VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Dana White wasn’t too surprised to see Conor McGregor’s stunt with the Miami Heat mascot go wrong.
McGregor was in attendance for Game 4 of the 2023 NBA Finals between the Heat and Denver Nuggets at Kaseya Center in Miami to promote his cryotherapy spray, TIDL.
Midway through the game, McGregor was confronted by Heat mascot “Burnie,” who sported a pair of boxing gloves in a pre-planned product skit. McGregor met him with a left hand and a follow-up shot on the ground, which injured the mascot.
According to a report from The Atheltic, the incident required an emergency room visit for the main inside the costume, who man received pain medication before he was released.
“I saw the Deontay Wilder one, too,” White told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “What’s up with mascots wanting to get punched in the face by professional fighters? What do you expect? I mean, what are those mascot things made out of?
“Unless you’re like, the Golden Knights mascot – I don’t even know what the hell 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 (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) recently wrapped up filming Season 31 of “The Ultimate Fighter” opposite fellow coach Michael Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC). The show airs Tuesdays on ESPN and ESPN+ through Aug. 15, and the coaches are expected to square off after the conclusion of the show, but a date for their fight is yet to be announced.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 289.
