NSAC Fines Conor McGregor $150,000 For UFC 202 Bottle-Throwing Incident
Reigning UFC featherweight champion the “Notorious” Conor McGregor has been fined $150,000 and ordered 50 hours of community service by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) for his part in the so called ‘water fight’ at the UFC 202 press conference prior to his August 20, 2016 bout with Nate Diaz.
Like his infamous peer Nick Diaz before him, McGregor was made to be ‘scolded’ by Commissioner Pat Lundvall, who teased a massive $300,000 potential fine for his ‘Notorious’ actions while suggesting he become the face of an anti-bullying campaign in the state (since that would be believable).
It was yet another outlandish NSAC session involving high-profile UFC athletes that has once again lead the fight world to dub it a ‘kangaroo court.’
ESPN’s Brett Okamoto detailed the hearing on his official Twitter account:
$25k fine is being asked by attorney generals office PLUS MEDIA TRAINING. To help McGregor get through a press conference. Lol.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) October 10, 2016
McGregor says he was wrong, says he was acting erratically, this was the highest paid fight for him, biggest of his career.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) October 10, 2016
Pat Lundvall just scolded Conor McGregor real good. And basically got him to admit on record he’ll accept any punishment. Wow.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) October 10, 2016
Commission deliberating a penalty. Pat Lundvall says $25k is not enough. She offers 5% of McGregor’s $3 million purse.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) October 10, 2016
Commissioner Michon Martin ups the ante and says she wants 10 percent. Up to potential $300k fine for McGregor.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) October 10, 2016
Anthony Marnell, NSAC chairman, says, “I have a hard time with $300k for throwing a water bottle. That’s pretty extreme.”
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) October 10, 2016
NSAC fines Conor McGregor $150,000k and orders 50 hours of community service for his actions at UFC 202 press conference “water fight.”
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) October 10, 2016
After Diaz got up and left the press conference with his team, the two sides exchanged words before bottles and cans began to fly across the room. The Stockton native has yet to receive a punishment from the commission.
An interesting thing to note is that McGregor was present at the hearing, alebit on his phone, after a rumor surfaced earlier today that he had been ‘knocked out cold’ during a sparring session leading up to his November 12, 2016 lightweight title fight with Eddie Alvarez.