Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor, 29, has been charged with assault and criminal mischief by the New York City Police Department (NYPD).
McGregor was allegedly involved in a backstage melee after a news conference for UFC223 on Saturday, and video footage appears to show the promotion’s biggest star throwing a hand truck at a bus full of fighters.
“The group, which included McGregor and Lobov, vandalized the vehicle that contained a number of athletes competing at the event taking place this weekend,” the UFC said in a statement.
“UFC is working very closely with the New York Athletic Commission, Barclays Center security and law enforcement authorities.”
The former two-weight UFC champion is currently in custody and will be kept there until a court hearing Friday.
The video of the incident showed the 29-year-old Dublin native and his entourage tossing trash cans and guard rails at a bus that was carrying many of the fighters who were scheduled to compete in a fight this weekend.
UFC lightweight fighter Michael Chiesa suffered cuts to his face and head, while women’s strawweight champion Rose Namajunas narrowly avoided being struck, White said in a Facebook Live interaction with reporters.
McGregor hasn’t fought for UFC since November 2016 and was stripped this week by UFC President Dana White of the 155-pound championship he had never defended.
McGregor profanely responded on Twitter and wrote, “You’ll strip me of nothing.”
He last fought at all in a boxing match he lost to Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Aug. 26, 2017.