During the Game 4 of the NBA Finals, Conor McGregor, a mixed martial artist from Ireland, struck the Miami Heat mascot. This resulted in the mascot requiring medical attention.
When former UFC champion McGregor knocked down 'Burnie,' who was sporting huge boxing gloves, with a left hook and then added another punch while the injured Miami mascot lay on his back during game four between the Heat and Denver Nuggets, what was intended as a publicity ploy went horribly wrong.
'Burnie,' a "rough, anthropomorphic rendition of the flame featured on the Heat's emblem," was carried off the field by three spectators. It was afterwards claimed that the person wearing the mascot outfit was transported to the emergency department of a neighbouring hospital for treatment.
The mascot is reportedly healing after being released from the hospital, however the Heat have failed to comment on the event.
The Miami Herald said that "the person who is wearing the Burnie costume has never publicly disclosed his name and the team does not identify him in its media guide."
McGregor stayed throughout the whole game as the Nuggets won 108-95 to take a 3-1 series lead despite being booed by a large portion of the Miami fans even before he entered the floor.
Dana White, president of the UFC, questioned the custom of mascots receiving blows from "professional fighters," bringing up the instance from last year in which Deontay Wilder, a former world heavyweight boxing champion, was asked to demonstrate his punching prowess on a hot-dog-like creature.
When asked about the McGregor incident during the UFC 289 post-fight news conference, White responded, "I watched the Deontay Wilder one too.
"What the heck is going on with professional boxers punching mascots in the face? Why should I anticipate that?
What material is that mascot made of? Except if you have a metal helmet like the Golden Knights mascot...
If I were a mascot, "doesn't seem like the smartest idea in the world" to have professional boxers strike me in the face.
When former UFC champion McGregor knocked down 'Burnie,' who was sporting huge boxing gloves, with a left hook and then added another punch while the injured Miami mascot lay on his back during game four between the Heat and Denver Nuggets, what was intended as a publicity ploy went horribly wrong.
'Burnie,' a "rough, anthropomorphic rendition of the flame featured on the Heat's emblem," was carried off the field by three spectators. It was afterwards claimed that the person wearing the mascot outfit was transported to the emergency department of a neighbouring hospital for treatment.
The mascot is reportedly healing after being released from the hospital, however the Heat have failed to comment on the event.
The Miami Herald said that "the person who is wearing the Burnie costume has never publicly disclosed his name and the team does not identify him in its media guide."
McGregor stayed throughout the whole game as the Nuggets won 108-95 to take a 3-1 series lead despite being booed by a large portion of the Miami fans even before he entered the floor.
Dana White, president of the UFC, questioned the custom of mascots receiving blows from "professional fighters," bringing up the instance from last year in which Deontay Wilder, a former world heavyweight boxing champion, was asked to demonstrate his punching prowess on a hot-dog-like creature.
When asked about the McGregor incident during the UFC 289 post-fight news conference, White responded, "I watched the Deontay Wilder one too.
"What the heck is going on with professional boxers punching mascots in the face? Why should I anticipate that?
What material is that mascot made of? Except if you have a metal helmet like the Golden Knights mascot...
If I were a mascot, "doesn't seem like the smartest idea in the world" to have professional boxers strike me in the face.
