Conor McGregor calls out 'strange' UFC decision and huge problem with White House event

Conor McGregor took to X to describe the “strange” thing he noticed during UFC Freedom 250.

The White House card certainly did not disappoint, with Justin Gaethje dethroning Ilia Topuria as lightweight champion. UFC commentator Joe Rogan described the result as “one of the biggest upsets in the history of the sport”.

Earlier in the night, Bo Nickal stopped Kyle Daukaus in the first round of their middleweight contest, before Mauricio Ruffy also stopped Michael Chandler in the opening round of their bout.

Controversial heavyweight Josh Hokit took two rounds to beat Derrick Lewis by KO. The entertainment and stoppages did not end there, with Sean O’Malley defeating Aiemann Zahabi by second-round knockout as 4,300 spectators – including President Donald Trump – watched from the South Lawn, while at least 75,000 people watched from the nearby Ellipse.

In the co-main event, Ciryl Gane won the interim heavyweight title with a second-round KO of Alex Pereira before Gaethje stole the show against Topuria.

READ MORE: Ilia Topuria looks unrecognisable after suffering brutal facial injuries vs Justin Gaethje

Despite the entertainment on show, McGregor, who is set to return to action after a five-year hiatus when he takes on Max Holloway at UFC 329 on July 12, pointed out how few MMA legends were present at the event.

“Strange how not one MMA legend was at the fights tonight, yet a load of little boxers scared of an MMA fight were?” he wrote on X.

Among the notable names from the world of boxing was British heavyweight Tyson Fury, while several other celebrities were also in attendance, including Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Actor Adam Sandler, film director Guy Ritchie and NFL legend Tom Brady were reportedly among those who received invitations but decided against attending.

McGregor later became embroiled in a social media spat with boxing legend Terence Crawford, who mocked Topuria by posting: “This the guy that said he would knock me out and whoop me and Shakur at the same time?”

The Irishman leapt to his fellow UFC star’s defence, responding: “What the f*** are you saying? You can wrestle, yet you are afraid of an MMA fight.

“That, to me, is pitiful. The kid was beaten in an MMA fight, of which you don’t have the courage for.

“What the f*** was with all these little boxers at this show, yet no MMA fighters?

“#TheseBoysAintManEnough.”

McGregor continued to post throughout the night, describing Topuria’s defeat as “sad to see”, while conceding that he “quit himself” after the Spanish-Georgian failed to rise from his stool after the fourth round and, in doing so, surrendered his lightweight title to Gaethje.

In another post, he criticised the UFC for not “platforming” its fighters enough.

He added: “The platforming of our athletes within the business was not capitalised on enough in my opinion. I don’t know who the f*** these guys are that have never fought MMA, yet were visibly all over the show.”

Conor McGregor in heated interview with Max Holloway

Ahead of UFC Freedom 250, McGregor and Holloway took part in an interview with Rogan, with the Irishman in typically heated form as he delivered a barrage of insults to his opponent, whom he previously beat in 2013.

“You’re not going to lay a glove on me,” McGregor screamed. “And even if you do lay a glove on me, I’m going to laugh in your face.

“It’s another world here against me and it’s another world at this weight [welterweight]... I’m going to come out of this bout unscathed and in all glory.”

Holloway then responded, claiming that he was a “Hawaiian warrior” before adding: “Welcome to the mystic Max era, brother... welcome back.”