A viral clip may have provided a promotional boost to the Conor McGregor-Nate Diaz rematch at UFC 202, but don’t think Dana White is happy about it.
Footage of McGregor and Diaz throwing bottles and cans at each other at the close of an otherwise dull presser made the rounds on Wednesday, much to the chagrin of White who can be heard asking McGregor to calm down before having to abruptly end the media session.
White told TMZ Sports that the incident could have some serious repercussions.
“They’re both getting punished,” said White. “What everybody has got to understand is that we’re overseen by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. I guarantee you both of these guys are going to get massive fines and there’s probably going to be a hearing too after the fight. There could be suspensions, community service, it’s going to be ugly.
“And the word is that in this thing somebody was injured, so there’s going be a lawsuit and who knows how it’s all going to play out?”
When pressed on the matter of the lawsuit, White said that “the wheels are in motion on it,” though he offered no more details on the alleged injury. He added that it’s ridiculous for anyone to suggest that the altercation was a planned publicity stunt.
“It was 100 percent real,” said White. “If you’re going to come up with something staged, throwing cans and bottles in a public place is probably one of the dumbest things you could come up with. It’s going to cost them both a lot of money, a lot of headache and hassle, and they’re both in big trouble.”
The McGregor-Diaz rematch headlines UFC 202 on Saturday in Las Vegas.
