Referee Marc Goddard has broken his silence following his altercation with Conor McGregor at Bellator 187.
It was a chaotic scene inside the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland. Following Charlie Ward’s knockout win over John Redmond, teammate McGregor jumped inside the cage and hugged Ward. McGregor wasn’t a cornerman, so Goddard separated the two.
McGregor didn’t like the force Goddard used to push him away, so he ran behind him and gave him a shove near a dazed Redmond. McGregor then continued to trash talk Goddard before finally being escorted out of the arena.
Footage was later released showing McGregor slapping a Bellator official after he tried to prevent him from getting back in the cage. Goddard took to his Twitter account to break his silence:
“I operate with integrity, belief and values.
I hold MMA in a deep rooted place in my life and have considered myself most fortunate to have done so for so long.
Family first. Everything else second.
Respect.”
I operate with integrity, belief and values.
I hold MMA in a deep rooted place in my life and have considered myself most fortunate to have done so for so long.
Family first. Everything else second.
Respect.
— Marc Goddard (@marcgoddard_uk) November 11, 2017