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The UFC is one part athletic competition and one part show. Fighters are martial artists, yes, but entertainers nonetheless. They engage in trash talk to generate fan interest in their bouts, driving pay-per-view buys in the hope of maximizing their per-event earnings.
There is no better platform for fighters to generate hype than press conferences, specifically pre-fight press conferences. For this reason, these press conferences have yielded countless unforgettable moments throughout the promotion's history, with some ranking higher than others.
Some were due to star-making performances from one fighter in particular, while others had moments so wild that they led to all-out brawls.
#10. Dricus du Plessis enrages Sean Strickland, UFC 2024 seasonal press conference
Sean Strickland is widely regarded as one of the most unfiltered trash talkers in MMA. However, at the promotion's 2024 seasonal press conference, it was his opponent, Dricus du Plessis, who unnerved him.
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Check out Dricus du Plessis infuriating Sean Strickland:
The South African promised to beat Strickland so severely that it would dwarf any beatings the latter received as a child from his abusive father. This enraged Strickland, leading to a homophobic tirade from the former. Thereafter, fans labeled Strickland a hypocrite for his shocking sensitivity to the insult.
#9. The unlikely duo of Colby Covington and Tony Ferguson, UFC 296 pre-fight press conference
Colby Covington is the consummate heel in MMA. Tony Ferguson, meanwhile, is a bizarre character who speaks his truth. At the UFC 296 pre-fight press conference, both men jabbed at each other, with Covington mocking Ferguson's mental health.
Check out Colby Covington and Tony Ferguson's interaction:
However, in an unforeseen twist, the pair became friendly due to being Americans whose opponents were Englishmen, which prompted them to form a strangely wholesome alliance, all in quick succession.
#8. Kevin Lee and Michael Chiesa brawl, UFC Summer Kickoff press conference
Back in 2017, Kevin Lee was on a winning streak and determined to earn a lightweight title shot. Michael Chiesa stood in his way, and the two engaged in a verbal sparring session at a large press conference meant to hype up a series of upcoming fights.
Check out Kevin Lee's brawl with Michael Chiesa:
While talking about himself as a star, Lee claimed that even Chiesa's mother had purchased tickets to watch him fight. This caused Chiesa to warn Lee against talking about his mother before rushing him on stage. Lee responded by cracking him in the face with a punch before security separated them.
#7. Sean Strickland breaks Israel Adesanya, UFC 293 pre-fight press conference
At UFC 293, Sean Strickland did the impossible by beating Israel Adesanya. He was similarly successful at the pre-fight press conference, subjecting 'The Last Stylebender' to a vicious stream of trash talk, which included him highlighting allegations about Adesanya engaging his deceased pet dog in bestiality.
Check out Sean Strickland trash-talking Israel Adesanya:
This caused the usually chatty Adesanya to clam up and offer little to no retort. It made for a stunning sight, as Adesanya is often loud and brash, incapable of biting his tongue even when he perhaps should.
#6. Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz water bottle melee, UFC 202 pre-fight press conference
Conor McGregor's late arrival to his pre-fight press conference for his rematch with Nate Diaz incensed the latter, prompting him to walk out. As he did so, the Stockton star flashed his middle fingers at McGregor before his team hurled water bottles at him from a distance.
Check out the Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz melee:
The Irishman answered in kind, grabbing cans of monster energy from the stage and hurling them right back, sparking a melee that ended with Dana White calling an immediate end to the press conference.
#5. Conor McGregor targets Ali Abdelaziz, UFC 229 pre-fight press conference
The feud between Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov is well-documented, and it happens to include the unbeaten Dagestani's manager, Ali Abdelaziz, at whom 'The Notorious' took aim at the first UFC 229 pre-fight press conference.
Check out Conor McGregor calling out Ali Abdelaziz:
He referred to Abdelaziz as a terrorist and snitch, alluding to the latter's past as an informant, and dropped the now well-known bombshell about Noah, who is alleged to be a son of Abdelaziz, who the Dominance MMA manager was accused of abandoning.
#4. Conor McGregor gets humbled by Josh Cohen, AKA 'Pink Suit Guy,' UFC 264 pre-fight press conference
At the UFC 264 pre-fight press conference, Conor McGregor was adamant that he would beat Dustin Poirier in their upcoming trilogy bout. However, one bold reporter, Josh Cohen, brought his past loss and recent run of form into question.
Check out Conor McGregor's interaction with Josh Cohen:
Identified by his colorful pink suit, Cohen asked McGregor why anyone should take his promises seriously, given that he was just TKO'd by Poirier and has won just one fight since Barack Obama was the United States president. It turned the reporter into a viral, albeit brief, sensation.
#3. Conor McGregor dominates jeering Brazilian fans, UFC 189 pre-fight press conference
Conor McGregor and José Aldo were originally scheduled to face off at UFC 189, and they took part in a world tour, including one in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Amid boos from the Brazilian fans, 'The Notorious' crushed the crowd in vintage fashion.
Check out how Conor McGregor handled the Brazilian fans:
He proclaimed himself the 'King of Rio' before declaring that were it a different time, he'd have ridden into Rio de Janeiro on horseback and executed anybody unfit to work.
#2. Conor McGregor puts Jeremy Stephens in his place, UFC 205 pre-fight press conference
The UFC 205 pre-fight press conference was a star-studded event. Thus, a reporter asked Conor McGregor who he believed, out of the current crop of fighters, would pose the greatest challenge to him. This led to an interruption by the heavy-handed Jeremy Stephens, who identified himself as said challenge.
Check out Conor McGregor snubbing Jeremy Stephens:
A bemused McGregor shut down Stephens' claims in the simplest and most effective of manners: by asking who he was. Given that Stephens was a relative unknown to the casual fanbase, it was a gut punch, and the moment went viral.
#1. The birth of 'Red Panty Night,' UFC Go Big press conference
After capturing interim featherweight gold against Chad Mendes, Conor McGregor was matched up against undisputed champion José Aldo. However, he already had his eyes set on the lightweight division, prompting him to ask then-reigning 155-pound champion Rafael dos Anjos if he would fight him.
Check out the exchange between Conor McGregor and Rafael dos Anjos:
As 'RDA' spoke, McGregor interrupted, asserting that the former would not only face him but call home to his wife to tell her to break out the 'red panties' because he had made them wealthy. It became one of his most quoted lines, copied even by other fighters.
