Earlier this month, Conor McGregor once again stirred up headlines when video was released of McGregor punching a 50-year old gentleman in the head in a pub in Ireland over refusing to drink McGregor’s whiskey. The incident happened in April but the video only recently surfaced, and it prompted McGregor to go above and beyond just releasing a statement, instead sitting speaking with ESPN for an extensive interview where he apologized for his actions and promised to do better.

But did he really mean it? Many people are skeptical, among them, former UFC Hall of Famer Matt Serra. Speaking on the UFC Unfiltered podcast recently, Serra questioned the authenticity of McGregor’s apology, saying that he hoped it was true but that we’d need to see it in McGregor’s actions.

“Is he upset that he got caught or is he upset that he did it?” Serra said. “He’s saying all the right things but only time will tell and his actions will tell in the future. . .He’s young. Hopefully he gets his sh*t together.”

Serra has reason to be skeptical as McGregor’s 2019 has been one to forget. The former two division champion has been stacking headlines and most of them are not good. In March, McGregor was arrested for smashing a fan’s cell phone outside a nightclub in Miami. That case was eventually settled out of court and the charges were dropped. Later that month though, it was revealed that McGregor was under investigation for a sexual assault allegation in Ireland. Add in his controversial antics from previous years where he shoved a Bellator referee and the infamous dolly incident, all things he’s apologized for, and it’s tough to take McGregor’s word at face value. But Serra has bigger fish to fry than McGregor. He’s taking umbrage with the people who are apologizing for McGregor, or writing off his actions.

In the aftermath of this latest McGregor incident, UFC commentator Joe Rogan went on his podcast and seemingly made light of the situation, laughing, “He’s got like $100 million in the bank and he still wants to fight people. Still smacking people at bars. What’s he doing? Don’t do that. Who knows what the f*ck guy said to him.” And that didn’t sit well with Serra.

“I mean, Joe Rogan was talking about, ‘he’s got $100 million in the bank,’ and Dana’s talking about how smart he is. You know, I don’t give a f*ck about that if he’s not a good person,” Serra said. “Who gives a f*ck? Like dude, I’ll tell you right now, man, if I had a $100 million in the bank, I’m pretty much doing everything I’m doing right now. Like, is that what it’s really about?”

“The guy’s throwing dollies at f*cking things with fighters in it and ‘Thug Rose’ was in the first seat, could’ve had her face destroyed, he’s mushing officials, he’s smacking an old man, or punching him, and like, ‘Oh, well he made a lot of money for himself.’ Really? So what does that mean? What the f*ck does that mean? So that excuses it? What does that have to do with him being a decent human being?

“I don’t give a f*ck if he’s brilliant. What the f*ck does that mean? For people to say he’s brilliant, so everybody should be doing this sh*t? That’s where I have a problem with it. Yeah, he’s made all that, that’s awesome that he’s done that, I’m not hating on it, but it doesn’t give you a certain right to disrespect guys. So what, if this guy made $200 million you can’t smack him? What the f*ck is going on here. What the f*ck does everything have to do with materialistic bullsh*t? You’re not taking all this sh*t with you. I got people dying left and right, you’re not taking any of this sh*t with you. How about you be a better human being? You’ll feel better about yourself.”

Rogan has since addressed his statements, saying the he misinterpreted what happened the first time he saw the video and thus misspoke about the incident. But, as Serra explains, it’s not Rogan’s apologetics that have allowed McGregor to keep spiraling out of control, it’s the UFC’s lack of intervention. As the biggest star in the sport, McGregor has been given carte blanch to do almost anything he wants without the UFC punishing him in anyway. So far, Dana White has left that job up to the court systems and the athletic commissions. But as neither of those have seemed to deter McGregor, Serra suggests that maybe it’s time for the UFC to do something.

“The thing is, if another UFC fighter did that to an old man and that video came out, do they have their job still?” Serra concluded. “There’s right and there’s wrong. I’m not saying fire the guy, I’m just saying, repercussions.”

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MUST-READ STORIES

DWTNCS. Three people received contracts last night at the Tuesday Night Contender Series.

Ouch. Evidence in Cung Le lawsuit against UFC shows company paid 20 percent of revenue to fighters.

Chaos. Kamaru Usman vs. Colby Covington targeted for UFC 244 in New York.

Obviously. Dustin Poirier: Tony Ferguson ‘100 percent’ deserves the next shot at the title.

Predator. Francis Ngannou stakes his claim to the next shot at UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic.

USADA. Thibault Gouti suspended six months by USADA after using illegal supplement.

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VIDEO STEW

Contender Series announcement.

Dana scrum.

Weili Zhang Tours Foshan Chin Woo Athletic Association with Li Jingliang and Uriah Hall.

Free fight.

Bob Arum stays beefing with Dana.

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LISTEN UP

Eurobash. Interviews with Mark Henry, Molly McCann, and Mark Madsen.

Show Money. Discussing the UFC Antitrust expert hearings.

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SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

The GOAT is ready to defend his title.

Matt Brown on his comeback.

Petr Yan.

The trolling never stops. He couldn’t get a better picture?

25x.

Vick finally moving up to welterweight.

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Victoria Leonardo (6-1) vs. Shanna Young (6-2); Invicta Phoenix Series 2, Sept. 6.

Tyson Nam (18-9-1) vs. Sergio Pettis (17-5); UFC Mexico City, Sept. 21.

Jack Shore (11-0) vs. Nohelin Hernandez (10-3); UFC Copenhagen, Sept. 28.

Luis Pena (7-1) vs. Matt Frevola (7-1-1); UFC Tampa, Oct. 12.

Kamaru Usman (15-1) vs. Colby Covington (15-1); UFC 244, Nov. 2.

Lyman Good (20-5, 1 NC) vs. Chance Rencountre (14-3); UFC 244, Nov. 2.

Krzysztof Jotko (21-4) vs. Edmen Shahbazyan (10-0); UFC 244, Nov. 2.

John Salter (16-4) vs. Costello van Steenis (12-1); Bellator 233, Nov. 8.

Leah Letson (5-1) vs. Duda Santana (3-1); UFC Sao Paulo, Nov. 16.

James Webb (6-1-1) vs. Nathias Frederick (7-2-1); Cage Warriors London, Nov. 22.

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FINAL THOUGHTS

Thanks for reading and see y’all tomorrow.

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EXIT POLL

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