UFC superstar Conor McGregor caused a chaotic scene at Bellator 187 and attempted to get into a fistfight with referee Marc Goddard.
Conor McGregor's excitement over the knockout of his SBG Ireland teammate Charlie Ward at Bellator 187 turned into a chaotic scene inside the cage.
McGregor, just weeks away from his professional boxing debut against Floyd Mayweather Jr., was cageside as Ward faced John Redmond at Bellator 187 in Dublin. With seconds left in the opening round, Ward blasted Redmond with a powerful firestorm that finished his opponent by TKO.
As Ward celebrated his achievement, McGregor jumped over and sprinted around the cage to celebrate the win with his teammate. He knocked Ward to the ground as Goddard tried to restore order in the cage.
After Goddard told McGregor to leave the cage, McGregor followed Goddard as the referee checked in on Redmond after the TKO hit. McGregor shoved Goddard and verbally attacked the veteran referee before security staff eventually separated them.
It was a terrible look for McGregor when he was at the height of his fame. McGregor also punched a Bellator employee after he was initially removed from the cage after allegedly trying to re-enter.
Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images
Conor McGregor and Marc Goddard were involved in an all-out battle at Bellator 187
In a statement uploaded to Facebook just a few days after the incident, Goddard explained his version of events at Bellator 187.
“I only spoke to Charlie Ward at this point and you will see that I put my arms between him and Conor McGregor in an attempt to separate and restore order to warn him to go back to his corner and continue the rest period to make. communicating with Charlie Ward then trying to tell Conor to leave, it wasn't done yet,” Goddard posted.
“This is when Conor McGregor first started his verbal attack in my direction. My only thought at this point was to inform Charlie Ward and his corner team of my decision at the time and restore order to the combat zone.
“Of course the ensuing melee and confusion would have prevented that completely, which is the result of one man's actions.”
The UFC punished McGregor for the incident by canceling a scheduled December 30 booking at UFC 219. He was originally expected to face eventual heated rival and then interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson in the main event.
Conor McGregor and Marc Goddard had issues before the UFC star's ascension
Before their Bellator 187 blowout, McGregor and Goddard had some history, dating back to when McGregor submitted Dave Hill at Cage Warriors 47 in 2012. McGregor blasted Goddard on social media for “horrible” and “crazy” behavior related with a confrontation in the middle of a fight. with presiding referee Neil Hall.
McGregor and Goddard have not shared the cage since the incident. After a more than three-year hiatus from the UFC, McGregor's planned Octagon return remains uncertain.
McGregor has been linked with a possible boxing match with either Jake or Logan Paul before his return to fighting next year. He recently announced that he has entered into “tentative agreements” to face Logan in the ring next year, although Jake is also reportedly in the mix.
Goddard has become one of the best referees in MMA today and is largely respected by fighters, experts and fans. He is a major reason for the rise of MMA in Britain.
McGregor and Goddard may never see eye to eye, and their incident at Bellator 187 could have been much worse. But seven years later, things are likely not cordial between McGregor and Goddard.
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