Conor McGregor released on bail of $50,000
UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor has been released on bail of $50,000 after he was charged with assault, menacing and reckless endangerment following an incident at a media event in New York last night.
The UFC champion appeared in court alongside fellow fighter Cian Cowley, who was released on a $25,000 bail for assault.
Both men are due to appear in court again on 14 June.
McGregor and his entourage entered the Barclays Center in Brooklyn around 1.30pm (6.30pm GMT) last night and threw a hand truck at a bus transporting fighters from a UFC 223 promotional event.
At least two people were injured when the bus window shattered, forcing them to withdraw from fights at this weekend’s UFC 223 event.
Video footage circulated on social media showed McGregor running in a loading area and picking up a trolley and throwing it at a window on the back of the bus.
Clips of video shot from inside the van showed an object hitting and cracking the vehicle’s windshield before the driver reversed away.
McGregor was later charged with three counts of assault and one count of criminal mischief, while Cowley was charged with assault.
Two UFC fighters were pulled from upcoming bouts due to injuries they sustained in the fracas.
Michael Chiesa, who received “several facial cuts”, tweeted to say the New York State Athletic Commission had decided to pull him from his bout against Anthony Pettis.
UFC later released a statement confirming Chiesa’s injuries and also said flyweight Ray Borg would not be taking part in his fight against Brandon Moreno due to “multiple cornea abrasions”.
A third fighter, Artem Lobov – a close friend and training partner of McGregor – was also removed from the card due to his “involvement in the incident”, UFC said.
Reports suggested the confrontation had been sparked by an earlier run-in Lobov had with UFC lightweight title contender Khabib Nurmagomedov – who was on the targeted bus.
The ugly scenes were condemned by UFC president Dana White, who labelled them “one of the most disgusting things that’s happened in the history of the company”.
McGregor has been a divisive presence in the sport due to his quick temper, flashy tastes and trash-talking of rivals, but quickly became one of UFC’s most bankable stars after signing a contract in 2013.
His rapid ascendancy saw him capture two belts before jumping sports to face undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather in a money-spinning crossover bout in Las Vegas last August. He lost the fight and has not competed since.
He was this week stripped of his UFC lightweight belt, which was due to be on the line in a bout between Nurmagomedov and Max Holloway at UFC 223, before the latter dropped out when doctors stopped him cutting further weight today.
The UFC said in a statement: “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.”
