Conor McGregor has been forced to cancel a trip home after his film set was hit by Hurricane Fiona.
McGregor was in attendance at MMA promotion Bellator's last show in Ireland, and was due to be cageside tomorrow night to cheer on close friends Peter Queally and Yoel Romero. However, he has had to stay put with his family in the Dominican Republic, where homes have been ravaged by the hurricane.
He is on set of Jake Gyllenhaal's remake of the 80s classic Road House, where he is making his Hollywood debut, and has joked throughout the process that he "can't believe they're paying" him to shoot the movie. However, earlier this week the Caribbean nation was hit earlier this week by what is now being branded a hurricane category one by the US National Weather Centre.
"He called me and told me he wasn't going to be able to make it," Romero told Mirror Fighting ahead of his fight with Melvin Manhoef in McGregor's hometown. "He's actually right now in the Dominican Republic and unfortunately due to the hurricane that's going on over there right now his plan was to come here and head back but unfortunately it's not doable."
The Irish fighter has been updating fans regularly from the set and appears to be in fine condition as of recent posts within the last few hours. He isn't the only fighter who has been affected; YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul has had to train in a gym with no electricity after his base in Puerto Rico was also hit.
However, McGregor has used his wealth and influence in Ireland to help Romero to have a comfortable stay, despite being unable to meet with him in the country. The pair met while competing on a number of UFC events together, including the Irishman's legendary world title wins at featherweight and lightweight.
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And now from his film set, McGregor is still showing Romero hospitality, inviting him to his plush South Dublin hotspot The Black Forge Inn. The fighter has said that he plans to visit the restaurant once he has had his fight, in which a win could earn him a world title opportunity.
“One of the things I do want to say thank you to Conor for is that he’s been giving me help on being here in Ireland," Romero told press at a media scrum. "A lot of thanks to Conor. He’s offered cars, he’s offered his gym, and he’s invited me to his restaurant. I appreciate that a lot from a fellow fighter. After the fight, I’ll go to his restaurant. He’s just been keeping an eye on me and making sure I’m okay. Right now, the focus is just purely on Melvin.”
Romero fights in the co-main event at the 3Arena, where McGregor famously defeated Diego Brandao in 2014, while the Irishman's close friend and training partner Queally faces ex-UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson in the main event. The event is expected to be one of the promotion's highest attended in Ireland, with a host of other hometown names on the marquee.
