UFC 205: Conor McGregor tries to throw chair at Eddie Alvarez after appearing 30 minutes late for press conference

McGregor arrived 30 minutes late before stealing Alvarez's lightweight belt that prompted a fierce response from the American and ended with McGregor being led away by security

Not for the first time, a press conference involving Conor McGregor boiled over with the Irishman attempting to throw a chair at his UFC 205 opponent Eddie Alvarez before having to be dragged away.

In an explosive press conference at Madison Square Gardens on Thursday night, McGregor made Alvarez wait for him as he turned up 30 minutes late for the meet, and at one stage it was suggested that McGregor would not show up at all.

But upon his arrival in a large white fur coat, McGregor’s fans immediately cheered the Irishman onto the stage, while booing every word that came out of Alvarez’s mouth to the point that you could not hear what the reigning lightweight champion was saying.

Alvarez was less than impressed with McGregor’s initial no-show, claiming: "I'm half Irish and I'm disappointed in the country of Ireland right now that this is their representative.”

Alvarez then stormed off the stage, before returning after being informed of McGregor’s arrival.

However, tempers were only just beginning to flare. McGregor took to the stage and used Alvarez’s absence to snatch his lightweight belt and put it in front of him as his own, triggering an irate Alvarez to storm back into the press conference and take it back. As the two were separated by UFC president Dana White, Alvarez threw his fold-up chair to the ground next to McGregor, triggering a furious response from the lightweight champion.

McGregor arrived 30 minutes late for the press conference (Getty)

McGregor will attempt to add the lightweight title to his featherweight championship (Getty)

Alvarez and McGregor had to be held apart by UFC president Dana White (Getty)

Watch the video below...

McGregor immediately picked up the chair and attempted to throw it back at Alvarez, but White’s interruption kept ‘The Notorious’ at bay and security soon arrived to lead him away from the stage.

Watch the full UFC 205 press conference highlights below...

The incident is likely to see McGregor sanctioned again after he was fined $75,000 for throwing bottles towards Nate Diaz and his entourage during their heated UFC 202 press conference. Following the fine, McGregor joked: "I wonder how much a chair would cost me?"

McGregor will attempt to become the first fighter in UFC history to hold two titles at different weights when he takes on Alvarez at UFC 205 on Saturday night, which you can follow live with The Independent here.