BROOKLYN BLOW UP: Conor McGregor Goes Off At Barclays Center

UPDATE!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=9woMfLVh_VU

FROM USA Today: ((Conor McGregor has been charged with three counts of assault and one count of criminal mischief stemming from an incident at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, a police spokesperson confirmed to USA TODAY Sports early Friday morning.

Detective Adam Navarro of the New York Police Department said McGregor, 29, is in police custody and being held in the 78th precinct. He was expected to appear in court later Friday.)))

Bad news bears for The Notorious One, who now, yes, truly is that much more notorious. Maybe this adds to his legend, but legal hassles like this will drag on. He will be dealing with this incident for years, because, we assume, one or two people will sue him, for lost wages, after some fights fell out….

Mayhem unfolded Thursday afternoon at Barclays Center, when UFC bad-boy Conor McGregor attended a press event at the arena, put together to tout the Saturday MMA card (UFC 223) at that facility.

According to a Washington Post story, McGregor walked to a vehicle holding fighters, and “chairs were thrown through the van window.”

Video is floating around, as are rumors.

Are authorities seeking the Irishman, to question or arrest?

Journalist Marc Raimondi reached out to NYPD and heard that the MMAer isn’t being sought at this time.

Fighter Felice Herrig posted a video snippet and said, “That’s Conor” as we see a man dragging a barricade and looking like he’s getting ready to throw it. He then grabs a trash can and it looks like people are trying to convince him to calm down. One person fighting on the Saturday card, Michael Chiesa, has said his face was cut by glass. “Chiesa, who is scheduled to fight Anthony Pettis, suffered cuts to his face when objects were tossed at a bus that was at Barclays to transport UFC 223 fighters back to the hotel, White said,” a snippet in a USA Today piece explained.

Chiesa is due to face Anthony Pettis, and it looks like his injuries are such that he’ll be able to fight on Saturday, according to his crew.

“You want to grab 30 [expletive] friends and come down here and do what you did today?” UFC bossman Dana White said in a video posted by ESPN’s Brett Okamoto. “It’s disgusting. And I don’t think anybody is going to be huge Conor McGregor fans after this. I don’t know if he’s on drugs or what his deal is, but to come and do this and act like this?”

So, why was McGregor in a mood? Maybe because White announced there would be “no interim champ” following Saturday’s scheduled lightweight main event at Barclays between Max Holloway and Khabib Nurmagomedov. Conor had held the strap they’ll be vying for. And he didn’t take the news well…

Word is he was hunting the 29 year old Nurmagomedov, a Russian bad ass who will fight Holloway, subbing in for injured Tony Ferguson. And maybe he’s irked because Khabib has said beating Georges St Pierre means more for his legacy than a win over Conor does? Or, maybe more likely, is because a fued has been simmering Khabib and Conor’s bud Artem Lobov. They beefed on April 3, at an area hotel. Lobov was pulled from the Saturday card by UFC.

Speculating on his motivations for the mayhem aside, know that the New York State Athletic Commission is none too pleased with that McGregor melt-down from Thursday.

Per NYSAC spokesman Lee Park:

“The incident that occurred today at the Barclay’s Center was unacceptable and has no place in New York State sports.

Multiple published reports, including photos and video, evidently show Mr. McGregor and members of his entourage engaged in destructive, abhorrent and illegal behavior and endangered the safety of those around them. It is our understanding that local law enforcement is involved and is actively responding to the matter.

At least one fighter scheduled to fight on Saturday was purportedly injured in the incident. Medical staff will assess any injured fighters to determine whether they are fit to compete as scheduled.

The Commission has commenced a dialogue with the UFC and Barclay’s Center management in response to the incident. All parties are working together to ensure that appropriate protocols are in place for the protection of the fighters and the fans at UFC 223 and at tomorrow’s weigh-in. The Commission is also conferring with the associated security staffs to ensure that heightened safeguards are implemented prior to the weigh-in and the event.

Mr. McGregor is not licensed by the New York State Athletic Commission.”

Hey, this is one way to hype a card…