Controversy reared its ugly head this past Friday Night at Bellator 187 when UFC Lightweight Champion Conor McGregor jumped in the cage to celebrate a win with teammate Charlie Ward.
McGregor caused all sorts of problems by his actions, including a verbal confrontation with referee Marc Goddard and making physical contact with Bellator MMA/ABC officials.
While McGregor and the UFC have yet to comment on the actions of the lightweight champion, many others have decided to say their part.
Referee Marc Goddard was first and he issued a brief statement through Twitter:
I operate with integrity, belief and values.
— Marc Goddard (@marcgoddard_uk) November 11, 2017
I hold MMA in a deep rooted place in my life and have considered myself most fortunate to have done so for so long.
Family first. Everything else second.
Respect.
Goddard and McGregor also had a run in at UFC Fight Night Gdansk because the referee told McGregor to sit in his seat as he tried coaching teammate Artem Lobov while in the crowd.
Mike Mazzulli is the President of the Association Of Boxing Commissions & Combative Sports (ABC) and he issued a statement on the matter as well:
While the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation (MTDAR) was regulating Bellator 187 in Dublin, Ireland, on November 10, 2017, the following events took place during the Ward vs Redmond bout.
Mr. Conor McGregor who was a spectator at the time, disrupted the event by scaling the cage prior to the conclusion of the bout. Mr. McGregor’s conduct jeopardized the health and safety of the bout participants by delaying necessary medical attention to the fighters that were injured during the round.
In addition, Mr. McGregor assaulted Referee Mark [sic] Goddard and a Bellator staff.
The MTDAR has been in consultation with the upper management of the UFC regarding Mr. McGregor’s inappropriate and unacceptable behavior.
The MTDAR has also contacted members of the Association of Boxing Commissioners that have licensed Mr. McGregor in their jurisdictions to inform them of Mr. McGregor’s behavior.
MMA Fighting is also reporting that the ABC President has been in contact with the UFC about the actions of their lightweight champion.
John Redmond was the fighter who Charlie Ward knocked out before the ruckus began. He feels that if McGregor didn’t cause the craziness, the fight could have continued.
“I think there was a lot of panic in the ring as soon as he got in there. I think everybody was just concerned with getting him out of there as quickly as possible,” Redmond said to MMA Fighting. “Marc Goddard was going to let the fight go into the second, but then the commission seemed to overrule his decision. I think that decision was swayed because of the circus and madness that was going down at the time. It was just a mad scene. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
There has been no punishment of any kind handed to McGregor at this point in time.
