One fighter set to compete at Saturday’s UFC Atlanta event was among those impacted by Conor McGregor’s criminal actions in 2018.
McGregor has had plenty of heated rivalries throughout his mixed martial arts career, but none can hold a candle to one particular bitter feud.
In 2018, McGregor challenged for Khabib Nurmagomedov’s lightweight title. After submitting the Irishman, ‘The Eagle’ began an infamous brawl by jumping over the cage and attacking McGregor’s corner.
That was the culmination of a tense and often controversial build-up, during which McGregor was accused of frequently crossing the line with his words.
But when it came to Nurmagomedov, McGregor physically crossed the line even before their matchup was made official.
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Michael Chiesa was injured by Conor McGregor’s bus attack
McGregor and Nurmagomedov’s rivalry was sparked before the latter reached the lightweight throne at UFC 223. An altercation between the Dagestani and Artem Lobov, McGregor’s teammate, led to the former two-division champ putting ‘The Eagle’ in his sights.
On UFC 223 media day, McGregor targeted Nurmagomedov by attacking a bus he was on alongside other fighters on the Brooklyn card.
The Dubliner threw a steel dolly through one of the vehicle’s windows, injuring some fighters and UFC staff. Among them was Michael Chiesa, who suffered a cut on his head from the broken glass and was pulled from his fight against Anthony Pettis as a result.
Following his arrest, McGregor avoided jail after striking a plea deal. But the Irishman had to battle more than just criminal proceedings.
Months removed from the attack, Chiesa sued McGregor for negligence, negligent infliction of emotional distress, intentional infliction of emotional distress, assault and battery, and a number of other claims.
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Michael Chiesa agreed to drop Conor McGregor lawsuit after settlement
In his lawsuit, the UFC welterweight claimed he had “experienced pain, suffering and a loss of enjoyment of life” and “economic loss, loss of opportunities and economic damages” as he has been “unable to attend to his usual avocation and activities.”
It took four years for a resolution, with McGregor’s attorneys arguing that he had not intentionally targeted Chiesa and so could not be held liable.
That was originally accepted by a judge and led to reduced claims against the UFC star, but an appellate judge ruled that the dismissal was incorrect and revived several of the original lawsuit’s claims.
In 2022, the case concluded after Chiesa and McGregor settled their lawsuit in Kings County (N.Y) Supreme Court. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
The traumatic experience is now in the distant past for Chiesa, who continues to fight in the UFC at the age of 37.
‘Maverick’, a winner on The Ultimate Fighter, will compete in the Octagon for the 21st time at the UFC Fight Night event in Atlanta on June 14. After winning two straight fights against Tony Ferguson and Max Griffin, Chiesa will now look to defeat Court McGee to continue his late career resurgence.