Ever since Nate Diaz was announced as Conor McGregor's opponent at UFC 196, both sides started talking trash at each other. It is expected since both fighters are the most vocal people in MMA today.

However, fans will be surprised to know that Diaz praised the featherweight champion. The 30-year-old was in Las Vegas working out in front of the media and some fans inside the Jabbawockeez Theater.

"I like his fight style a lot better than a lot of peoples' fight styles. The fight game has gotten really weak over a long time. So I guess I could say I appreciate somebody that's coming to fight," Diaz told MMA Junkie.

The Stockton-native added that even though he's a natural lightweight, he is in better shape when fighting at 170 lbs. The UFC 196 main event will be a welterweight bout with McGregor moving up to two weight classes.

A Notorious Warning

In a recent interview with ESPN's Russillo & Kanell, McGregor warned Diaz that he would pay for speaking against his name. "He should not have spoke my name in vain. But he has and that's it. He will pay," the fighting Irishman said.

Diaz and his coach Richard Perez accused the 27-year-old champion of using steroids while bulking up to make his welterweight debut. "Notorious" was supposed to fight at 155 lbs. and challenge for the lightweight title but Rafael dos Anjos suffered a fractured foot.

"I sure do believe that he's on steroids. I know McGregor has got to be on some kind of steroids. He's pretty big, and then all of a sudden he's jumping to 170? Yeah there's no way because I mean, he was supposed to be fighting at 155," Perez told Submission Radio as quoted by Bloody Elbow.

Eyeing 'Ruthless' Robbie

If he comes out victorious against Diaz at UFC 196, the Dublin-native eyes a match against the welterweight champion, "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler. "If we fought, I would beat Robbie. I'm too fast for him. The size difference is not anything. I've stood beside him. I've seen him," McGregor told MMA Fighting.

He added that he likes Lawler because of his heart and experience and won't say anything bad about him. The same can't be said to dos Anjos as the Irishman called him a "bum" and accused him of canceling their title fight due to a bruised foot.

Before challenging both Lawler and dos Anjos, McGregor has to prove that he can win at a higher weight class. He will face Nate Diaz in the main event of UFC 196 in Las Vegas on March 6.