Three police officers were assaulted and two required medical treatment after violence erupted in the Congress Road area of Glasgow around 11.10pm on Saturday, November 7, following a bare knuckle fighting event at the OVO Hydro.
Two men, aged 32 and 27, have been arrested and charged with offences including assault, obstructing police and threatening and abusive behaviour. They are due to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Monday, November 9. A third man was arrested and issued with a recorded police warning for threatening and abusive behaviour.
Massive police response
Video footage shared online shows groups of men exchanging punches on Congress Road, with large numbers of police vehicles arriving at the scene. Dozens of officers are seen pouring out of vans in an attempt to restore order, and police formed a barricade outside the Hilton Garden Inn to try to disperse the crowds.
Nearby residents noticed the substantial police response, with one posting: "What on earth is happening in Glasgow? Absolute chaos." An eyewitness wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "Major incident in Glasgow now. Police everywhere. 100s of men fighting each other."
Event details
The heavy police deployment followed the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship event, which took place at the venue earlier on Saturday night. The clash involved ex-Rangers ultra Sean Weir and Leigh Cohoon, and was attended by disgraced former mixed martial artist and boxer Conor McGregor.
Irishman Conor Cooke was supposed to be one of the headliners at the Hydro but pulled out at the last minute due to safety concerns over travelling fans. Cohoon, from Manchester, stepped in but was dealt a brutal blow to the face and finished off in the first round.
Police statement and appeal
Chief Inspector Paul Daley said: "Several officers were assaulted whilst carrying out their duties during disorder following an event at the Hydro in Glasgow on Saturday night. Violence against officers is disgraceful and will not be tolerated. Being assaulted is not part of the job and it's extremely fortunate they were not seriously injured."
He added: "Officers are carrying out extensive enquiries in relation to the disturbance which occurred and anyone found responsible will be brought to justice." He appealed for information, urging anyone with information to contact police on 101, quoting incident 2029 of November 7.
Police said they continue to work closely with partners and event organisers to help maintain public safety and ensure events are safe for attendees and the local community.
