Conor McGregor Knocks Out Heat Mascot In Bizarre Promotion At NBA Finals
Jun 11, 2023, 10:27 AM
MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 09: Conor McGregor is seen in attendance during Game Four of the 2023 NBA Finals between the Denver Nuggets and the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center on June 09, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
MIAMI (AP) — Former UFC champion Conor McGregor knocked out the Miami Heat mascot in an NBA Finals midgame bit that went wrong.
Burnie — more specifically, the man who occupies Burnie’s costume — briefly sought medical attention Friday night after taking two punches from McGregor during a third-quarter stoppage of Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Heat and the Denver Nuggets.
Conor McGregor KO’d the Heat mascot 😅 #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/IRAKzuMKp2
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 10, 2023
The Heat said Saturday that the employee, who was not identified, received pain medication and was resting at home.
RELATED: Delta Center, Salt Lake City To Host Third UFC Event In July
McGregor was there as a promotional gimmick for a pain-relief spray — and was booed by many in the Miami crowd even before the bit started. The flame mascot was wearing oversized boxing gloves and a robe akin to what a fighter would wear entering the ring for a bout. McGregor hit Burnie with a left hook, knocking him down, then punched the mascot again after he hit the floor.
The Heat’s mascot was sent to the ER last night after getting hit too hard by Conor McGregor in a mid-game skit during Game 4 😳
(via @sam_amick) pic.twitter.com/fv5tR0wbRb
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 10, 2023
McGregor then tried to “spray” the mascot with the pain-relief product, while several members of the Heat’s in-game promotional team dragged Burnie off the court.
McGregor hasn’t fought since injuring his left leg in a loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021. His last win came in January 2020.
