Knockout!
$100M fighter arrested by NYPD
He probably won’t get jumped in the prison yard, at least.
Mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor was charged on Friday for allegedly smashing the window of a bus full of fighters and slugging a man at Barclays Center, prosecutors said.
The tough-talking Irishman stood handcuffed for his arraignment in Brooklyn Criminal Court and replied, “Yes, your honor,” when asked whether he understood the terms of the orders of protection taken out against him.
He is barred from contacting fellow fighters Michael Chiesa and Raymond Borg, both of whom were injured in Thursday’s fracas at the Brooklyn arena.
Video footage shows McGregor heaving items — including a metal barrier and a hand truck — at the packed bus.
McGregor, 29, also is accused of slugging another man, Jason Ledbetter, in the head “several times with a closed fist,” according to the criminal complaint.
His meltdown came just after a press conference hyping Saturday’s UFC 223, which included a bout between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Max Holloway.
McGregor was enraged over an encounter between Nurmagomedov and McGregor’s teammate Artem Lobov, according to MMA Fighting, an MMA news site.
McGregor, who reportedly made around $100 million for boxing Floyd Mayweather last year, was also still livid over UFC’s decision Wednesday to strip him of his lightweight title due to inactivity. He hasn’t fought in a UFC match since 2016.
“McGregor is captured on video picking up a chair and throwing it to a window on a bus and causing several injuries,” said prosecutor Wilfredo Cotto.
Borg and Chiesa were slated to fight on Saturday’s card, but their matches were canceled because of their injuries. Holloway also was forced to back out when he was determined “unfit to fight.”
Borg suffered a cornea abrasion to the left eye and bruising to the left cheek. Chiesa had cuts to the face and hand.
McGregor — who in court Friday showed off his muscles in a skintight blue shirt and skinny jeans and also sported a $795 pair of Saint Laurent Jump sneakers — was charged with felony crim- inal mischief and misdemeanor counts of assault, attempted assault, menacing and reckless endangerment. He faces as many as seven years in prison if convicted.
McGregor pal Cian Cowley, 25, was charged with criminal mischief, assault and reckless endangerment.
Fans and supporters packed the courtroom, where McGregor’s bail was set at $50,000 and
Cowley’s at $25,000. Both were bailed out by celebrity bondsman Ira Judelson.
The Ireland natives were allowed to keep their passports so they could work but ordered to report to Judelson once a week by phone. McGregor’s travel must also be preapproved by Judelson.
“My client self-surrendered, and when asked the first time to have his friend surrender, he got his friend,” said McGregor’s lawyer, Jim Walden.
Cowley’s lawyer, John Arlia, vowed to fight the charges.
“It’s quite suspect about the front window being shattered,” Arlia told the judge.
McGregor and Cowley must return to court June 14.
Sources said the two slept in a room at the 78th Precinct station house after turning themselves in Thursday.