Martial arts star charged over frenzied attack on rival’s bus
MIXED martial arts fighter Conor McGregor appeared in court yesterday charged with assault for hurling a trolley through a bus window.
McGregor, 29, was led out of a New York police station in handcuffs yesterday and hauled before a judge.
The Irishman was said to have been among 20 people who targeted a bus carrying Ultimate Fighting Championship stars, including Russian Khabib Nurmagomedov, at the Barclays Center, Brooklyn, on Thursday.
McGregor allegedly threw the trolley through the window – injuring two passengers, including lightweight US fighter Michael Chiesa – and attempted to smash the vehicle with a crash barrier and dustbin.
He turned himself in to Thursday night.
A New York Police Department spokesman said: “He’s been charged with assault – three counts of assault – and one count of criminal mischief.”
Cian Cowley, 25, another Irish MMA fighter, was also charged with assault.
McGregor, who lost to boxer Floyd Mayweather in a £284million bout last August, had to be restrained by security staff at the Barclays Center.
UFC president Dana White said: “They stormed the building, got down to the loading docks where the fighters were getting on the buses and started to attack the buses, throwing trash cans and dollies and things like police on that. They broke one of the windows and cut Michael Chiesa real bad. He cut his head and cut his face.
“Rose Namajunas [MMA fighter] was apparently almost hit. She’s super upset right now.
“Hurt one of our employees, broke one of our employee’s knuckles.”
The fighters had been holding a press conference ahead of the UFC 223 event on Saturday night. McGregor and his entourage got into the building through a side door.
The group reportedly targeted Nurmagomedov after he had a public spat with Artem Lobov, a friend and training partner of McGregor.
Fights were cancelled after the incident. Chiesa revealed officials pulled his bout against Anthony Pettis, and flyweight Ray Borg had to drop his fight against Brandon Moreno due to eye injuries. Lobov’s fight with Alex Caceres was also cancelled, owing to his involvement in the bus fracas.
Nurmagomedov taunted McGregor after the incident and appeared to challenge him to a fight: “I am laughing inside. You broke a window? Why? Come inside. If you’re a real gangster.
“You want to talk to me? Send me a location. I am going to come. No problem.”