Conor McGregor is all over the internet and on the NBA court, too. The Irishman made quite an unexpected splash at Monday night’s NBA game between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Utah Jazz. The former UFC champion made a surprise appearance in Salt Lake City to size up with Brook Lopez.
As the clock wound down in the second quarter, McGregor was spotted making his way past the Bucks’ bench at the Delta Center. In a surprising twist, he turned around and approached Bucks center Brook Lopez, leading to a light-hearted and humorous exchange that resembled a pre-fight weigh-in.
Standing at a towering 7’1”, Lopez towered over the 5’8” McGregor, making the size difference so pronounced that it became the highlight of the encounter. And both of them broke into laughter before McGregor headed to his seat on the sideline.
Is this the new version of Reggie Evans asking how old Giannis is? pic.twitter.com/RVxNogl9Op
— JR Radcliffe (@JRRadcliffe) January 28, 2025
He also chatted live with Fan Duel Sports Network reporter Melanie Ricks during the game. And Conor engaged viewers with his trademark charisma. The conversation touched on the connection between combat sports and basketball, highlighting Bucks point guard Damian Lillard’s passion for boxing. Despite not having fought officially since 2021, McGregor continues to command attention with his larger-than-life personality. Throughout the evening, he was seen mingling with fans and posing for selfies.
Brook Lopez Shared Conversation With Conor McGregor On Their Meet-up
After the game, Lopez shared the details of this quirky moment, revealing that McGregor had asked him about his height. Lopez humorously obliged by standing up, fully aware that it was his duty to play along with the antics. He was familiar with the theatrical nature of fight face-offs. McGregor’s reputation in the octagon might intimidate many, but Lopez, despite having no formal fight experience, was quick to comment on the absurdity of a hypothetical matchup between the two.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NBA stories via Google! Follow Us
He jokingly suggested that if anything were to escalate, he’d bring in NBA star Damian Lillard as his fight promoter and trainer.
“He [McGregor] asked me how tall I was. I let him know. He asked me to stand up and I did. And I knew at that point once I got up, I had to size him up. I had to do a little something. I’ve seen the face-offs before, so I knew I had to do my part,” Lopez said after the game.
Brook Lopez, on his meet-up with Conor McGregor: https://t.co/tezqeW81ZW pic.twitter.com/IM4YCernXS
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) January 28, 2025
Ultimately, the interaction was a light-hearted diversion from the basketball action. Lopez had a solid game, contributing 10 points, six rebounds, and three blocks in the Bucks’ victory over the Jazz. While McGregor is a notorious figure in the world of combat sports, this sideline moment soon became a viral sensation on the internet.
