McGregor apology after pushing referee

Two-weight UFC champion Conor McGregor has apologised after being involved in an angry altercation with a referee at an MMA event in Dublin.

McGregor was in attendance at the Bellator 187 event in the Irish capital on Friday night to watch his teammate Charlie Ward take on John Redmond. Moments after Ward had produced a first-round knockout to beat Redmond, McGregor jumped into the octagon to celebrate with him.

Referee Mark Goddard took exception to McGregor’s actions and ordered him out of the octagon, sparking a melee by pushing him away.

That angered McGregor and the Irishman retaliated, running after Goddard and shouting and pointing at him before he was escorted out.

McGregor, who was beaten by Floyd Mayweather in a boxing match during August, yestreday vowed to learn from his mistakes when posting the apology on social media.

“I sincerely apologise for my behaviour at last weekend’s fight event in Dublin. While trying to support a loyal team-mate and friend, I let my emotions get the best of me and acted out of line,” said McGregor, who has not fought in the UFC since stopping Eddie Alvarez to capture the lightweight crown in November last year.

“As a multiple-weight UFC champion, executive producer, role model and public figure, I must hold myself to a higher standard. The referee was making a horrendous decision in trying to pick an unconscious fighter up off the floor and force the fight to continue. Even against the wishes of the said fighter’s coach. The fight was over.

“After witnessing my fighter in a fight where the worst happened and the opponent passed away from his injuries, I thought the worst was about to happen again. I lost it and overreacted. I am sorry to everyone.” Aberdeen’s Kim Beattie was part of the Great Britain team that claimed silver at the world trampoline championships in Bulgaria.

The 19-year-old and team-mates Kirsty Way, Phoebe Williams and Bethany Williams earned a combined total of 102.200 in the double mini trampoline event to finish second behind Russia (104.900). A review was required to confirm the final standings after Phoebe Williams was judged to have hit the side of the double mini trampoline and initially scored 0.00. Her pass was scored as legal, resulting in the Britons taking silver.

In the individual event, Beattie was 14th out of 29 in her first senior world championships.