishman reaffirmed his interest in the Blues on Sunday, tweeting: "I do not speak in jest. I am exploring this, as I said. Celtic from Dermot Desmond, Manchester United from the Glaziers, and now the recently up for sale Chelsea football club. All being explored. A football franchise purchase is in my future make no mistake about it."
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