Conor McGregor and Machine Gun Kelly have a fiery confrontation on VMAs red carpet

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The MTV Video Music Awards — a night full of music, camera flashes and fans screaming for their favorite artist — got off to a rocky start, as Conor McGregor and Machine Gun Kelly getting into a heated exchange on the red carpet before the show even started.

McGregor spoke with ET backstage and described the interaction as "absolutely nothing."

"Nothing happened with me, I only fight real fighters, people that actually fight, you know what I mean," he continued. "I certainly don't fight little vanilla boy rappers. I don't even know the guy. I don't know anything about him, except that he's with Megan Fox."

An eyewitness told ET that McGregor and MGK "exchanged some words" and then McGregor lunged at the musician. MGK and Megan Fox then left the red carpet and threatened not to pose for photos. However, according to eyewitnesses, the pair returned once McGregor left.

Conor McGregor attends the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards at Barclays Center on September 12, 2021, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.  Jeff Kravitz/MTV VMAs 2021

McGregor was seen throughout the night walking with a cane due to the fractured leg he suffered in his last fight. The MMA fighter later presented the award for Artist of the Year while Machine Gun Kelly performed his song "Papercuts" near the end of the show.

Conor McGregor being held back by several people at the VMAs red carpet. Kevin Mazur/MTV VMAs 2021

Besides the fiery altercation, the night was filled with star-studded performances featuring artist Doja Cat, Normani, Alicia Keys, Shawn Mendes, Chlöe and many more.

Entertainment Tonight and MTV are divisions of ViacomCBS.

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