Conor McGregor’s violent rampage last night might have its roots in an altercation between two fellow fighters, as Dana White has spoken out about what the Irishman said to him before handing himself into police.
A video has emerged showing a confrontation between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Artem Lobov in their hotel prior to the UFC 223 event.
While never fully escalating, Khabib is seen holding Lobov’s face at one point.
You can watch it here:
It is still not totally clear why McGregor acted the way he did.
McGregor has since was charged with assault and criminal mischief by the NYPD.
He was taken into police custody on suspicion of attacking fellow UFC superstar, Khabib Nurmagomedov’s bus, as the media day wrapped up on the upcoming UFC 223 event.
McGregor and his entourage of 30 men allegedly crashed the Barclays Centre on April 5, attacking a bus and leaving UFC lightweight fighter Michael Chiesa injured.
The 29-year-old has since been charged with three counts of assault and one count of criminal mischief, a spokesman for the NYPD confirmed.
He will appear in court later today, reports The Journal. He was said to have turned himself in.
The Notorious, as he is aptly named, was held overnight at the 78th precinct in Brooklyn, New York, just a couple of blocks away from the Barclay Centre where the altercation took place.
McGregor and his entourage swarmed the bus belonging to Khabib Nurmagomedov, who was involved in an altercation with Artem Lobov, one of McGregor’s training partners, earlier this week.
UFC President Dana White has now confirmed Chiesa was injured during the attack and was taken to hospital. Reports say he sustained cuts to his face which did not need stitches.
Ray Borg – a flyweight MMA fighter who was sitting by Chiesa at the time of the attack – was also taken to a local hospital, after glass apparently hit his eye, sources say.
White has revealed he last spoke to McGregor shortly before he turned himself into police following the backstage criminal altercation.
The Independent reports White told sports show First Things First:
Conor and I talked through text yesterday. It was obviously the worst conversation we have ever had, shortly before he turned himself in.
I don’t believe he realised what had just happened. It’s not that I don’t think he understood what happened, it’s that he tried to justify it.
He said listen I’m sorry about Michael [Chiesa], and I’m sorry about Rose [Namajunas] and whoever else, but this had to be done.
Three fights – Chiesa v Anthony Pettis, Ray Borg v Brandon Moreno, and Alex Caceres v Lobov – have all been cancelled by the UFC in light of recent events.
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