Conor McGregor faces fine or ban for altercation with referee at Bellator MMA 187 event

Conor McGregor faces a hefty ban, a suspension or licence removal after he was embroiled in an altercation with a referee and threw a punch at another official inside the 'cage' at the Bellator MMA 187 event in Dublin late on Friday. 

The two-weight UFC champion was at the rival fight league event in the Irish capital to support his team-mate Charlie Ward, who has worked as his bodyguard, take on rival John Redmond.

Because he is not a licensed cornerman, McGregor was not permitted to enter the cage, but during the bout stood in front of the media seats bellowing instructions to Ward. 

As the fight ended in the final seconds of the first round, with Ward knocking out Redmond, McGregor ran from the first row and climbed into the cage to celebrate, but referee Marc Goddard pushed him away, ordering him out of the octagon.

It sparked a melee as McGregor retaliated by pushing the referee, shouting and pointing at him before he was escorted out. 

Seconds later, McGregor then ran to the other side of the cage, and climbed up on to the top, with the Bellator official attempting to block the Irishman from entering.

McGregor threw a left hand at the official, believed to be Bellator logistics chief Michael Johnson, which landed on his face. 

It is the latest saga in which McGregor has seemingly been unable to control himself. 

He was fined in Las Vegas last year for throwing a water bottle at a news conference, and was fined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

McGregor's behaviour is likely to have serious consequences. Mike Mazzulli, the ad hoc commissioner at the Bellator event and a powerful figure as president of the Association of Boxing Commissions, may well take action. 

Mazzulli told The Telegraph: "Mr McGregor is not bigger than the sport of MMA. That's all I'm saying right now." 

Video evidence of the incident spread quickly on social media, while another video clearly shows McGregor angry at referee Goddard even during the fight.

There is history between the pair. Goddard reprimanded McGregor during  his team-mate Artem Lobov's fight with Andre Fili in Poland last month. 

Goddard, one of the sport's most experienced and respected officials,  said that he "was saddened" by the events. 

McGregor, who six years ago was an apprentice plumber on the dole, has enjoyed a stellar rise, winning both the UFC featherweight and lightweight belts while earning tens of millions of dollars. It led to a crossover fight with Floyd Mayweather in a boxing match in August, in which he was beaten, yet for which it has been reported that he earned in the region of $100 million.

McGregor has not fought as a mixed martial artist in UFC since stopping Eddie Alvarez to capture the 155lb crown in November last year.

Reports on Friday night that McGregor had later been arrested by police at a hotel  next to the 3Arena following a further altercation were firmly denied by senior staff.

Not only could McGregor be facing sanctions, but it was a huge PR blunder for the UFC fighter who gave the UFC's rival promotion Bellator massive publicity for its event, shown on tape delay to millions of viewers in the United States.

Tony Ferguson, the next challenger to McGregor's UFC lightweight belt, said that he believes the Irishman "will vacate the belt" and that it was a clear indication of "the mindset of a fighter who is mentally not ready to defend his crown".