CONOR MCGREGOR HAD reportedly been earmarked — but not confirmed — for the UFC’s end-of-year show in Las Vegas on 30 December.
But the Dubliner’s bizarre intervention at a Bellator event at the 3 Arena on Friday night means he’s lost his place on the card, according to Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports.
Mike Mazzulli, who was ringside on Friday night in Dublin’s docklands, says he has spoken to several UFC officials about the incident.
The UFC will be keen to, at least, be seen to take some action against the Irish fighter, though not appearing on a UFC 219 card will not go far enough for many observers of mixed martial arts.
“Mr McGregor is not bigger than MMA. We all know that,” Mazzulli said on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Hour yesterday.
“Mr McGregor may not be around in five years, but MMA will still be here. I think that’s very important to understand that fighter safety is the most important thing in the world because without fighter safety, this sport would not proceed to the next level like it always has.
“After the event, I had some executives from UFC contact me within two hours after what occurred. And they basically said to me that it was completely unacceptable in their eyes and that they will be doing something. They did inform me that he was set to be on the 30 December card and he will not be on it. So I do commend UFC to some extent for doing that.”
“Now on the other hand I will be speaking to my attorneys on my return.”
Mazzulli continued: “I’m never comfortable when someone takes it upon themselves to act like a five-year-old and jump in the cage. The bottom line is he was unprofessional, disrespectful and it was not acceptable in my eyes.”
It remains to be seen what actual punishment the UFC will actually take with their brightest star.
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Conor McGregor 'pulled' from UFC card thanks to Bellator antics, according to commission boss
Updated at 15.10
CONOR MCGREGOR HAD reportedly been earmarked — but not confirmed — for the UFC’s end-of-year show in Las Vegas on 30 December.
But the Dubliner’s bizarre intervention at a Bellator event at the 3 Arena on Friday night means he’s lost his place on the card, according to Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports.
Mike Mazzulli, who was ringside on Friday night in Dublin’s docklands, says he has spoken to several UFC officials about the incident.
McGregor, illegally charged in to the octogan after his SBG teammate Charlie Ward defeated John Redmond before clashing with the referee Marc Goddard as well as security staff.
The UFC will be keen to, at least, be seen to take some action against the Irish fighter, though not appearing on a UFC 219 card will not go far enough for many observers of mixed martial arts.
“Mr McGregor is not bigger than MMA. We all know that,” Mazzulli said on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Hour yesterday.
“Mr McGregor may not be around in five years, but MMA will still be here. I think that’s very important to understand that fighter safety is the most important thing in the world because without fighter safety, this sport would not proceed to the next level like it always has.
“After the event, I had some executives from UFC contact me within two hours after what occurred. And they basically said to me that it was completely unacceptable in their eyes and that they will be doing something. They did inform me that he was set to be on the 30 December card and he will not be on it. So I do commend UFC to some extent for doing that.”
“Now on the other hand I will be speaking to my attorneys on my return.”
Mazzulli continued: “I’m never comfortable when someone takes it upon themselves to act like a five-year-old and jump in the cage. The bottom line is he was unprofessional, disrespectful and it was not acceptable in my eyes.”
It remains to be seen what actual punishment the UFC will actually take with their brightest star.
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