Conor McGregor Banned From Attending UFC 223 After Altercation on Thursday
Conor McGregor will not be allowed to attend UFC 223 after storming through the Barclays Center on Thursday following a media event in Brooklyn.
The incident occurred after McGregor showed up unannounced and made his way through the building, eventually making it to the loading docks where two buses were filled with athletes competing this weekend who had participated in the media day.
McGregor was looking for Khabib Nurmagomedov, who was involved in a separate incident with his teammate Artem Lobov earlier this week.
McGregor and his entourage began throwing objects at the bus including a moving dolly that smashed a window and a chair that went through the front window. As a result, two fighters — Michael Chiesa and Ray Borg — were pulled from the card due to injuries sustained in the melee.
Lobov was also yanked off the card as he participated as part of McGregor’s entourage during the attack on the bus.
UFC officials issued a statement late Thursday night regarding the altercation as well as confirming McGregor would not be allowed to attend UFC 223 as well as further consequences that may be coming as a result of his actions.
“During today’s media event at Barclays Center to promote UFC 223: Khabib vs. Holloway, Conor McGregor and Artem Lobov entered the building accompanied by over a dozen individuals.
“The group, which included McGregor and Lobov, vandalized the vehicle that contained a number of athletes competing at the event taking place this weekend. NYPD was immediately alerted and is currently in the process of investigating the situation. UFC is working very closely with the New York Athletic Commission, Barclays Center security and law enforcement authorities. All parties are working together to ensure the highest standard of proper safety precautions are implemented to protect the fans and athletes.
“The organization deems today’s disruption completely unacceptable and is currently working on the consequences that will follow. Immediately, Lobov has been removed from this weekend’s card and individuals involved in the incident are not welcome at tomorrow’s ceremonial weigh-in or Saturday’s event at Barclays Center.”
It’s unclear at this time what sanctions might be levied on McGregor and Lobov as UFC athletes. UFC president Dana White had also stated earlier in the day that McGregor was let into the building by representatives of his personal website, TheMacLife.com, who were credentialed media at the event. There’s no word yet if repercussions will reverberate as far as those individuals or not.
