Mark Angelo, CEO, Yorkville Advisors 

Conor McGregor’s favorite place to be, other than in the ring, pummeling all comers, is in the headlines. Though, this time the UFC’s Irish tough guy is likely not too happy about the stories that have him in the news. McGregor is facing criminal charges after participating in a backstage brawl after a news conference promoting UFC 223. 

Video footage widely circulated in the media and online show McGregor attacking a bus full of fighters with a hand truck. Later, he could be seen tossing garbage cans and trying to throw a barricade. A fight reportedly ensued, during which McGregor committed acts that led him to be charged with three counts of assault and one count of criminal mischief. 

Speaking to the media, UFC President Dana White said the conversation he had with McGregor after the fight was “probably the worst we ever had…” White added, “It’s not that I don’t think he understood what happened. He justified it. It was justified to him.” 

Another UFC fighter, Michael Chiesa, was treated at the hospital due to injuries sustained during the attack. That treatment meant Chiesa would not be able to compete in UFC 223. Flyweight Ray Borg suffered eye damage and had to be dropped from the fight card as well. 

UFC issued a strong statement about the incident and the aftermath: “The organization deems today’s disruption completely unacceptable and is currently working on the consequences that will follow… Individuals involved in the incident are not welcome at tomorrow’s ceremonial weigh-in or Saturday’s event at Barclays Center.” 

Shortly after the statement, it was announced that White was stripping McGregor of his 155-championship belt, a title he has yet to defend. McGregor, in response, issued a tirade on Twitter that, along with profanities, included the statement: “You’ll strip me of nothing!” 

That’s where the conflict is at the moment, though White has said McGregor will fight for the UFC sometime later this year, that was before all this ruckus. And that’s definitely not be the case for some other fighters who made headlines for fighting outside the ring in recent weeks. One of those, Artem Lobov, was seen ‘scuffling’ with Khabib Nurmagomedov in a hotel. Later, a planned UFC fight between Max Holloway and Nurmagomedov had to be canceled when Holloway failed to make weight. 

Some have said McGregor doesn’t care about the sport who made him famous anymore. Some fans are starting to turn away from the recent fan favorite, saying he got paid huge in a loss to Mayweather, so he never needs to fight again. That, some say, has left McGregor even more reckless than usual. The evidence for this point of view, they say, is all over the sports media, a former champion throwing equipment like a WWE heel.