UFC boss Dana White has reacted to the viral moment showing Conor McGregor delivering a shock punch to Miami Heat's mascot this weekend.
Dublin-born UFC champion McGregor took part in a staged "fight" with Heat's mascot, Burnie, on Friday (June 9), during the Florida team's NBA Finals. game against the Denver Nuggets.
Taking part in a planned skit, the 34-year-old MMA star took part in a staged tussle that went awry - as Burnie was knocked to the ground with a heavy left-hand punch, followed up with a ground-and-pound shot.
The playful scene had actually been intended to promote some cryotherapy pain relief spray... But it was McGregor's stiff punches that really took center stage.
It was later reported that the man inside the costume ended up in hospital following the incident - though, fortunately, he's reportedly doing fine.
'The Notorious One' hasn't been in the ring since breaking his leg during a fight with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021. His last win was against Donald Cerrone 18 months prior to that.
Post-fight at UFC 289, 53-year-old Dana White was asked what thought about the mascot incident, with the UFC boss actually placing the blame on Burnie.
White said: "I saw the Deontay Wilder one too. What's up with mascots getting punched in the face by professional fighters? What do you expect?"
"What are those mascot things made out of, unless you're like the Golden Knights mascot…with a metal helmet, I wouldn't have professional fighters punch me in the face if I was a mascot, doesn't seem like the brightest thing in the world," he added, via MMA Fighting.
Many netizens later took to social media to call out McGregor for going "too far", with one person writing: "He took bros head off like he forgot they acting."
"He actually hit him too hard and sent him to the hospital. McGregor is a disgusting thug," another person tweeted.
A third responded to the news by tweeting: "McGregor being that guy that takes things way too far is not surprising at all."
"Everyone was laughing last night at this when it was clear the mascot got hurt and McGregor went too far," a third wrote, adding: "[By the way], who set this up???"
It's yet to be determined whether McGregor will finally get the chance to score a real knockout in the near future, given that his upcoming fight with Michael Chandler yet to be assigned a date, weight, or venue.
Unfortunately, White admitted that he's had a hard time tying down McGregor.
