A mixed martial arts trainer has said Conor McGregor has won back his respect after apologising over an alleged punching incident at a Dublin pub.
Firas Zahabi, head coach of Tristar Gym, called the Dubliner a "pathetic excuse for a human being" for the incident.
The trainer was referring to a video that emerged appearing to show McGregor punch a 50-year-old man in the Marble Arch pub, with the apparent victim involved since labelling the former UFC two-weight champion "a bully with money".
Zahabi said: “I don’t care what anybody says. It is indefensible. There is no defense to this, except this guy [McGregor] is a pathetic, sorry excuse for a human being.
“What a disgusting display. I don’t care how much money you have, I don’t care how famous you are in the world. If this is the type of person you are, your value is zero. Your value is zero.”
McGregor has since admitted, in an interview with ESPN, that he was "in the wrong" and called watching the video a "dagger in the heart".
He added: "That man deserved to enjoy his time in the pub without it having to end the way it did.
"Although, five months ago it was, and I tried to make amends and I made amends back then - it still, that doesn't even matter.
"I was in the wrong. I must come here before you and take accountability and take responsibility. I owe it to the people that have been supporting me. I owe it to my mother, my father, my family. I owe it to the people who trained me in martial arts.
"That's not who I am, that's not the reason why I got into martial arts or studying combat sports. The reason why I got into it was to defend against that type of scenario."
This apology prompted Zahabi to backtrack on his stinging criticism of McGregor, calling it "Conor's greatest ever interview".
He tweeted: "Glad to see him ready to make things right and be the true martial artist that he is.
"He has my respect once again. Looking forward to his return."
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