mma / News

Conor McGregor Facing Lawsuit for Throwing Can at UFC 202 Press Conference

September 10, 2017 | Posted by Jeffrey Harris

Conor McGregor was just a part of one of the biggest events in the history of combat sports in his blockbuster boxing match with Floyd Mayweather and received a huge payday. However, it seems now he’s going to have to face a legal issue pending from the incident where he threw Monster Energy cans during a pre-fight press conference for UFC 202 involving opponent Nate Diaz. The Blast reports that a man claiming he was hit by a can of Monster Energy thrown by the UFC lightweight champion.

During the pre-fight press conference for the event in August 2016, McGregor and Diaz got into a kerfuffle, and they started throwing objects at the MGM Grand’s David Copperfield Theater in Las Vegas, Nevada. McGregor threw an energy drink toward Diaz and his group.

The man who is filing the suit against McGregor is William Pegg, who claims he was struck by the can McGregor threw. Pegg claims he sustained $5,000 in medical bills due to injuries from the collision with the object. Pegg is reportedly asking for $95,000 based on McGregor’s presumed $15 million payout for his fight with Diaz for the event.

The lawsuit was actually previously filed last March on March 28. McGregor and his legal team then responded by denying liability on July 27. McGregor Sports & Entertainment is also listed as a defendant for the lawsuit.

As a result of the incident, the Nevada State Athletic Commission fined McGregor $25,000 and 25 hours of community service. Diaz was fined $15,000 and given 15 hours of community service for his role in the incident.

Conor McGregor went on to defeat Diaz at UFC 202 by unanimous decision in their rematch from UFC 196, which Nate Diaz won by submission. McGregor’s eventual return to the UFC to defend his title has not yet been confirmed.