In 2008, McGregor began competing on the professional mixed martial arts (MMA) circuit in the lightweight and featherweight divisions. In 2012, he won the vacant CWFC Featherweight and Lightweight Championships. A year later, he signed with the UFC. After five straight wins, he challenged for the Interim Featherweight Championship and defeated Chad Mendes at UFC 189. After he knocked out featherweight champion José Aldo in 13 seconds at UFC 194, his fame catapulted tremendously.[11] He made his welterweight debut at UFC 196 where he was defeated by Nate Diaz via submission, marking his first loss in the UFC. In November 2016, he defeated Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 and won the UFC Lightweight Championship. He briefly transitioned to boxing in 2017, making his professional debut against Floyd Mayweather Jr., where he was defeated via TKO in the 10th round. He returned to MMA and challenged for the UFC Lightweight Championship at UFC 229, losing to lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov via submission.
McGregor is the biggest pay-per-view (PPV) draw in MMA history, having headlined the five highest-selling UFC PPV events.[12] His bout with Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 drew 2.4 million PPV buys, the most ever for an MMA event.[13]His 2017 boxing bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr.[14] drew over 5.3 million buys across the United States and the United Kingdom, and became the second highest buy rate in pay-per-view history.[15][16][17] McGregor was ranked as the world's highest-paid athlete by Forbes in 2021, earning a reported $180 million.[18] He also featured in the list in 2018, when he was ranked fourth, with a reported income of $99 million.[19] Outside of his fighting career, McGregor has ventured into business, and is best known for his alcohol-related ventures.
Throughout his career, McGregor has become the subject of many controversies due to his behaviour, ranging from driving offences to assault, disorderly conduct and rape. He has made controversial comments about the 2023 Dublin riots, the Irish government's immigration policy and race. In November 2024, the Irish High Court, in a civil case, found that he assaulted and raped a woman in December 2018, ordering him to pay over €248,000 in damages.[20] In December 2024, he was further ordered to pay the entirety of her legal costs, approximately €1,500,000.[21] After the verdict, McGregor was widely condemned, losing several partnership deals.
Early life
Conor Anthony McGregor[22] was born in Dublin, Ireland.[1] He was raised in Crumlin and attended Irish-language schools — the Gaelscoil Scoil Mológa, in Harold's Cross, at primary level, and Gaelcholáiste Coláiste de hÍde in Tallaght at secondary level, where he also developed his passion for sport, playing football.[23]
In his youth, he played football for Lourdes Celtic Football Club.[24] At the age of 12, he also began boxing at Crumlin Boxing Club,[25][26] as a way to defend himself against bullies and raise his confidence.
On 17 February 2007, at the age of 18, McGregor made his mixed martial arts debut in an amateur fight against Kieran Campbell for the Irish Ring of Truth promotion in Dublin. He won via technical knockout (TKO) in the first round. Following the fight, he turned professional and was signed by the Irish Cage of Truth promotion. In 2008, McGregor began training at the Straight Blast Gym (SBG) in Dublin under John Kavanagh.[31]
Professional mixed martial arts career
Early career (2008–2013)
On 9 March 2008, McGregor had his first professional MMA bout, as a lightweight, defeating Gary Morris with a second-round TKO. After McGregor won his second fight against Mo Taylor, he made his featherweight debut in a loss via kneebar against submission specialist Artemij Sitenkov. After a victory at featherweight in his next bout against Stephen Bailey, McGregor contemplated a different career path before his mother contacted his coach John Kavanagh and reinvigorated him to continue pursuing mixed martial arts.[32]
McGregor then won his next fight, also at featherweight, against Connor Dillon, before moving back to lightweight for a fight against Joseph Duffy, in which he received his second professional loss after submitting to an arm-triangle choke. Following this, during 2011 and 2012, McGregor went on an eight-fight winning streak,[33] during which he won both the CWFC Featherweight and Lightweight championships, making him the first European professional mixed martial artist to hold titles in two divisions simultaneously.[34]
In February 2013, UFC president Dana White made a trip to Dublin, Ireland to receive a Gold Medal of Honorary Patronage from Trinity College and was inundated with requests to sign McGregor to the UFC. After a meeting with McGregor and talking with UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta, White offered him a contract days later.[35]
Ultimate Fighting Championship (2013–present)
2013
In February 2013, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) announced that they had signed McGregor to a multi-fight contract.[36] In joining, he became only the second fighter from Ireland to compete for the company, following team member Tom Egan.
