New UFC owner Ari Emanuel takes stage for heated Conor McGregor-Nate Diaz weigh-in
New UFC owner Ari Emanuel appeared on stage before a raucous pro-Conor McGregor UFC 202 weigh-in crowd Friday.
As the tension between McGregor and his Saturday opponent, Nate Diaz of Stockton, continued to skyrocket with more strong words, Emanuel watched in delight.
“Ari has been doing this for over 10 years,” UFC President Dana White texted The Times Friday.
This, however, was the first time he’s taken the stage following his Beverly Hills talent agency, WME-IMG, purchased the UFC from casino magnate Lorenzo Fertitta for $4 billion.
That deal was announced a night after UFC 200 on July 9.
Emanuel occasionally appeared as excited as a fan, smiling and huddling to briefly chat with White as the president posed fighters in faceoffs.
The most heated one, of course, was McGregor-Diaz as they near a rematch of the March 5 main event of UFC 196 that replacement foe Diaz won by second-round submission in a welterweight fight 25 pounds beyond the 145-pound division where McGregor stands as champion.
A formal weigh-in was conducted privately by the Nevada State Athletic Commission Friday morning. Diaz weighed the welterweight limit of 170 pounds and McGregor was 168 for the non-title fight at T-Mobile Arena.
With McGregor twice barking to Diaz, “Let’s go!” as they squared off, the pair had to be separated by a hardworking White two days after a flying-objects incident shortened the fighters’ news conference.
Emanuel patted the back of a Las Vegas policeman who was on stage to ensure the contentiousness didn’t implode into a fistfight.
“He should’ve killed me when he had the chance [in March] because now I’m back and I’m going to kill you and your whole … team,” McGregor told UFC announcer Joe Rogan, adding a crack about the appearance of Diaz’s chest.
Diaz, 31, a former lightweight title challenger, maintained a calm demeanor as Rogan turned to him.
“I train always hard to kill. He’s already dead from the last time,” Diaz said. “This is a new guy. So he can be killed again. USA … !”
Bob Bennett, the executive officer of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, told The Times late Friday that he’s still willing to allow Diaz’s UFC-fighter brother, Nick Diaz, to work Nate’s corner as long as Nick hurriedly arranges a payment plan for the $75,000 fine he owes the state.
Nick Diaz, following a January 2015 loss to Anderson Silva, tested positive again for marijuana and was suspended and fined $100,000 -- with much of the debt still owed.
“I have attorneys standing by,” Bennett said. “I’m sure [Nate’s] going to want his brother in his corner. If he wants to do it, I’ll accommodate him, even into Saturday.”
Twitter: @LATimespugmire
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