UFC Star Conor McGregor Arrested for Allegedly Smashing a Phone at Fontainebleau Miami Beach UPDATED

Irish mixed martial arts megastar Conor McGregor was arrested in Miami Beach today for allegedly smashing someone's phone at the Fontainebleau resort. According to arrest documents obtained by New Times, he is being charged with two felony counts of strong-arm robbery and criminal mischief.

By Jerry Iannelli

March 11, 2019

Miami-Dade County Department of Corrections

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Update, May 13, 2019: Prosecutors today announced they have dropped the charges against UFC star Conor McGregor, who was accused of smashing a fan's phone in Miami Beach back in March. According to the state, the victim in the case stopped cooperating.

Irish mixed martial arts megastar Conor McGregor was arrested in Miami Beach today for allegedly smashing someone's phone at the Fontainebleau resort. According to arrest documents obtained by New Times, he is being charged with two felony counts of strong-arm robbery and criminal mischief.

According to McGregor's arrest affidavit, Miami Beach Police apprehended him just before 6 p.m. today. Police say McGregor, age 30, destroyed the phone of a fan trying to snap a photo of the Ultimate Fighting Championship star. McGregor allegedly slapped the phone out of the fan's hand, stomped on it a few times, and then tried to walk away with the shards. (The Miami Herald first reported the arrest earlier this evening.)

McGregor, a former UFC lightweight champion, is both one of the most decorated and controversial fighters in the sport's history. He's derailed his own successes in the ring by being repeatedly arrested (as of today) and routinely accused of racism. McGregor has regularly made condescending and outright racist comments to or about black and brown people — especially those he's fighting in the ring. In addition to insulting Latinos on numerous occasions, McGregor in 2017 shouted "Dance for me, boy!" at boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Today's arrest was not McGregor's first run-in with the law: In April 2018, the fighter was filmed instigating a coordinated attack on a bus full of UFC fighters after the organization held a media event in Brooklyn. McGregor was filmed chucking various objects, including a garbage can, at the bus. He allegedly shattered some of the bus' windows, injuring people inside. He ultimately took a plea deal and avoided jail time.

As of 7:45 p.m., jail records indicate McGregor is still in custody in Miami-Dade County. If convicted of strong-arm robbery, he could face up to 15 years in Florida prison; the criminal mischief charge is punishable by up to five years.

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Jerry Iannelli is a former staff writer for Miami New Times from 2015 to March 2020. He graduated with honors from Temple University. He then earned a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University.

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Twitter: @jerryiannelli