McGregor was expected to face Andy Ogle on 17 August 2013 at UFC Fight Night 26, but Ogle pulled out of the bout citing an injury and was replaced by eventual UFC Featherweight ChampionMax Holloway.[40] McGregor won the fight by unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–26). Following the bout with Holloway, an MRI scan revealed that McGregor had torn his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during the bout and would require surgery, keeping him out of action for up to ten months.[41]
2014
McGregor was expected to face Cole Miller on 19 July 2014, at UFC Fight Night 46 in his comeback bout after recovering from his ACL injury.[42] However, Miller pulled out of the bout citing a thumb injury and was replaced by Diego Brandão.[43] McGregor fought Brandão in front of a loud, rowdy crowd of 9,500 at The O2 in his hometown of Dublin, Ireland. The fight was officially halted by referee Leon Roberts at 4:05 of the first round. The win earned McGregor his first Performance of the Night award.[44]
Prior to his next bout, McGregor met with Lorenzo Fertitta and signed a new multi-fight contract with the UFC. McGregor next faced Dustin Poirier on 27 September 2014, at UFC 178.[45] Despite McGregor landing only 9 significant strikes to Poirier's 10, he managed to secure a victory early on in the first round, by pressuring Poirier onto his back foot, before exploding with a left hook behind Poirier's ear, forcing referee Herb Dean to step in to end the fight. The finish officially came at 1:46 into the first round.[46][47] This marked Poirier's first UFC loss via KO/TKO and earned McGregor his second straight "Performance of the Night" award.[48]
2015
Championship pursuits
McGregor faced Dennis Siver on 18 January 2015 at UFC Fight Night 59.[49][50] He won the fight via TKO in the second round.[51] The victory also earned McGregor his third straight "Performance of the Night" award.[52]
McGregor (right), Dana White (middle) and José Aldo (left) in London as part of the World Tour promoting UFC 189 in March 2015
Interim Featherweight Championship bout
The highly anticipated bout with Aldo was announced on 30 January 2015, at the UFC 183 Q&A. McGregor declared that he was expected to face Aldo on 11 July 2015 at UFC 189 for the undisputed UFC Featherweight Championship, during the UFC's annual International Fight Week. The fight took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.[53] The UFC, confident that the fight would exceed expectations, increased the promotional budget for the event, with company Dana White stating that "[the UFC] spent more money promoting Aldo–McGregor than any fight in UFC history."[54]
The fight against Aldo was announced on 30 January 2015, at the UFC 183 and both McGregor and Aldo embarked on a 12-day world tour, during which eight cities in five countries were visited, including Aldo's home country of Brazil (Rio de Janeiro) and McGregor's hometown of Dublin. The tour began in Rio de Janeiro on 20 March and ended in Dublin on 31 March.[55] However, on 23 June, it was reported that Aldo had suffered a rib fracture and had pulled out of the bout as a consequence.[56][57] McGregor remained on the card and was rescheduled to face Chad Mendes for the Interim Featherweight Championship.[58] The official attendance for the event, 16,019, broke the record in Nevada, while the gate of $7,200,000 broke the record for a mixed martial arts event in the United States.[59] Prior to the fight, McGregor's entrance song, "The Foggy Dew", was sung live by Irish singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor.[60] McGregor won the fight via TKO, winning the UFC Interim Featherweight Championship.[61][62]
On 10 August, it was announced that the event would take place on 12 December, when McGregor would face José Aldo for the UFC Featherweight Championship.[64] At the weigh-ins, both McGregor and Aldo achieved the weight limit of 145 pounds.[65][66] McGregor knocked out Aldo thirteen seconds into the first round with a left hook, ending his seven-year-long WEC and UFC title reign and eighteen-fight win streak to claim the title, earning the "Performance of the Night" bonus as well.[67][68] This finish marked the fastest knockout in a title bout in UFC history.[69]
2016
First UFC loss
McGregor in 2016
