(2012 Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC)
If you don’t think next weekend’s UFC 158 is must-see TV, Nick Diaz, the challenger, and George St-Pierre, the welterweight champion, proved otherwise in Thursday’s press conference call.
“You’re talking sh** and you’re out of line,” Diaz said to St-Pierre during the call.
Diaz took issue with the portrayal by St-Pierre that he was “disrespectful.”
“I’m disrespectful only because I would like the acknowledgement that I deserve,” said Diaz. “I’m not over here trying to make friends.”
The two will face-off Saturday the 16th in Montreal at the Bell Centre for the welterweight title.
But the sparring began over the phone when the two, during a conference call, went at it.
Diaz called St-Pierre “pampered.” When Fox News Latino asked George St-Pierre during the conference call to react to Diaz, and the claim that he was pampered, what ensued was probably one of the most entertaining calls in recent UFC history.
“I hope so mother*****. If I had that much money I’d be pampering myself the f*** up,” Diaz interjected before St-Pierre responded.
“Let me say something, uneducated fool, listen to me,” said St. Pierre.
Diaz, who apparently intended his statement as a compliment, took issue with being called uneducated and the other fighters on the card were relegated to spectators. The two traded barbs back and forth.
“I’m not stupid, I can tell what’s what,” Diaz responded.
St-Pierre told Diaz at one point that he spoke better English than him.
“I’ve not always been rich. I started at the bottom and worked very hard to get me where I am now,” St-Pierre said in response to the claims he pampered. “I don’t think you are smart enough to understand how you should do things to reach that point.”
He had argued earlier that St-Pierre was trying to get everyone excited by talking about his “dark place.”
As things became heated, Diaz began to slow it down. He told St-Pierre his comments were misunderstood and then began complimenting him.
“I’m a fan of Georges St-Pierre,” he said.
“I just don’t like this [portrayal] that I’m some evil person,” said Diaz. “If anything, like the superhero coming in with the anti-bull****.”
Diaz said he just wanted to “be known as someone who’s kept it real.”
Follow Victor Garcia on Twitter @MrVicGarcia.
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