Conor McGregor, Jeremy Stephens Trade Jabs At UFC 205 Pre-Fight Press Conference

Conor McGregor has undoubtedly made a name for himself as one of mixed martial arts’ biggest trash-talkers, so most people know by now that if they want to verbally fight him, they better come as heavily armed as possible.

Conor McGregor, Jeremy Stephens Trade Jabs At UFC 205 Pre-Fight Press Conference

Featherweight contender Jeremy Stephens fired a shot at the 28-year-old Irishman at the UFC 205 pre-fight press conference at New York City’s Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, and McGregor retorted with a verbal nuclear strike.

It began when the Irishman was asked about the group of fighters he was sharing the stage with, and what type of challenge any of them would be for him.

Before McGregor could even respond, Stephens decided to interrupt and give the reigning featherweight champion a taste of what fighting him would be like.

“Right here — the hardest-hitting 145-pounder, the real hardest-hitting 145’er right here,” Stephens, a 30-year-old American, said. “This guy TKOs people. When I knock people out, they don’t f—— move.”

McGregor paused for a moment before looking behind him on the dais where Stephens was sitting and then gave a response that the crowd at MSG clearly seems to have loved.

“Who the f— is that guy?” McGregor shouted. “Who the f— is that?”

Clearly, the Irishman wanted to make clear that he is the famous one there, and that Stephens is just a nobody.

Furthermore, UFC President Dana White had to intervene after McGregor and Eddie Alvarez angrily approached each other and exchanged words; White separated the two.

After the conference was over, Stephens then went on Toe-2-Toe with Brian Stann on SiriusXM radio, where he addressed why didn’t respond to McGregor onstage.

“When we got into it, it is what it is. He knows exactly who I am,” said Stephens. “I’ve fought on his cards before and had some nasty knockouts. It’s only a matter of time but right now my 100% focus is on Frankie Edgar. An exciting win, a great knockout, a highlight win puts me right in the mix for that title shot. You never know, there could be some injuries or whatnot and I’d gladly be the guy to step up and put on a show for the New York fans.”

The American has actually fought on two UFC cards alongside McGregor, UFC 189 and UFC 194. At 189, Stephens did score an impressive finish, knocking out Dennis Bermudez with a flying knee and punches but at 194 he lost a unanimous decision to Max Hollaway.

Stephens will face Frankie Edgar on Nov. 12 at UFC 205 in New York.

LAS VEGAS, NV – DECEMBER 12: Conor McGregor celebrates after a first-round knockout victory over Jose Aldo in their featherweight title fight during UFC 194 on December 12, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)