Dana White on UFC 229 weigh-in fan fight: 'Things like that have never happened'

No sport leans into the hype game like fighting.

Nobody plays the hype game better than Conor McGregor, whose mouth has made him his millions as much as his fighting prowess.

McGregor calls Khabib’s manager a ‘terrorist snitch’

From accusing Khabib Nurmagomedov’s manager of being a “terrorist snitch” involved in the Sept. 11 attacks to promising to rattle Khabib’s brain Saturday, McGregor knows how to stoke the flames and draw the pay-per-views.

When national pride and Conor McGregor get involved, things can get tense in and out of the Octagon. (Getty)

Fans fight in stands

That incitement that often plays on lines of race or national pride can reach outside the Octagon amongst fans and was on full display Friday night at the end of an energized spectacle of a weigh-in between McGregor and Khabib ahead of their UFC 229 headliner in Las Vegas.


UFC president Dana White heard about the fight and seemed genuinely surprised that things escalated to that level.

“Normally when our fans show up, everybody treats each other with respect,” White said. “Things like that have never happened.”

Fans talk after the fight

Yahoo Sports caught up with two of the fans involved in the scuffle, who said the fight wasn’t about pride for the fighters, but bad behavior in the stands.


Whatever the true cause, the energy and the animosity surrounding a fight is always at a different level when McGregor is involved.

More UFC 229 coverage from Yahoo Sports:

• McGregor’s trash-talk game is on point
• Kevin Iole: Who will win McGregor-Nurmagomedov fight?
• UFC 229 could set a major record on Saturday
• Dan Wetzel: This time McGregor isn’t faking the hate