CONOR McGREGOR is unapologetic after the sensational bus attack that left two injured and the Irishman in jail.
UFC president Dana White claimed that The Notorious, 29, told him in a text message conversation that the attack “had to be done”.
McGregor, who posted $50,000 bail after being interrogated by New York City police, slammed a dolly trolley into a bus in the build-up to UFC 223, showering fighters with glass.
White, who furiously rejected claims the attack was a stunt, told ESPN: “We had a text session yesterday that was not very good.
“Most of the things I’d rather not say and probably can’t say.”
White was then asked if McGregor is apologetic at all, to with the UFC president said: “No.”
He added: “[McGregor] said he was apologetic toward Rose, because Rose Namajunas was very upset.
Obviously Michael Chiesa, he [McGregor] didn’t know at the time that Ray Borg was hurt too, but he was apologetic about the people that he wasn’t trying to hurt.
CON AIR McGregor interrogated by NYC cops over bus rampage hours before he’s given $50,000 bail
“But he felt like the Khabib thing had to be done.”
White also said that the attack “was the last stunt on Earth we would ever pull.”
What we know so far
- Conor McGregor hurled a metal dolly trolley through the window of a bus transporting UFC rival Khabib Nurmagomedov
- The incident occurred Thursday night at a UFC media event in Brooklyn, New York
- An arrest warrant was later issued for McGregor and his private jet was grounded by officials
- The 29-year-old Dubliner later handed himself in to police
- He has been bailed on $50,000 to next appear in court on June 14 charged with three counts of assault and one count of criminal mischief
- McGregor is facing a maximum jail sentence of SEVEN years
- A feud between McGregor, his entourage and Nurmagomedov is thought to have sparked the attack
- UFC chief Dana White described it as the worst incident in the history of the organisation
- Two UFC fighters on the bus, Ray Borg and Michael Chiesa, suffered injuries in the attack and have had their respective bouts this weekend cancelled
- A third bout, featuring McGregor’s pal Artem Lobov, was also canned after he was accused of participating in the attack
McGregor has been allowed to return to Ireland, but will return to court on June 14 and is facing a maximum jail sentence of SEVEN years.
He is charged with three counts of assault and one of criminal mischief.
The bus attack left Mike Chiesa and Ray Borg injured and unable to appear at UFC 223 in Brooklyn on Saturday night.
Both were cut by glass, although Borg was left with a cut EYEBALL after glass that turned into dust scraped his cornea.
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White said he will be making a decision on McGregor’s future with the promotion after this weekend’s action.
White added: “We get through this weekend – we get back to Las Vegas and we just start figuring this thing out.
“Obviously the big question everybody’s been asking me, ‘are you firing Conor McGregor?’
“This is bigger than Conor McGregor getting fired, he’s probably going to be a convicted felon when this is over.
“Conor McGregor was a guy that people looked up to – yes he was cocky, yes he was brash – but he would do things he said he would do, but he never did anything like this.
“In this world there’s going to be people that are turned off by this and don’t like Conor and there’s going to be people that are probably going to like him better.
“Absolutely I’m let down, if you look at this kid, not only is he the biggest star in the UFC, he’s one of the biggest stars on planet Earth and all of sports and entertainment.
“He has a son at home, he’s got a bright future with the UFC – we were working on a new deal that was going to pay him ridiculous money.
“There’s still talk of the Floyd Mayweather [rematch] potentially happening.
“He’s a sponsor’s dream – I have no explanation for it.”
White added that McGregor had been left upset with White after the president claimed that the Irishman may have been on drugs.
“He was very upset that I said yesterday ‘’what, is this guy on drugs?’
“What would make somebody show up and do this when you’re one of the biggest stars in the world, I just can’t wrap my brain around it.”
UFC released new footage of the attack from inside and outside the bus.
McGregor can be heard screaming: “smash the windows.”
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