The UFC is “incredibly” disappointed with lightweight fighter Conor McGregor said Lawrence Epstein, COO of the sporting body.
“We’ve come so far in legitimizing the sport and growing our business,” the exec told Cheddar in an in interview Friday. “[His behavior] is just not representative of who we are.”
McGregor was arrested Thursday for an altercation in Brooklyn where he attacked a bus full of fellow UFC fighters, injuring two of them.
“The first thing that’s got to happen is a criminal investigation,” Epstein said. Once that is over, the UFC will decide what to do internally and the option of kicking the fighter out of the UFC is not off the table, he said.
McGregor is known for his flamboyant and provocative antics. For example, he swiped Floyd Mayweather Jr. with racist and demeaning slurs ahead of their highly anticipated UFC-boxing crossover match last year.
The league, which celebrated its 25th anniversary Friday, hosts UFC 223 Saturday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Since its inception, it’s [evolved](https://cheddar.com/videos/how-the-ufc-has-changed-over-its-25-year-history) from being a “very spectacle-oriented, niche, U.S.-centric sport to...a truly global brand,” said Epstein.
He added that the body has worked very hard at making it a safe and regulated space with no tolerance for fighters like McGregor.
For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/cheddar-steps-into-the-octagon-with-ufc).
The congressman responded to the school shooting in Parkland, Fla., expressing frustration that Democrats have introduced bills that could prevent mass shootings, but Republicans don't support them.
Karen Crouse, the New York Times sports reporter who broke the story about figure skater Adam Rippon's eating disorder, discusses the future of sports in a space where lean, light figures are encouraged.
What did John Kelly know and when did he know it? Plus, the Olympic gold medal-winning snowboarder sparking controversy. A preview of the Daytona 500, and Happy Valentine's Day! With FanSided, The Root, Moët & Chandon, and Zimbio.
Police in Florida respond to a deadly high school shooting in Parkland. Congressman Joe Kennedy talks about bringing the Democratic message to millennial voters, and President Trump's Infrastructure plan.
Darrell "Bubba" Wallace Jr. says his two favorite platforms are Twitter and Instagram. Ahead of this weekend's 60th running of Daytona 500, he shares what he does the morning of a race.
Models Georgia Gibbs and Chase Carter talk about what it's like to be swimsuit models and inspire a new generation. The magazine's annual swimsuit issue features women with an "In Her Own Words" message.
Cheddar's Patrick Jones interviews NASCAR driver Darrell 'Bubba' Wallace Jr. live from the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Florida. The 60th running of the Daytona 500 is on Sunday.
Team USA is dominating the snowboarding field, winning gold at the first four events. Shaun White is the latest, but his big win is stirring up controversy.
NASCAR is set to rev its engines for the 60th running of the Daytona 500. Driver Aric Almirola joins Cheddar from the Daytona International Speedway to reveal how he prepares for the big race.
The racecar driver joined Cheddar ahead of this weekend's Daytona 500. He says he invests so he can preserve the winnings he's been lucky enough to earn, because he doesn't want to up like some lottery winners and professional athletes who go broke.
