Dana White Bus Attack Was No Publicity Stunt Rips Conspiracy Theorists
Dana White is adamant the UFC had nothing to do with planning the Conor McGregor melee -- and slams theories it was all a publicity stunt gone sideways.
"I'm seeing tons of dummies out there saying this is something staged," White said on "TMZ Live" -- "That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard in my life."
White says he was horrified by McGregor's actions and says the whole thing is "just a disaster."
"I still can't believe it's real and that it actually happened."
White says he would NEVER put Conor or any of his fighters in a dangerous situation to sell a fight, and he's livid at McGregor.
So, what caused Conor to go berserk? White explains that too, telling us Conor wanted violent revenge for an incident that occurred between his friend Artem Lobov and Khabib a few days earlier.
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UFC's Michael Chiesa Files Police Report Against Conor ... After Bus Attack
One of the UFC fighters Conor McGregor injured during his window-smashin' bus attack at the Barclays Center has filed a police report against the Irishman ... TMZ Sports has learned.
Our sources say Michael Chiesa -- who was hospitalized with facial lacerations -- spoke with cops at the arena after the incident on Thursday ... and again when they visited his hotel later that night.
Of course, Conor was also arrested late Thursday night ... and charged with 1 count of felony criminal mischief and 3 counts of misdemeanor assault.
We're told one of the assault charges is for injuring Chiesa ... who was forced to withdraw from his fight vs. Anthony Pettis at UFC 223 as a result of his injuries.
Dana White previously told us McGregor will likely be sued by several people involved in the incident ... so stay tuned.
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Conor McGregor Leaves Police Station In Handcuffs
Conor McGregor was just escorted out of an NYPD precinct in Brooklyn -- wearing handcuffs ... and TMZ Sports has the footage.
McGregor was arrested late Thursday night for attacking a UFC bus with a dolly -- shattering a window and injuring multiple people, including UFC fighters Michael Chiesa and Ray Borg.
He was arrested for misdemeanor assault and felony criminal mischief and spent the night in the precinct.
McGregor is NOT being released -- he's being transported to court where he will be arraigned.
Also, McGregor's mug shot has now gone public.
Dana White previously told us McGregor is in a ton of trouble ... and outside of the criminal case, he'll likely be sued by several people involved in the incident.
White also told us his fighting future is in jeopardy ... but would not say if the UFC will cut ties with Conor going forward.
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Muhammad Ali Robe from 'Phantom Punch' Fight Going Up for Grabs!
The robe Muhammad Ali wore on the night of his world-famous "phantom punch" 1965 fight against Sonny Liston is about to hit the auction block -- but it ain't gonna come cheap!
Goldin Auctions is putting the historic ringwear up for grabs with a starting bid of $75k ... but we're told the terry cloth robe with "Muhammad Ali" stitched on the back should fetch a quarter mil, at least!!
It ain't hard to see why -- Ali's rematch vs. Liston was one of the biggest fights in The Greatest's career. It was also his first bout after becoming a Black Muslim ... and recognizing himself as Muhammad Ali instead of Cassius Clay.
"The historical significance of this robe is tremendous, not just for its link to one of the greatest fights in boxing history, but also for the cultural impact Ali’s religious beliefs made," G.A. tells TMZ Sports.
The fight also spawned one of the most iconic images in sports history -- Ali standing over Liston after KO'ing him with the "phantom punch."
FYI, if you're worried about authenticity, the robe comes with a notarized letter of provenance from the guy who got the threads straight from Ali's trainer, Angelo Dundee.
Mark your calendar, boxing junkies -- bidding starts on April 9!
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Meek Mill Prison Visit from 76ers Star Rookies
Meek Mill got some surprise visitors in prison this week -- Philadelphia 76ers stars Markelle Fultz and Ben Simmons ... TMZ Sports has learned.
We're told 76ers co-owner Michael Rubin organized the visit ... hoping Meek could provide some inspiration for the rookie stars so they can make a push for the NBA playoffs. Rubin's been a huge supporter of Meek while he's been locked up, visiting often and bringing along other players, like Joel Embiid.
