Conor McGregor petitions Nevada court for judicial review of NSAC suspension

UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor once wished the Nevada State Athletic Commission luck in trying to get a $150,000 fine from him. Now he’ll see them in court.

According to the Clark County (Nevada) civil court records, McGregor has filed a petition for judicial review naming NSAC Executive Director Bob Bennett and the NSAC as respondents.

Bennett did not immediately respond to a request for comment from MMAjunkie. A hearing date has yet to be scheduled.

McGregor was fined 5 percent of his disclosed pay at UFC 202 for his role in a press conference melee with opponent Nate Diaz where water bottles were thrown.

The Irish champ also was given 50 hours of community service, 10 percent of which was to go toward his participation in an NSAC-branded public service announcement on anti-bullying. In an odd twist, the commission also mandated that half of the fine go toward funding the ad.

McGregor was contrite as he phoned into the hearing to give his side of the story, claiming he threw a water bottle only when he saw an object flying at his teammate. He apologized for his role in the incident and declared, “I acted wrong, and all I will say is I’m sorry for this.”

The apology did little to deter the commission, which moved to up the penalty McGregor faced from the $25,000 fine, 25 hours of community service, and five hours “media training” recommended by the attorney general’s office representing it.

Now-former NSAC commissioner Pat Lundvall suggested the commission get 5 percent of McGregor’s purse while Michon Martin suggested 10 percent, or $300,000. Commissioner Francisco Aguilar and chairman Anthony Marnell balked at the figure.

“I have a really hard time with a $300,000 fine for throwing a water bottle,” Aguilar, a former chairman, said.

Meanwhile, Diaz’s hearing for his role in the incident has yet to be scheduled by the commission.

McGregor’s petition isn’t the first time a fighter has challenged an NSAC’s ruling. In 2014, former PRIDE champ and UFC fighter Wanderlei Silva sought a review of a lifetime ban issued by the commission when he evaded a drug test in connection with UFC 175. A judge subsequently ruled the punishment was “arbitrary and capricious” and overturned it, sending the case back to the commission for a re-hearing.

Silva (35-12-1) has yet to have the case reviewed after several delays.

McGregor (21-3 MMA, 9-1 UFC), the lightweight champ and No. 1 fighter in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA lightweight rankings, is biding his time after winning the title at UFC 205 and reportedly relinquishing the belt. As of late, he’s been talking up a boxing match with retired champ Floyd Mayweather, a prospect that’s been fiercely shot down by UFC President Dana White.

For complete coverage of UFC 202, check out the UFC Events section of MMAjunkie.