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24th Mar 2016

Nate Diaz suggests that Conor McGregor scripts his legendary trash talk

Darragh Murphy

Conor McGregor will go down as one of the most entertaining talkers in UFC history.

In just three short years in the Octagon, ‘The Notorious’ has leapfrogged the likes of Michael Bisping, Chael Sonnen and ‘Rampage’ Jackson in the trash talk stakes.

McGregor’s off-the-cuff remarks in interviews and press conferences have become the stuff of legend but Nate Diaz, the man who handed McGregor his first UFC defeat, believes that the comments made by the Irishman in the run-up to UFC 196 seemed to have been prepared ahead of time.

TORRENCE, CA - FEBRUARY 24: UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor laughs during a news conference with lightweight contender Nate Diaz at UFC Gym February 24, 2016, in Torrance, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

“It seemed like a lot of scripted stuff was going on,” Diaz told FOX Sports’ At The Buzzer on Wednesday.

“Maybe he was serious about what he was saying, but it sounded like some bullshit to me.”

Nate Diaz motivation

Diaz held his own in the barb-trading ahead of the pair’s clash at the start of this month but he’s played down the significance of the mental warfare game in the sport.

“No matter what people say, no matter if he’s winning the argument battles or losing the argument battles … at the end of the day we’re still going get in there and fight,” Diaz said.

“I know what I train with and what I work with and what he’s working with.”