One source with knowledge of the situation tells us ... "the conversation was very positive and Meek's spirits are still high. He is also proud of the 76ers."
Meek also dished out some "words of wisdom" for the guys.
Remember, Meek also received a ton of support and love from the Philadelphia Eagles during their Super Bowl run -- so, maybe he's the key to success?!
Stay tuned ...
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UFC's Max Holloway Fight with Khabib Canceled Max Not Medically Cleared
Things just got even worse for UFC 223 -- Max Holloway was not medically cleared to fight in the main event vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov, according to multiple reports ... less than 24 hours after Conor McGregor’s violent bus attack forced 3 FIGHTS off the card.
Remember -- Max took the fight on 6 DAYS notice and had a ton of weight to cut. Seems his health was at risk in the final hours before hitting the scale ... and doctors had to call it off.
Holloway issued a statement shortly after learning the bad news -- "(Khabib) my brother I want to keep going but they are stopping me. Sorry to your team and the fans. You don’t deserve this."
As of now, unclear if another fighter could step in on a day's notice to fight Khabib.
FYI, doctors already told Michael Chiesa (facial cuts) and Ray Borg (eye cuts) they can't fight at 223 due to the injuries they suffered during the window-smashing attack by McGregor and his entourage at the Barclays Center.
Conor’s close friend, Artem Lobov, was also yanked from his fight after taking part in Thursday's melee.
Story developing ...
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Chris Brown On Conor McGregor 'We All Get Crazy Sometimes'
Chris Brown can sympathize with Conor McGregor -- telling us when it comes to his crazy bus attack, "We all get crazy sometimes."
Brown would know ... especially when it comes to smashing glass -- the singer famously hulked out and threw a chair through a window at "Good Morning America" back in 2011.
Chris was on probation at the time of the window-smashing incident stemming from another violent outburst -- the 2009 domestic violence incident with Rihanna.
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As for Conor, he was arrested Thursday night in NYC for the bus attack which injured several people including UFC fighters and at least one executive.
His future in the UFC is unclear -- but Dana White says the dude is gonna get sued like crazy.
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Conor McGregor Surrenders to Police ... After Bus Attack
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Conor McGregor just surrendered to authorities in connection with the bus attack at Barclays Center ... TMZ Sports has learned.
As we previously reported, cops wanted to speak with Conor after he threw a dolly into a bus which was carrying several UFC fighters and staffers. Multiple people were injured in the attack -- including fighter Michael Chiesa ... who was hospitalized with lacerations to the face.
Sources tell us Conor has been charged with 3 counts of misdemeanor assault and one count of felony criminal mischief.
We're told one assault charge is for the injuries to Chiesa's face ... and another for allegedly punching someone in the face several times.
We're told the criminal mischief charge is for the damages to the bus, which amounts to approximately $8,000.
TMZ Sports obtained video showing Conor attacking the bus -- so he really has no defense.
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Dana White previously told us McGregor is in a ton of trouble and outside of the criminal case, he'll likely be sued by several people involved in the incident.
White also told us his fighting future is in jeopardy ... but would not say if the UFC will cut ties with Conor going forward.
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Cam Newton In Car Crash with Dump Truck ... In Ferrari
Cam Newton was involved in a collision with a dump truck in Atlanta on Thursday ... and TMZ Sports has a photo from the scene.
We're told the Carolina Panthers quarterback was driving his matte black Ferrari F12 (valued over $300,000) when the collision occurred around 4:00 PM local time.
Atlanta PD confirms the accident occurred but says neither party wanted to fill out a police report.
Unclear what caused the collision or who was at fault -- but calm down, Panthers fans, Newton appeared to be okay after the incident. In fact, he was seen walking the car around in his shorts and one of his funky hats.
FYI, Newton is from Atlanta and still lives there.
28-year-old Newton has been involved in car accidents in the past -- he overturned his car in North Carolina back in 2014. He was hospitalized with minor injuries and ended up being okay.