McGregor faced The Ultimate Fighter Season 5 winner and former UFC Lightweight Championship challenger Nate Diaz on 5 March 2016 at UFC 196 in a welterweight bout.[70] On 24 February 2016, a press conference was held to help promote the new main event, with both men trading insults.[71] At the Thursday pre-fight press conference on 3 March, McGregor and Diaz engaged in a brief scuffle during a face-off, after McGregor landed a strike on Diaz's lead hand.[72]
The fight began with combination in the first round, Diaz returned fire with two consecutive hooks, one a slap, a signature of Nate and his brother, Nick Diaz, termed the "Stockton Slap". McGregor had success with his bodywork, but Diaz began to land combinations of his own. After a one-two punches from Diaz, McGregor attempted a double leg takedown, which Diaz defended by sprawling. Diaz then threatened the guillotine choke, which forced McGregor onto his back after stopping McGregor from scrambling and Diaz secured the mount and secured a rear naked choke. McGregor tapped to the submission at 4:12 into the second round.[73][74][75] Both competitors were awarded "Fight of the Night" bonuses, and McGregor received the highest disclosed purse of any fighter in the history of the company to that point, at $1,000,000.[76][77] McGregor was critical of his own performance while praising Diaz, saying "I was inefficient with my energy. It was a battle of energy and he got the better of that."[78]
Rematch with Nate Diaz
A rematch with Diaz was scheduled for 9 July at UFC 200; however, on 19 April, the UFC announced that McGregor had been pulled from the event after failing to fulfil media obligations related to the fight.[79][80][81] In turn, the fight with McGregor was rescheduled and took place the following month, contested again at welterweight, at UFC 202.[82] McGregor won the rematch via majority decision (48–47, 47–47, 48–47).[83] The bout was once again awarded "Fight of the Night" honours.[84] The event broke the record previously held by UFC 100 for the highest selling pay-per-view in UFC history, with 1,650,000 buys.[85]
Two–division champion
On 27 September, it was officially announced that McGregor's next bout would be against Eddie Alvarez for the UFC Lightweight Championship on 12 November at UFC 205.[86] After dropping Alvarez multiple times throughout the first round, McGregor landed a multiple-punch combination to stop his opponent via technical knockout in the second round.[87] This result marked the first time a competitor had held UFC championships in two different weight classes, and it also repeated McGregor's feat during his career at Cage Warriors.[88][89] This win earned McGregor the "Performance of the Night" and is widely considered one of his best performances inside the octagon.[90][91][92]
Stripping of Featherweight Championship
On 26 November, due to his inactivity in the division, it was initially announced that McGregor had vacated the Featherweight Championship, therefore promoting José Aldo to undisputed champion.[93] McGregor's coach, however, confirmed further reports which stated that McGregor had actually been stripped of the title.[94]
2017
After winning the lightweight championship at UFC 205, McGregor announced he would take time off from the UFC to wait for the birth of his first child due in 2017.[95] McGregor spent the majority of his public appearances in early-2017 campaigning for a boxing match with Floyd Mayweather Jr.[96] After months of negotiations, the two finally came to terms on 14 June 2017 and announced the match to take place on 26 August.[97] The match ultimately ended in the 10th round with a victory by TKO for Mayweather.[14]
On 3 August, it was announced that McGregor would return to the octagon for the first time since November 2016 at UFC 229 to challenge the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov for the UFC Lightweight Championship on 6 October.[99] This bout was considered one of the biggest contests in the history of the sport and it was filled with pre-fight hype.[100][101][102] Nurmagomedov submitted McGregor with a neck crank in the fourth round.[103][104]
2019
On 26 March 2019, McGregor announced his retirement on social media.[105][106] However, Dana White viewed this announcement as a ploy to secure an ownership stake in the company,[107][108] with White later suggesting his retirement would not last and that he had been in regular contact with him and stated he would fight again in the future.[109] McGregor had previously tweeted that he wanted a rematch with Khabib Nurmagomedov and that he would see him in the Octagon.[110][111]
