MIAMI — This skit was supposed to be a knockout with fans. Instead, the Miami Heat’s mascot was sent to the hospital after he was punched by mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor.
McGregor was part of a promotional skit during Game 4 of the NBA Finals in Miami on Friday, the Miami Herald reported.
At halfcourt during a timeout with 7:35 left in the third quarter, the Heat revealed their partnership with McGregor and TIDL Sport, his pain relief spray, USA Today reported.
The Heat’s mascot, named “Burnie,” who was wearing large gold boxing gloves, danced around McGregor until the former MMA champion connected.
McGregor, 34, walloped the mascot with a hard left hook that sent the man sprawling to the court, according to The Athletic. McGregor proceeded to “spray” the mascot with his pain relief product and then landed a straight punch to the face of the mascot’s headgear as Burnie was lying face-up on the floor, ESPN reported. The mascot was dragged off the floor as fans gasped, then booed.
“Ohhhh. Mercy,” the public address announcer yelled. “Burnie. You’re gonna need some TIDL yourself, baby.”
The man inside the mascot costume was taken to an area emergency room and released after receiving pain medication, the Herald reported.
McGregor stayed for the remainder of the Heat’s 108-95 loss to Denver, which gave the Nuggets a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, The Athletic reported.
Conor McGregor through the years 2015: Conor McGregor celebrates after a first-round knockout victory over Jose Aldo in their featherweight title fight during UFC 194 on December 12, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images) (Steve Marcus/Getty Images)
Conor McGregor through the years 2016: Nate Diaz applies a choke hold to win by submission against Conor McGregor during UFC 196 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on March 5, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) (Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
Conor McGregor through the years 2016: UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor arrives at an open workout for UFC 202 at Rocks Lounge at the Red Rock Casino on August 18, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. McGregor is scheduled to fight Nate Diaz in a welterweight rematch at UFC 202 on August 20, 2016 in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Conor McGregor through the years 2016: UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor (bottom) works out with his head coach John Kavanagh during an open workout for UFC 202 at Rocks Lounge at the Red Rock Casino on August 18, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. McGregor is scheduled to fight Nate Diaz in a welterweight rematch at UFC 202 on August 20, 2016 in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Conor McGregor through the years 2017: Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor come face to face during the Floyd Mayweather Jr. v Conor McGregor World Press Tour at SSE Arena on July 14, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images) (Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
Conor McGregor through the years 2016: UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor poses on the scale during his weigh-in for UFC 202 at MGM Grand Conference Center on August 19, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. McGregor will meet Nate Diaz in a welterweight rematch on August 20, 2016, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Conor McGregor through the years 2017: Conor McGregor speaks during the Floyd Mayweather Jr. v Conor McGregor World Press Tour event at Barclays Center on July 13, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images) (Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)
Conor McGregor through the years 2017: Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor come face to face during the Floyd Mayweather Jr. v Conor McGregor World Press Tour at SSE Arena on July 14, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images) (Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
Conor McGregor through the years 2017: UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor poses on the scale during his official weigh-in at T-Mobile Arena on August 25, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. McGregor will meet boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a super welterweight boxing match at T-Mobile Arena on August 26. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Conor McGregor through the years 2017: Floyd Mayweather Jr. (L) hits Conor McGregor in the sixth round of their super welterweight boxing match at T-Mobile Arena on August 26, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mayweather won by 10th-round TKO. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Conor McGregor through the years 2017: Conor McGregor (R) throws a right at Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the second round of their super welterweight boxing match at T-Mobile Arena on August 26, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mayweather won by 10th-round TKO. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Conor McGregor through the years 2017: (R-L) Floyd Mayweather Jr. throws a punch at Conor McGregor during their super welterweight boxing match on August 26, 2017 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Conor McGregor through the years 2018: Conor McGregor speaks during a press conference for UFC 229 at Park Theater at Park MGM on October 04, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. McGregor will challenge UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov for his title at UFC 229 on October 06 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Isaac Brekken/Getty Images) (Isaac Brekken/Getty Images)
Conor McGregor through the years 2018: Khabib Nurmagomedov of Russia holds down Conor McGregor of Ireland in their UFC lightweight championship bout during the UFC 229 event inside T-Mobile Arena on October 6, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) (Harry How/Getty Images)
Conor McGregor through the years 2018: Conor McGregor of Ireland looks on in the octagon before competing against Khabib Nurmagomedov of Russia in their UFC lightweight championship bout during the UFC 229 event inside T-Mobile Arena on October 6, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) (Harry How/Getty Images)
Conor McGregor through the years 2018: Khabib Nurmagomedov of Russia holds down Conor McGregor of Ireland in their UFC lightweight championship bout during the UFC 229 event inside T-Mobile Arena on October 6, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) (Harry How/Getty Images)
Conor McGregor through the years 2019: Conor McGregor and Conor McGregor Jr. attend Super Bowl LIII between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Conor McGregor through the years 2020: Conor McGregor prepares for his welterweight bout against Donald Cerrone during UFC246 at T-Mobile Arena on January 18, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images) (STEVE MARCUS/Getty Images)
Conor McGregor through the years 2020: Conor McGregor lands a knee to the face of Donald Cerrone in the first round in a welterweight bout during UFC246 at T-Mobile Arena on January 18, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images) (STEVE MARCUS/Getty Images)
Conor McGregor through the years 2021: In this handout image provided by the UFC, (L-R) Conor McGregor of Ireland punches Dustin Poirier in a lightweight fight during the UFC 257 event inside Etihad Arena on UFC Fight Island on January 23, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) (Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Conor McGregor through the years 2021: Conor McGregor of Ireland sits on the mat after injuring his ankle in the first round in his lightweight bout against Dustin Poirier during UFC 264: Poirier v McGregor 3 at T-Mobile Arena on July 10, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Conor McGregor through the years 2021: CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 21: Conor McGregor throws out a ceremonial first pitch before the Chicago Cubs take on the Minnesota Twins at Wrigley Field on September 21, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)