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Dana White Conor McGregor Is 'Going to Jail' Fighting Future in Jeopardy
Dana White says Conor McGregor is in SERIOUS trouble following his violent bus attack in Brooklyn ... confidently telling TMZ Sports the UFC's biggest star is "going to jail."
We got Dana in NYC -- just hours after McGregor and his goon squad smashed up a bus filled with UFC 223 fighters at the Barclays Center.
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The UFC prez told us he's "very disappointed and upset" with Conor's actions ... and is sure McGregor's punishment will go well beyond anything the UFC could throw at him.
"He's going to jail!!! People are gonna sue him. He's gonna have a bunch of civil lawsuits," White said.
FYI, Dana recently announced Conor would 100% be fighting in the Octagon this year. It's pretty clear those plans are on hold for now.
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Jeremy Lane DUI Video Shows NFL Player Yelling In Pain
TMZ Sports has obtained the police cam video of Jeremy Lane's DUI arrest -- which shows the ex-Seattle Seahawks star questioning why he was busted and then yelling in pain in the cop car.
Lane was initially stopped by the Washington State Patrol for doing 80 in a 60 mph zone on January 14. When cops pulled him over, Lane admitted to smoking weed several hours earlier.
In the video, Lane doesn't understand why he's being arrested since the breathalyzer shows his blood alcohol content was significantly under the legal limit.
The cop tells the 27-year-old he believes Lane is still under the influence of marijuana and the combination of weed and booze was causing him to drive in a dangerous manner.
During the arrest, Lane is placed in cuffs -- but complains that the cuffs are too tight and cutting off circulation to his fingers. At one point he wails in pain and appears to crying.
Lane was initially charged with driving under the influence but ultimately pled guilty to a lesser charge -- reckless driving. A sentencing hearing is set for next month. He's facing up to a year in jail.
The Seahawks cut lane after the arrest. He's currently a free agent.
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Steve Aoki Nut Shotted By UFC's Ken Shamrock!
Here's video of UFC Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock schoolin' Steve Aoki on the finer points of being a fighter -- like taking shots STRAIGHT TO THE BALL BAG.
The painful intro-to-MMA sesh went down at the UFC Performance Center in Vegas ... where Steve was filming a music video for his new EDM collab with Laidback Luke, "It's Time" (get the reference?).
Ken, who was playing Aoki's trainer, was slappin' abs on a core workout when he missed low ... and Steve immediately tapped out on account of the "electric shock across my whole groin."
"Instant stoppage right there," Shamrock said.
The full video -- ft. an Aoki vs. Luke DJ superfight and Octagon announcer Bruce Buffer -- drops on Friday ... but we got a sneak peek for all you candy kids.
Fun fact: Laidback's a WORLD CHAMPION Kung-Fu fighter ... so we hope Shamrock taught Steve some other MMA skills, too.
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Conor McGregor Window-Smashin' Bus Attack ... Insane Video
4/5/18
12:18 PM PT -- TMZ Sports now has video showing Conor picking up a dolly and smashing the side window of the bus.
We spoke with Dana White ... who tells us Michael Chiesa was "cut to pieces" in the attack and is currently hospitalized for his injuries. It's unclear if he will fight as planned at UFC 223.
White says Rose Namajunas was also on the bus and very shaken up after the incident -- telling us she almost broke her hand.
We asked Dana if he will fire Conor as a result of the incident and he told us, "This is bigger than us firing him."
TMZ Sports has obtained video of Conor McGregor and his entourage going BERSERK at the Barclays Center ... attacking a bus leaving the arena with several UFC fighters including Khabib Nurmagomedov.
An object was thrown through one of the bus windows -- and the damage left one fighter, UFC lightweight contender Michael Chiesa, cut up and bloodied.
Unclear who was responsible for shattering the side window but it's clear people on the bus suspect it's Conor.
A member of Conor's entourage then grabbed a chair and threw it at the front windshield of the bus. Conor grabbed a chair and tried to attack as well, but was restrained.
Fighters were at the arena doing media ahead of UFC 223 ... and McGregor was videotaped by several witnesses running around the arena before the incident.
