Conor McGregor isn't going to willfully accept his recent sanctions from the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC).
The UFC lightweight champion has filed a notice for judicial review with Clark County civil court, MMA Fighting confirmed with NAC executive director Bob Bennett and via court records. MMAjunkie reported the news Wednesday.
The commission disciplined McGregor in October to the tune of a $75,000 fine (2.5 percent of his purse), 50 hours community service, and a public-service announcement (estimated at another $75,000) for throwing water bottles and an energy drink can during the UFC 202 pre-fight press conference in August.
Bennett told MMA Fighting that McGregor had applied for a boxing license in Nevada recently, but he would not be granted one until after his judicial review is done.
"Once this is resolved and if he wants to become a boxer and is requesting a license to be a boxer, at that point in time I would request a video that shows his skillset in boxing," Bennett said. "Or, if he's in Las Vegas, I'd be happy to go to where he's working out and observe him training, specifically sparring."
Wanderlei Silva was the most recent fighter to challenge an NAC ruling in court. Silva was given a lifetime ban by the commission in 2014 after evading a drug test prior to UFC 175. A Clark County court judge ruled the suspension to be "arbitrary and capricious" and sent the case back to the NAC.
Back in February, Silva was suspended three years by the commission. He is eligible to fight again in spring 2017.
McGregor, his team and Nate Diaz and his team got into a fracas as the UFC 202 pre-fight press conference Aug. 17 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Foreign objects were thrown by McGregor, Diaz and members of their camps. Diaz's disciplinary hearing in front of the NAC has yet to be scheduled, but he is likely facing similar sanctions.