Conor McGregor breaks silence amid sexual assault ruling
Conor McGregor looks ahead. Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Conor McGregor spoke out Monday after the former UFC champion lost a civil trial last week alleging he raped a woman six years ago.
Last week, McGregor was found guilty by an Irish jury of sexually assaulting a woman named Nikita Hand in December 2018. Hand filed the civil case against McGregor and fellow fighter James Lawrence in 2021. She alleged that both men took advantage of her while she was in an intoxicated state and had sex with her in a hotel room without her consent. No criminal charges were filed.
McGregor on Monday took to social media to air his side of the story. Despite the ruling made in the Dublin courtroom, the 36-year-old stood firm that the encounter “was consensual” but did express regret over his infidelity toward his wife, Dee Devlin. McGregor added that he will be appealing the decision.
“People want to hear from me, I needed time,” wrote McGregor in an X post. “I know I made mistakes. Six years ago, I should have never responded to her outreaches. I should have shut the party down. I should never have stepped out on the woman I love the most in the world. That’s all on me.
“As much as I regret it, everything that happened that night was consensual and all the witnesses present swore to that under oath. I have instructed my legal team to appeal the decision.”
The Irish fighter was ordered to pay Hand about $260,000 in damages, while the jury deemed Lawrence not liable for any wrongdoing. Hand’s attorney reportedly alleged a “combined effort” between McGregor and Lawrence for the latter to take the fall.
McGregor has not fought since 2021, when he suffered a gruesome leg injury in a fight against Dustin Poirier. McGregor was supposed to headline UFC 303 before another injury derailed his return fight against Michael Chandler.