Police sources tell us NYPD got a call for a fight at Barclays involving 25 males ... and EMS was called to the scene to treat injuries.
Unclear what may have triggered the incident, but Khabib did get into a heated confrontation with Conor's good friend and training partner, Artem Lobov, Tuesday at the UFC fighters' hotel in New York.
Story developing ...
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Lonzo Ball & GF We're Havin' a Girl!!
Lady Baller Alert ... Lonzo Ball and his girlfriend are having a baby girl!!
TMZ Sports broke the story ... Zo's H.S. sweetheart Denise Garcia is pregnant with a Baby Baller. Zo talked with Mike Trudell about his kid on the way on Thursday, revealing the baby is due July 16.
We're told the pregnancy is going well and the baby is looking healthy. Denise's family is excited to meet the baby. Zo says adding a girl to the BBB empire is gonna be a big change.
"It’s crazy. My whole family is all boys. We only have like two girls in the whole family," Ball says. "It’s just my mom and her mom. My dad has five brothers (and two sisters), I have my two brothers (obviously). All boys."
Congrats!
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Conor McGregor 'Put Our Lives in Danger, F**k You!' ... Says UFC's Felice Herrig
UFC fighter Felice Herrig says Conor McGregor endangered the lives of everyone at the Barclays Center -- including her own -- and she's GOING OFF on the Irishman for his violent bus attack.
We spoke with Felice in the immediate aftermath of Conor and his goon squad smashing the windows of a bus filled with UFC fighters ... and she told us what he did is unforgivable.
"He put our lives in danger," Herrig told TMZ Sports. "What if a security guy or a cop comes and starts shooting ... somebody gets caught in the line of fire?"
"F**k you, Conor McGregor. F**k you."
4/5/18
FYI, Felice was in a UFC fighters' bus at Barclays that was NOT attacked ... but UFC fighter Michael Chiesa wasn't so lucky, suffering facial lacerations from the broken glass.
Herrig says it's clear Conor thinks he's "untouchable" -- above the law 'cause of all his fame and fortune -- and his actions, no matter the motive, are beyond childish.
But, good news for Felice -- it appears Conor is in SERIOUS legal trouble.
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Ice Cube and BIG3 Sue Qatari Investors For $1 Billion!!!
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Ice Cube and his partner in the BIG3 basketball league have filed a $1 BILLION lawsuit against multiple Qatari investors who allegedly failed to pony up their money for the league.
TMZ Sports has obtained the complaint in which Cube and Jeff Kwatinetz are suing several individuals including Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Thani ... the CEO of the Qatari Investment Authority.
Cube says the Qataris were supposed to invest $5 MILLION and be passive investors in the league -- but instead "quickly started to insinuate themselves into the affairs of BIG3 despite failing to live up to even their most basic obligation to fully fund their investment."
Cube says the Qataris would openly brag about their individual wealth -- with one guy, Ahmed Al-Rumaihi, even blowing $700k during a gambling session in Vegas following the BIG3 championship game.
"These members and associates of the royal family made excuse after excuse for not paying, all of which is documented in text messages and emails, where the blame for their failure to fund the millions they owed the BIG3 ran the gamut from their 'sinuses,' 'hiking,' it being a 'long day bro,' and to bad press regarding Qatar associations with alleged funding of terrorism."
"Also, like a simple debtor in hiding from a collection agency, these Defendants with their purported links to the Qatar royal family, would go into hiding and refused to return phone calls and ignore Plaintiffs."
Cube says in Dec. 2017, Kwatinetz attempted to set up a meeting with Al-Rumaihi who instead of substantively responding "sent a picture of his teeth being worked on, apparently to conjure sympathy."
, Cube claims Al-Rumaihi eventually got so pissed off over the repeated requests for the money that he loudly screamed at Kwatinetz and threatened his life saying, "You don't know who I know in L.A. and what they're capable of. You should think of your safety and the safety of you and your family."
Cube and Kwatinetz are now seeking $1.2 BILLION in damages in order to pay $20 million per player in the league.