2020
After over a year away from the Octagon, McGregor faced Donald Cerrone in a welterweight bout on 18 January 2020 at UFC 246.[112] He won the fight via technical knockout 40 seconds into the first round.[113] This win earned him a Performance of the Night award.[114] The win made McGregor the first UFC fighter to hold knockout finishes in the featherweight, lightweight and welterweight divisions.[115] On 6 June 2020, McGregor announced once more that he was retiring from fighting.[116]
2021
Despite talks of retirement, McGregor was booked to face former UFC Lightweight Championship challenger Dustin Poirier in a rematch of their 2014 bout at UFC 257 on 24 January 2021.[117] He lost the fight via technical knockout in the second round, marking the first knockout loss in his career.[118] McGregor was later handed a 6–month medical suspension after the knockout.[119]
McGregor faced Dustin Poirier for a third time on 10 July 2021 at UFC 264.[120] McGregor lost the fight via technical knockout in round one after the ringside doctor stopped the bout. McGregor had rolled his ankle while stepping back, resulting in a broken lower tibia which rendered him unable to continue.[121][122][123]
2023–2024
After the layoff nursing his leg injury, McGregor coached The Ultimate Fighter 31 for the second time with the opposing coach being Michael Chandler. Filming of the show started in February 2023[124] and aired on television from May to August 2023.[125] The show led to McGregor being scheduled to fight in a welterweight bout against Chandler at UFC 303 on June 29, 2024.[126] Following speculation on the fight's status due to an abruptly cancelled press conference,[127][128] the UFC officially announced the fight's cancellation on June 13, 2024, citing an injury (broken toe) sustained by McGregor.[129]
Mixed martial arts fighting style
McGregor is known mostly as a counter-striker[130][131] and prefers to fight standing up, as opposed to on the ground. He is known for his striking precision and knockout power.[132] McGregor is left-handed and primarily fights out of the southpaw stance, but often switches to an orthodox stance. He will frequently try to be the aggressor in his bouts.[1] McGregor's boxing is typically considered his best skill, with the majority of his victories coming by way of knockout or technical knockout via punches.[26] Many pundits cite McGregor's pull-back left-handed counter as his most dangerous strike.[133][134][135]
McGregor's signature style off arena is to repeatedly engage in trash talk and "psychological warfare" against his opponents, which has led to earning him the moniker 'The Notorious'[136] and has brought comparisons with Muhammad Ali, whom McGregor cites as one of his early inspirations.[137][138][139][140] After Ali died in June 2016, McGregor opined that "nobody will ever come close to [Ali's] greatness".[141][142] McGregor has also cited Bruce Lee as an inspiration,[143] and compared himself to Lee.[144] During the buildup to his bout against Donald Cerrone and the rematch against Dustin Poirier, McGregor was respectful towards his opponents and refrained from trash talking.[145][146] However, McGregor heavily used trash talk in the build up to his trilogy fight with Poirier.[147]
On 14 June 2017, it was announced that McGregor would compete in his first professional boxing match against the undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr., on 26 August 2017 at T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada. The fight was broadcast on Showtime PPV in the US and Sky Sports Box Office in the UK.[148] The bout was contested at super welterweight (154 pounds) with 8 oz. gloves.[149][150] The fight was expected to be the richest in boxing history.[151]
On 24 August 2017, it was announced that Mayweather and McGregor would compete for the WBC Money Belt.[152] According to the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Mayweather would earn a guaranteed purse of $100million and McGregor was guaranteed $30million.[153] The match resulted in Mayweather winning via TKO in the 10th round, with the scorecards reading 87–83, 89–82, 89–81, all in favour of Mayweather. The Nevada State Athletic Commission announced the live gate for the event was $55,414,865.79 from 13,094 tickets sold.[154] Given the success in pay-per-views, Mayweather reportedly earned around $280 million overall, while McGregor came out with earning $130 million.[155]
