The world witnessed Conor McGregor’s first punch in more than a year, but it wasn’t in a UFC cage! This time, it was during Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and the Denver Nuggets. What was meant to be a lighthearted promotion of a pain relief spray quickly turned into an unexpected accident.

During a staged altercation with the Heat mascot ‘Burnie,’ McGregor unleashed a left-hand punch that sent the lovable character crashing to the ground. To the viewers, it was all part of the act, and no one took the incident seriously. However, recent reports have shed light on the true extent of the encounter, revealing that ‘Burnie’ suffered some real injuries.

Later, the news of the man inside the ‘Burnie’ costume being sent to the emergency room surfaced. Eventually, it raised eyebrows and added a somber tone to the scripted bit. Further, fans and spectators alike were taken aback when they learned that the staged altercation had resulted in actual harm.

Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra reacts to Conor McGregor sending ‘Burnie’ to ER

In the aftermath of the incident, an interviewer asked Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra for his thoughts on the matter. Being one of the highest-paid coaches in the NBA, Spoelstra is famous for being a direct and blunt personality. NBA fans expected Miami Heat’s head coach to have a strong opinion about what had happened. And indeed, Spoelstra did surprise all fans with his witty response.

In a surprising reply, Spoelstra praised ‘Burnie’s’ resilience and toughness, highlighting the mascot’s ability to withstand a punch from one of the most powerful strikers in the world of mixed martial arts.

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“That’s the Miami Heat toughness we’re talking about”, said Spoelstra. Moreover, he even went so far as to suggest that ‘Burnie’ should have been the one to take the first swing at Conor McGregor. “He should have been allowed to take the first swing.” Further Spoelstra also assured that ‘Burnie’ was not going to miss any future games due to the injury.

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Spoelstra‘s words reflect a lighthearted attempt to diffuse the situation and shift the focus onto ‘Burnie’s’ ability to endure the blow. Think about how different things would have panned out if ‘Burnie’ would have thrown the first punch at McGregor! What do you think would have happened? Let us know in the comments below!