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If you like your prizefight match-ups full of contrasts painted in big, bold strokes, the UFC 229 pre-fight press conference on Thursday was tailor-made for you.

In one corner, you had the stone-faced soldier, Khabib Nurmagomedov, looking at his watch and deciding he’d waited long enough for the show to start. After all, what is the point of a civilized society if the trains don’t run on time?

“I no need wait for nobody,” Nurmagomedov told reporters and fans gathered at Park Theater in Las Vegas. “This is 3 p.m. Friends are here, media is here, everybody is here. (UFC President) Dana (White) a little bit late; it’s OK. But 3 p.m. I beginning. If you have questions, let’s go.”

Shortly thereafter, it was Nurmagomedov who went – straight off the stage with his UFC lightweight title slung over his shoulder.

Only then did Conor McGregor show up, looking as calm as you like, shrugging his shoulders at Nurmagomedov’s departure.

“Look, you can’t plan this,” McGregor said, referring to an event that was absolutely planned. “I tried to get here. Like I said, I’m only a couple of minutes late, for God’s sake.”

It’s true that, by McGregor’s usual standards, he was practically early. Still, Nurmagomedov wasn’t about to look like an idiot sitting there waiting for him. He had things to do, weight to cut, meals to skip.

Besides, with McGregor’s fans making up the vocal bulk of the crowd at all pre-fight festivities so far, the whole thing threatened to take on the air of a party. And there is nothing about Nurmagomedov that suggests an enjoyment of parties.

As the fight draws closer, it’s these little contrasts that become more apparent.

McGregor feeds off the crowd. When he had to do without a live audience at the New York press conference a couple weeks ago, he came off looking like a comedian pausing for the laughter that wasn’t there. Now they’re back, both in the crowd and among the media, asking him all the right questions about his whiskey and his legacy and making all the right noises when he hits the right buttons. It’s a pleasure to know one’s audience so well.

Nurmagomedov, on the other hand, seems like he’d be just as happy fighting in an abandoned warehouse down by the docks. His attempts to work the pro-McGregor crowd are met with boos and taunts and songs. When he tries to play McGregor’s game, poking at the more sensitive spots for the Irish fans, it sounds like someone regurgitating half-remembered facts from Wikipedia.

For the champion, McGregor is the opponent who brings the money, and he brings the money because he brings the fans.

But those fans aren’t going to let Nurmagomedov be anything other than the villain, which is a role he hasn’t quite learned how to play. Matter of fact, he hasn’t learned how to play any role just yet. Until now, he’s just been showing up and fighting and winning. And so far, that’s been enough.

It’ll be enough here, in a way. As Thursday’s press conference only reiterated, Nurmagomedov’s presence is absolutely required on fight night. Until then, however, it is merely preferable.

The sales pitch? The sizzle on the steak? That’s all McGregor. That’s why all these people came all this way. It’s why it’s a party in the first place.

When you leave early and hear the celebration still rocking without you, maybe it can’t help but remind you that you are not an essential component. At least, not for this part.

For more on the UFC 229, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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