Conor McGregor has been handed his punishment for his part in the bottle-throwing exchange at the UFC 202 pre-fight press conference.
During the fight week leading up to his August rematch with Nate Diaz, McGregor and his Stockton rival traded water bottles and cans of energy drink across a crowd after Diaz stormed off the stage.
It did wonders for the pay-per-view figures but, unsurprisingly, the Nevada State Athletic Commission did not view the incident favourably.
Diaz storms out of #ufc202 presser, starts throwing bottles. McGregor returns fire. pic.twitter.com/J7D3hngMWC
— Darragh Murphy (@DarrMurphy) August 17, 2016
McGregor’s case was heard today by the commission while Diaz requested his hearing be postponed until December.
In a lengthy hearing, at which McGregor and his lawyer spoke over the phone, fine figures and community service were discussed by the commissioners.
Eventually it was decided that the UFC featherweight champion would have to pay a $150,000 fine and complete 50 hours of community service for his part in the melee.
McGregor will also take part in an anti-bullying campaign for the commission.
The fine, in particular the input of a notoriously harsh Pat Lundvall, came in for huge criticism of the commission as a fine of that level seems massively excessive given the fact that they were presiding over a case which essentially boiled town to a few bottles being thrown.
At least he wasn’t suspended but the decision won’t do anything to change McGregor’s mind with regards to his recent expression of a desire to fight less in Nevada.
https://twitter.com/iainkidd/status/785534685107609600
https://twitter.com/ZaraBarry/status/785534862241435648
https://twitter.com/ZPGIFs/status/785535043322023936
Remember this next time someone says Nevada is the gold standard for athletic commissions
— John S. Nash (@heynottheface) October 10, 2016
Holy shit! What a racket the NAC is!!! $150K and 50 hrs community service?!?!?! #LaCosaNostraAliveAndWell
— Stephie Haynes (@CrooklynMMA) October 10, 2016
$150k? You money-hungry cunts, NAC.
— The Naked Gambler (@NakedGambling) October 10, 2016
Sometimes it feels like the NSAC's goal is to convince fighters that it's really not worth it to fight in Las Vegas anymore.
— Ben Fowlkes (@benfowlkesMMA) October 10, 2016
https://twitter.com/Patrick_Wyman/status/785535955599970304
Pat Lundvall is now the second highest paid blonde in the UFC #NACHearing
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) October 10, 2016
More draconian punishments from the NSAC. No suspension, though. They're not daft enough to cut off a huge revenue stream for the commission https://t.co/dmoAQhMuBm
— Simon Head (@simonheadsport) October 10, 2016
Check out the latest episode of Football: Friday Live
