Conor McGregor is reportedly refusing to fight in Las Vegas, Nevada after the Nevada State Athletic Commission decided to fine him $150,000 (along with 50 hours community service) for throwing water bottles at Nate Diaz and his camp during a wild UFC 202 pre-fight press conference.
The stiff punishment was announced on Tuesday and Dana White later revealed that McGregor told him his future fights need to be located somewhere other than Sin City.
Speaking with Colin Cowherd, White said:
“I wasn’t thrilled about it when it happened, and we did the best we could to contain it at the time, but come on,” White said. “The other problem with that is Conor McGregor hit me yesterday and said, ‘I don’t ever want to fight in Nevada again. Ever.’
“Now how does that make sense for the state of Nevada? That you’re going to try to fine this kid and Nate that much money, it just makes people not want to come fight in out state and that’s not a good thing.”
“Guess what? Conor McGregor doesn’t need Nevada,” White said. “He can fight anywhere. He can fight in Iowa. We can put his fight on an island off the coast of anywhere. This makes no sense for the state. It’s just terrible.”
McGregor helped rake in nearly $16 million in Nevada this year alone with two near record-setting gates at UFC 196 and UFC 202.
The featherweight champ's next bout will be in New York City for UFC 205- he'll be gunning for Eddie Alvarez's lightweight title at Madison Square Garden on November 12th.