Conor McGregor brought back memories of his humorous halftime show antics with the Miami Heat mascot, Burnie, as he promoted one of his businesses. During the NBA Finals in June 2023, McGregor stole the halftime spotlight at the Kaseya Center by playfully “knocking out” Burnie and then spritzing him with his TIDL pain relief spray. The viral footage resurfaced nearly a year later when McGregor reposted it on X, captioning it with a plug for his product: “@tidlsport say goodbye to pain!”
While McGregor’s antics garnered laughs, they also sparked a slight backlash as the Miami Heat mascot reportedly ended up in the hospital with minor injuries. Nevertheless, the incident served as a valuable lesson for those involved to not underestimate McGregor’s playful yet impactful presence.
Despite his undefeated record in halftime shows, McGregor’s fans are more eager to see him back in the Octagon after a three-year hiatus. Since his gruesome leg injury in July 2021, McGregor underwent an extensive recovery process before facing various obstacles, including USADA regulations, commitments to the ‘Road House’ movie remake, and scheduling conflicts.
Now, McGregor is set to make his highly-anticipated return during International Fight Week on June 29 at UFC 303. His opponent, Michael Chandler, also endured a lengthy hiatus since his last fight, a third-round submission loss to Dustin Poirier in November 2022. Chandler, known as ‘Iron,’ has eagerly awaited his chance to face McGregor after their stint as opposite coaches on ‘The Ultimate Fighter Season 31.’
Their showdown, scheduled in the welterweight division at 170 pounds, promises to be a must-see event inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Both fighters bring a mix of skill, charisma, and determination, making McGregor vs. Chandler a bout fans won’t want to miss.
