The heat between Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champions Conor McGregor (featherweight) and Fabricio Werdum (heavyweight) intensified following McGregor's speech after being named the Fighter of the Year in the 2016 World MMA Awards.
McGregor was unable to be in Las Vegas to personally accept the award as he prepares for his upcoming lightweight title bout against Rafael Dos Anjos in UFC 196 this March.
But despite that, the pride of Ireland again had a powerful statement in his pre-recorded acceptance speech which was captured by Jeremy Botter of Bleacher Report.
In a report on its website, MMA Fighting transcribed McGregor's speech, which was about his next fight and the sport before he blasted Werdum.
First, McGregor thanked the award-giving body and apologized that he was again not present during the awards night like last year.
The 27-year-old fighter continued, "There's another man that must be slain, another champion that must be dethroned. There's more numbers that need to be broken. I need to feed all you bums. I need to feed every single one of yous in the game, so I've got to keep working, because yous bums don't work."
Following this, McGregor started a verbal barrage directed toward Werdum, who was originally scheduled to headline UFC 196 but withdrew because of back and toe injuries.
"You got the heavyweight champion, who's a pu--y, pulling out with a sore toe. How is the heavyweight champion going to pull out with a sore toe? What kind of champion is that?" McGregor stated.
"The game is on its knees, so I apologize I can't be there at the awards, but I am out here putting it in, working, putting in the true work, the work it takes to keep every one of yous fed. So thank you, and thank me," he added.
McGregor's lightweight championship fight versus the current kingpin of the division, Dos Anjos, was initially the highlight of UFC 197.
But the whole event was renumbered to UFC 196, with Werdum and challenger and former title holder Cain Velasquez pulling out from what could have been their rematch this February.
