'Jumped the gun': Backflip over Conor McGregor charity accusation
UFC star Dustin Poirier has apologised to Conor McGregor for 'making private matters public' after he accused his Irish rival of skipping out on a pledged donation to his charity.
McGregor had agreed to make a $500,000 ($670,000AUD) donation to Poirier's charity after the American defeated him in his UFC comeback.
‘RIPPED OFF BY 50 CENT’: The famous feud behind Aussie's $1 million claim
'COMPLETE JOKE': Boxing fans rage after Ebanie Bridge's 'unreal' fight
The pair also agreed to a third bout afterwards, but that appeared to be up in the air after McGregor threatened to pull out following Poirier's social media call-out.
Subsequently, UFC president Dana White has confirmed the trilogy fight at UFC 264 in July, with Poirier again taking to Twitter, this time to walk back his initial comments.
"I am very passionate about my charity as you all know," he wrote in a Notes app screenshot posted on his page.
“I jumped the gun and took private matters between Conor and my foundation public.
“My mistake, we live, learn. Spreading positivity and doing good is my goal.
“I feel like I have brought a negative energy and personal opinions into something I am working so hard on that gives people a reason to cheer and smile.
“I will take this in stride and continue to fight the good fight.
“New goal coming soon and it is a BIG one.
“Thank you to all who is involved and all the supporters who believe in our vision. #fightthegoodfight.”
1-1 July 10th we will settle the score! Excited for the Trilogy with @TheNotoriousMMA but wanted to address this first. pic.twitter.com/03GaPPSfeH
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) April 14, 2021
McGregor has yet to respond publicly to Poirier's apology.
The trilogy fight between the pair will be a highly anticipated one, with McGregor taking a one-sided win in their first fight back in 2015 before Poirier outclassed the Irish star in January.
Conor McGregor furious over Dustin Poirier claim
McGregor was clearly unimpressed by the claim from Poirier, threatening to call the fight off in a furious exchange on social media.
The UFC icon claimed Poirier's camp had never approached him with details of any plan for the donation, before firing up again after Poirier claimed their messages had never been returned.
“You’re ripped you inbred hillbilly,” he tweeted.
“Why do you wink with your ears? You f***ing brain dead hillbilly. 500k with no plan in place. Ye hang tight. Fool. You must be new to money.
"The fight is off btw. I’m going to fight someone else on the 10th. Good luck on your old contract kid.”
UFC 264 will mark the company's and fans return to its popular Vegas home after being away during the COVID-19 pandemic.
UFC held fights in Vegas, Florida and Fight Island in Abu Dhabi. UFC 261 will be the first full crowd capacity pay-per-view event since March 2020. It will be held in Jacksonville, Florida.
Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak said Tuesday he expects the state's economy to be fully reopened by June 1.
He plans to end social distancing protocols and restrictions by May 1, opening the way for the UFC's announcement. The mask mandate will remain a state-wide requirement, he said.
With Yahoo Sport US
Watch 'Mind Games', the new series from Yahoo Sport Australia exploring the often brutal mental toil elite athletes go through in pursuit of greatness:
Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.
