UFC President Dana White has shared his thoughts regarding Conor McGregor's promotional punch that sent the Miami Heat mascot to the hospital.
During Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and the Denver Nuggets, former UFC two-division champion Conor McGregor flattened Burnie, the Miami Heat mascot, during the third quarter of the game with the same signature left hook that took down Jose Aldo.
The Irishman sat courtside during the game to promote his new plant-based recovery spray, 'Tidl.' Furthering the promotion, McGregor squared up with the 7’6” orange-furred Heat mascot, who was donning a pair of metallic gold boxing gloves.
After a quick size up, McGregor brutally doubled over the mascot with a left hand and dropped him to the hardwood. McGregor then placed a final blow on the downed mascot and was met with a series of boos from the fans, who were concerned about the mascot's well-being.
The following Saturday, it was confirmed that the man inside the Burnie costume was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment after being struck by McGregor. After the punches, he received pain medication from a doctor and was sent home for proper recovery -- further showcasing that the action of being sprayed for promotion wasn't necessarily beneficial to either party.
After UFC 289 concluded last Saturday, White was asked by media in attendance at the event if it was aware of McGregor's notorious punch. After confirming being aware of the punch, the UFC President stated his views on it and the silliness of sports franchises setting up their mascots to be punched with full force by professional combat athletes.
'I saw the Deontay Wilder one, too," said White, referencing a video from 2018 when the Bronze Bomber knocked out a hot dog-looking ESPN Nacion mascot with a vicious right hand. "What's up with mascots wanting to get punched in the face by professional fighters?
"What do you expect?" He continued. "I mean, what are those mascot things made out of? Unless you're the Golden Knights mascot — I don't even know what he wears, but I'm assuming it's a metal helmet — I wouldn't have professional fighters punching me in the face if I was a mascot. Doesn't seem like the brightest thing in the world."
McGregor is scheduled to face Michael Chandler at some point this year, with no date yet set for the welterweight bout. The pair of UFC lightweights are currently head coaches squaring off against each other on the 31st season of the UFC's reality TV program "The Ultimate Fighter."
The fight against Chandler will be the UFC star's return to the octagon after back-to-back losses to Dustin Poirier in 2021, resulting in a leg injury that kept McGregor sidelined.
The UFC star has been focused on his business ventures lately beyond promoting the spray. McGregor is the founder of Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey, TIDL Sport, the August McGregor business suit clothing line, and sporting fitness platform McGregor FAST-- making him the richest and most financially successful fighter in UFC history.
McGregor's last victory in the UFC was in January 2020, defeating Donald Cerrone in a return fight after a nearly three-year hiatus from the sport. He'll look to replicate being in the win column after the promotion announces a date for his fight against Chandler.
