Conor McGregor court appearance: UFC star pleads guilty to disorderly conduct violation after bus attack, handed community service

Fighter handed five days of community service and instructed to attend anger management classes

UFC star Conor McGregor has avoided jail time – and possible US immigration troubles – by pleading guilty to a single, misdemeanour charge for his involvement in a violent incident in New York earlier this year.

The spirited 30-year-old entered a plea deal in Brooklyn criminal court that saw his two felony charges reduced to a single misdemeanour. He was sentenced to five days of community service and anger management classes.

The plea deal had reportedly been in the works since Mr McGregor’s last court appearance in June, after which the usually headline-grabbing star appeared to be on his best behaviour.

“I just want to say I'm thankful to the DA and the judge for allowing me to move forward,” McGregor said, standing outside court on Thursday. “I want to say to my friends, my family, my fans, thank you for the support.”

The fighter and his entourage then rushed to a waiting SUV, separated by bike-rack barricades from dozens of photographers and reporters. A small contingent of the Dublin native’s fans were easily identified by their accents, and by an Irish flag draped around one of their necks.

Mr McGregor was charged with three counts of assault and one count of criminal mischief in April in connection with a backstage melee at the nearby Barclays Center. Footage of the incident, which went viral, appeared to show Mr McGregor throwing a trolly at a bus carrying fellow fighters after a news conference for UFC 223.

The UFC, the sport’s premier organising body, said one fighter was hit by the trolly as it flew through the window, while another suffered a cut to his eye after the glass shattered. At the time, McGregor was angry that the UFC had stripped him of the lightweight title, according to profanity-laced messages he posted on Twitter.

Mr McGregor initially faced up to 7 years of jail time and possible threats to his American visa if convicted on all counts. His plea on Thursday spared him jail time and immigration woes, but also opened him up to the possibility of civil suits over the incident, according to legal experts.

Mr McGregor was also ordered to pay for damages to the bus.

Fellow fighter Cian Cowley, also charged in the incident, was ordered on Thursday to perform three days of community service and attend anger management classes.

The Associated Press said the charges to which the two men pleaded guilty were technically violations, which means they will have no criminal record. However, if they violate the terms of their agreement, they could be sentenced to 15 days in jail.

CBS said a spokesperson for the Brooklyn district attorney’s office called it “a fair resolution that holds the defendant accountable, ensures restitution for the victims and requires the defendant to perform community service where he can reflect on his conduct and give back to society".

Mr McGregor is now free to pursue a return to the UFC octagon. High on the list of potential opponents is Khabib Nurmagomedov – a fighter who was inside the bus on the night of the attack.

“UFC working on fight – me versus Conor,” Mr Nurmagomedov said in a live chat with fans on Instagram last month. “If they give Conor, I’m going to fight. If they give different opponent … it doesn’t matter. Let’s go."