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05th Apr 2018

Artem Lobov pulled from UFC 223 card for role in bus attack

Was it really worth it?

Darragh Murphy

Whatever Conor McGregor and his crew were trying to accomplish, all they’ve managed to do is put several careers in jeopardy.

McGregor stormed the Barclays Centre on Thursday afternoon with at least a dozen of his friends and teammates to make his presence felt.

UFC President Dana White has claimed that he was let into the building by credentialed media members who work for The Mac Life, McGregor’s website, before he took an elevator down to a loading dock and began recklessly attacking the buses which were taking fighters from the venue to their hotel.

While ‘The Notorious’ might be the biggest superstar in the history of the UFC, he is not above the law and there could be very serious repercussions following his behaviour in Brooklyn.

White has insisted that a warrant is out for McGregor’s arrest, although police have yet to confirm that, and UFC featherweight Artem Lobov, who was involved in the melee, will no longer be competing on the card.

“Artem’s off the card,” White said. “Artem’s not fighting.”

Lobov was scheduled to face Alex Caceres on the UFC 223 prelims but after being filmed alongside the rampaging McGregor, he has been pulled from his bout.

Lobov’s UFC career was already hanging in the balance as he was riding a two-fight losing skid so it remains unlikely that the organisation would allow him to fight again under their banner.

Lobov’s altercation with UFC lightweight contender Khabib Nurmagomedov earlier this week is likely what sparked McGregor’s pursuit of revenge but putting innocent bystanders in harm’s way was an unwise move.

White also revealed that he hoped the media members who let McGregor’s crew into the building would be arrested while his training partners who were involved may struggle to get UFC contracts down the line.

With Michael Chiesa and a UFC employee injured and UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas shaken up after almost being hit, one would hope that McGregor regrets his actions.

Although he’s not exactly proven himself to be the remorseful type in the past.