Conor McGregor just got a whole lot wilder—and not in the fun, headline-grabbing, yacht-party kind of way. Nope, this time it’s more courtroom drama than UFC octagon antics. On Friday (November 22), McGregor lost a civil sexual assault case and was slapped with a $260,000 bill in damages. That’s a lot of zeros for someone who’s usually known for throwing punches, not payouts.
The case was brought by Nikita Hand, who accused the 36-year-old fighter of what she called a “brutal rape and battery” in 2018 during a penthouse encounter in a Dublin hotel. McGregor, unsurprisingly, didn’t agree with that description. He testified in court, claiming, “It was consensual,” essentially telling the jury, “Your Honor, I’m not that guy.” Spoiler: the jury did not believe him.
Meanwhile, Hand testified that the alleged incident left her with PTSD and physical bruises, painting a grim picture of that night. After hearing both sides, the Dublin High Court jury ruled against McGregor, deciding he was liable for damages. But wait, there’s more—another man, James Lawrence, was also accused in the case, but the jury apparently went, “Nah, you’re good,” and didn’t hold him liable. Lucky James.
After the verdict, McGregor released a statement to TMZ, because of course he did. In classic Conor fashion, he tried to spin it: “The judge’s instruction and the modest award given was for assault,” he said, emphasizing the “modest” part like it was a participation trophy. He also claimed, “I’m disappointed the jury didn’t hear all the evidence,” which is lawyer-speak for please stop Googling this.
As the court drama unfolded, McGregor was flanked by his longtime partner, Dee Devlin, who must have the patience of a saint. The couple, who share four kids, were likely hoping for a different kind of family bonding moment.
Oh, and in case you forgot, McGregor’s name has been linked to other controversies. Back in June, he was accused of raping a woman during Game 4 of the NBA Finals. He denied those allegations too. Seems like “denial” is McGregor’s unofficial fifth child at this point.
So, what’s next for McGregor? Well, he says he’s “focused on his future” and staying close to his family. Whether that future includes more lawsuits or an overdue self-reflection session remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure: life outside the octagon isn’t pulling its punches.