UFC president Dana White has levelled the Nevada Athetic Commission 'idiots' after the slapped a hefty fine on Conor McGregor for his role in the water bottle throwing incident prior to UFC 202.
White was approached (or accosted depending on how you view the footage) by TMZ outside a restaurant where he claimed that Las Vegas needs Conor McGregor more than the other way around.
This defence of McGregor will likely do nothing to ease the cries of favouritism by other UFC fighters, but the fine was far too high as the commission sought to make an example out of the high-profile fighter.
If you threw a water bottle, and you got fined $150,000, would you fight there again?
If you threw a water bottle and they fined you $25,000... That's a lot of money! I would not [fight there again].
That guy can fight in Iowa and sell tickets. That guy can fight on an island off the coast of Peru, and still sell tickets. Las Vegas needs him, he doesn't need Las Vegas.
Yeah I do [have McGregor's back], everybody does on this. If you throw a water bottle and get fined $150,000, that's crazy.
A staunch defense of McGregor there, the UFC president doesn't hide it when it comes to having McGregor's back. If you make the organisation the money that Conor does, you're going to have the higher-ups in your corner.
You can watch White's interview with an insufferable TMZ reporter below:
White has also today suggested that good news is coming for UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz. Someone who has recently claimed that he would defeat McGregor at either 145 or 155 in a superfight, speculation is beginning to mount that the deal may be on the horizon, but that will almost certainly not be the case here.
It seems highly unlikely that Cruz vs McGregor would be announced before the Irishman takes on Eddie Alvarez, more likely is confirmation that Cruz will fight Cody Garbrant, as the two have been feuding heavily in recent times. Don't be surprised to see that fight announced as the co-main event for UFC 206 alongside Rousey vs Nunes.
