7 Incredibly Heated UFC Press Conferences

Contrary to popular belief, the UFC is part of the entertainment business.

Observing two combatants trade blows in the pocket, or outmaneuvering each other on the ground, is what we initially come to watch as fight fans. The banter, on the other hand, between fighters leading up to a bout can be a tremendously captivating time.

Which is why press conferences are so intrinsically vital to the UFC's overall promotion. Depending on the magnitude of the upcoming event, we get a chance to hear a fighter's mindset going into a fight, or their relative thoughts on their opponent. Most of the time, it ends up being just a show of mutual respect.

At other times, these thoughts can manifest into something truly fervid, to the point of being acrimonious. Fighters who have a point to prove will verbally spar with their rival during media events, which can make for some compelling exchanges. This is only amplified if a prior, shared rivalry wasn't resolved previously.

In the age of having to say something with spark to stand out in a crowded roster, some fighters have etched their name in the history books by doing just that. All it took were these press conferences to get their names, and subsequent messages, across...

Before getting into the Octagon in his hometown, then-Welterweight kingpin Georges St. Pierre had to verbally contend with the 209's most revered hero in Nick Diaz.

Sparks were bound to fly, if Diaz had anything to say about it. Controversy was already in place, when Diaz missed a previously scheduled open workout. UFC President Dana White had to ensure the inquiring media that Diaz would not miss the upcoming presser, and would join fellow fighters Carlos Condit, Johny Hendricks, Jake Ellenberger, Nate Marquardt, and, of course, his opponent in GSP.

The actual presser was nothing short of peculiarity at best, and downright confrontational at worst. Diaz was in prime form, often firing shots at various targets, ranging from the promotional poster to the promotion perceivably selling wolf tickets. Then came the shots against the Welterweight champion himself.

Diaz often antagonized GSP, which only served to further the angst GSP had for his opponent. The normally-composed Welterweight champion asked Diaz if he was crazy, lamenting that, in tandem with cutting weight and being asked the same, old questions by the media, he just wanted the entire thing to be over with. Diaz' response? Asking GSP why he was so mad.

The Diaz brothers are known for their stoic demeanour, usually not wanting to partake in media processes. When they feel like they are being rubbed the wrong way, however, they usually return verbal fire in a disproportionate amount.