Nate Diaz discusses his news conference exit and bottle-throwing incident

A day after his news-conference exit and plastic bottle-throwing incident with Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz addressed Thursday why it happened .

“I want to handle myself right, but I’ve got keep it real too,” Diaz said. “If I’m not going to keep it real and stay true to myself….

“If some [guy] comes in with his team like he’s the head honcho, I’m going to let [him] know I’ve got a whole gang ready to ride.”

Diaz (20-10) and UFC featherweight champion McGregor (19-3) will stage a rematch Saturday at T-Mobile Arena of Diaz’s second-round submission victory at UFC 196 on March 5. It’s the 170-pound welterweight main event of UFC 202.

McGregor entered Wednesday’s news conference about 30 minutes after the scheduled start time. After Diaz and UFC President Dana White took most of the questions, most of the attention quickly turned to McGregor.

Diaz opted to leave the stage, exiting with a black-clad entourage that included brother Nick Diaz, a former welterweight title contender, and Southland UFC fighter Gilbert Melendez.

As back-and-forth shouting ensued, the Diaz camp began flinging items toward McGregor and his supporters, prompting McGregor to toss aluminum cans back toward the Diaz group.

When a reporter asked later if the episode was staged, Diaz said, “Take it as you want.”

Diaz on Thursday calmly worked out briefly for a group of fans at Red Rock Casino and Spa, and when a reporter asked how much he was earning for Saturday’s fight he said jokingly, “Less than I deserve.”

He also expressed uncertainty about whether his brother would be in his corner pending a decision by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which previously suspended Nick Diaz after he tested positive for marijuana.

“Nick’s the master ninja of this whole [thing],” Diaz said. “They won’t leave him alone, but either way it’s going to be all good. He’s going to represent for me.”

Bob Bennett, executive officer of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, said Thursday that the commission “doesn’t condone” the behavior seen at Wednesday’s scuffle and will review the matter with discipline possibly being leveled next month.

Bennett told The Times that Nick Diaz, who was identified by MGM Grand security officers as the instigator of his brother’s news conference exit, will not be allowed at Friday’s public weigh-in.

Bennett said Nick Diaz still owes the Nevada commission fine money, estimated at $75,000, for his suspension for marijuana use.

lance.pugmire@latimes.com

Twitter: @LATimespugmire