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Morning Report: Man struck by Conor McGregor calls former champion ‘a bit of a bully’

Conor McGregor will answer questions at the UFC 205 post-fight press conference.
Conor McGregor will answer questions at the UFC 205 post-fight press conference.
Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Last week, a video surfaced of an incident back in April where Conor McGregor allegedly struck a bar patron in Dublin over a dispute about his personal brand of whiskey, Proper 12. Turns out, the “allegedly” can be dropped from it now because yesterday McGregor owned up to the incident, admitting that he was “in the wrong” and that it never should have happened. Coincidentally, the man McGregor struck also spoke out Thursday, and he feels much the same way.

According to The Irish Daily Star (via The Irish Sun), the man, who spoke on the condition of anonymity but did reveal his age to be 50, gave his account of what happened that day.

“I am sitting on the bar stool just having a quiet pint with my friend then all of a sudden because I refuse his drink I get a punch, you don’t need that in life.”

The incident occurred when McGregor entered the Marble Arch Pub on April 6th and offered to buy the patrons shots of his own Proper 12 whiskey brand. The anonymous gentleman declined, McGregor insisted, the man refused, words were exchanged, and then McGregor struck him with a left hand before being ushered out by other men with the victim finished his pint.

Afterwards, the anonymous gentleman received high praise for taking McGregor’s smack without so much as getting off his bar stool. But speaking out, the man admits the punch did hurt and went on to decry McGregor’s actions as those of a bully.

“Look-it, I can take a punch,” the man said. “It was sore for about a week. It wasn’t killing me or anything.I don’t like the man. I think he is getting a bad rep. He is a bit of a bully, a bully with money.”

It has been reported that McGregor met with the man shortly after the incident and McGregor’s admission of fault yesterday made reference to this, saying he “made amends back then” but that may not be the end of things for McGregor. The Irish Sun is reporting that McGregor will face a minor assault charge for the incident though it appears he will only have to pay a fine should he be convicted. Should that come to pass, McGregor has said he will accept the consequences of his actions.

“Whatever comes my way, I will face it,” McGregor said. “Whatever comes my way, I deserve it. I will face this head on. I will not hide from it. I was in the wrong. It was completely unacceptable behavior from a man in my position. What happens, I will face.”


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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mark Madsen (8-0) vs. Danilo Belluardo (12-4); UFC Copenhagen, Sept. 28.

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FINAL THOUGHTS

Conor does apologetic better than most. Glad to see him owning up to this one and props to the man for not making a huge deal out of this. It’s a bad incident but you can tell that guy isn’t trying to snag 15 minutes of fame for it.

A rare UFC-free weekend, and Bellator is rocking a Saturday card. Enjoy the light weekend and see y’all on Monday.


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