UFC star Conor McGregor has turned himself into police in the wake of a backstage scuffle he instigated that has forced the removal of three fights off UFC’s biggest card of the year.
Video footage appears to show the promotion’s most bankable star throwing a hand truck at a bus full of fighters, after a press conference for UFC 223 at Barclays Center.
McGregor was being processed and no charges had been filed as of Thursday night.
Video showed McGregor with a group of people causing chaos Thursday as they took an elevator to the loading dock at Barclays Center. He can be seen tossing trash cans and being prevented from throwing a barricade at a bus during his unannounced appearance in New York.
The New York Police Department said McGregor threw a hand truck at a bus causing minor injury to an individual on the bus. UFC said three fights on Saturday’s UFC 223 card have been scrapped as a result of the incident.
“The organization deems today’s disruption completely unacceptable and is currently working on the consequences that will follow,” UFC said in a statement. “Individuals involved in the incident are not welcome at tomorrow’s ceremonial weigh-in or Saturday’s event at Barclays Center.”
McGregor hasn’t fought for UFC since November 2016 and was stripped this week by UFC President Dana White of the 155-pound championship he had never defended. White also said this week he did not expect McGregor to attend Saturday’s fights.
He sure made his presence felt in Brooklyn.
McGregor profanely responded on Twitter and wrote, “You’ll strip me of nothing.” He was just getting started.
McGregor last fought at all in a boxing match he lost to Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Aug. 26, 2017.
The popular Irishman is tight with UFC 223 fighter Artem Lobov, who was involved this week in a scuffle in a hotel with Khabib Nurmagomedov. Nurmagomedov fights Max Holloway for the lightweight championship left vacant by McGregor.
Lobov was yanked from the card and banned from the building.
Michael Chiesa was sent to the hospital with injuries sustained in the attack and was forced out of his scheduled fight against Anthony Pettis.
“A decision was made by the New York State Athletic Commission to pull me from UFC 223,” Chiesa tweeted. “I’m devastated to say the least. @showtimepettis I hope to run this match up ASAP. June 9th in your backyard. That’s all I have to say for now. Much love.”
Flyweight Ray Borg suffered multiple cornea abrasions in the wake of the McGregor attack and his fight against Brandon Moreno was also scratched
White said this week in New York that McGregor would fight again for UFC this year. McGregor’s actions now put any future fights very much in doubt.
The 29-year-old McGregor once held the 145 and 155-pound championships at the same time and boldly stated he wanted an ownership stake in UFC. But the trash-talking, egocentric has been out of the fight game except for his boxing dalliance with Mayweather that made him wealthy enough to never have to fight again. McGregor and his girlfriend welcomed their first child, a son, in May 2017.
UFC star Conor McGregor turns self into police after backstage scuffle
UFC star Conor McGregor turns self into police after backstage scuffle
- The scuffle he instigated that has forced the removal of three fights off UFC’s biggest card of the year
- Video footage appears to show the promotion’s most bankable star throwing a hand truck at a bus full of fighters
Messi knocked down by fan in Puerto Rico pitch invasion
- While one fan demanded a selfie with the Argentine great and another asked for his shirt to be signed
- A third rushed to embrace Messi from behind
MIAMI, USA: Lionel Messi was knocked to the ground as fans invaded the pitch during chaotic scenes at a match in Puerto Rico on Thursday.
Messi was playing for Inter Miami in a friendly against Ecuador’s Independiente del Valle when supporters raced onto the field in the game’s 88th minute.
While one fan demanded a selfie with the Argentine great and another asked for his shirt to be signed, a third rushed to embrace Messi from behind. A security guard tackled the fan, who dragged the World Cup winner to the floor.
Messi did not appear to be injured in the incident, landing on the fan, before picking himself up and walking away in apparent frustration.
It capped a farcical night for a friendly that started an hour late due to a disagreement over which colors each team should wear.
The argument was seemingly never resolved, as both teams ended up playing in black.
A penalty kick by Messi gave Miami a 2-1 victory.
Messi, who came on as a substitute at the start of the second half, scored the winning goal in the 70th minute.
Inter Miami had opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a goal from fellow Argentine Santi Morales.
Ecuadorian international Patrik Mercado leveled the score in the 17th minute.
The friendly was originally scheduled for February 13 but was postponed due to a Messi injury.
Nearly 20,000 spectators in Bayamon, on the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico, a US territory, gave the Argentine idol a standing ovation when he finally entered the game.
An eight-time Ballon d’Or winner widely considered one of the greatest soccer players of all time, Messi is expected to represent Argentina at a record sixth World Cup this summer.
He has not yet officially confirmed he will participate in the tournament, taking place across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