Political endeavours
Response to the 2023 Dublin riots
On 23 November 2023, in response to the stabbing of a woman and three children in Dublin, McGregor made multiple anti-immigration statements, tweeting that "Ireland is at war". In response to a tweet by Britain First leader Paul Golding calling on McGregor to lead a "freedom march", McGregor condemned the riots that followed the stabbings but tweeted "Ashling Murphy murdered. Two Sligo men decapitated. This is NOT Ireland's future! If they do not act soon with their plan of action to ensure Ireland's safety, I will." He also called for the man who perpetrated the stabbings to be "tortured and killed".[156] It was reported on 28 November that McGregor was being investigated as part of a criminal probe into incitement to hatred, following his social media statements following the stabbings.[157]
2023 Israel–Hamas war
On 26 November 2023, McGregor criticised Taoiseach Leo Varadkar for his views on immigration and for his failure to mention the Palestinian militant group Hamas when he wrote about an Irish hostage released by the group, in which he described her as "an innocent child who was lost".[158]
Potential run for office
It was reported in December 2023 that McGregor was considering running for the office of President of Ireland,[159] to which Elon Musk posted on X "Not a bad idea."[160] As to why he would run, McGregor said, "Among many other things, the allocation of our nation's funds has been nothing short of criminal, and without an iota of consideration for the public's thinking. ... Our people feel ignored. Unheard. Until of course election time. Then the waffle begins."[159] A poll that month found that eight percent of people polled would vote for McGregor for office, while 89 percent said they would not.[161]
Business ventures
Endorsements and sponsors
McGregor has endorsement deals with Beats by Dre, Monster Energy, Reebok and Bud Light.[162][163] In 2017, his endorsement deals rounded up to $7million.[164] In early 2018, McGregor signed a deal with Burger King.[165] In light of a 2024 Dublin court case, in which McGregor was found to have assaulted and raped a woman in December 2018, McGregor lost his first sponsor when the IO Interactive video game company ceased its collaboration with him.[166][167] After the court case, Rape Crisis Network Ireland called for retailers to stop selling his stout and whiskey brands.[168]Musgrave delisted McGregor-linked drinks,[169] resulting in SuperValu, Costcutter, Centra and Carry Out ceasing to sell McGregor's Forged Irish Stout and Proper No. Twelve whiskey.[170]Tesco and Ocado additionally pulled all alcoholic products associated with McGregor from their stores,[171][172] alongside Wetherspoons, Asda, and BWG Group who stopped stocking Proper No. Twelve whiskey.[173][174] Irish airports in Cork and Dublin also pulled McGregor-related alcohol products from their airport bars.[175]
Clothing
Just ahead of his fight with Mayweather, McGregor announced a fashion partnership with tailoring brand David August; the brand is named "August McGregor" and is aimed at providing modern men's suits to millennials.[176] August had met McGregor about three years earlier, via Dana White.[177]
Alcohol-related businesses
In September 2018, McGregor launched Proper No. Twelve Irish whiskey in Ireland and the United States.[178] The whiskey is named after the Crumlin neighbourhood in Dublin 12, in which McGregor grew up.[179] In 2021, it was reported that McGregor and his business partners sold their majority stake in the Proper No. Twelve company to Proximo Spirits, who previously had a 49% stake, for a deal worth a reported $600 million.[180][181] In the aftermath of a 2024 Dublin court case, in which McGregor was found to have assaulted and raped a woman in December 2018, Proximo Spirits announced it would no longer use McGregor's name or image on the drink.[182]
In an August 2022 interview Artem Lobovalleged that McGregor was initially headed towards creating a vodka product, but it was Lobov who pitched the idea of doing a whiskey instead.[183] In the same interview, Lobov also stated that he was the one who did the background study and conducted business deals for the product.[183] In late November 2022, news surfaced that Lobov had sued McGregor, seeking five percent of the proceeds of the $600 million deal conducted in 2021.[184] Following the suing, McGregor aimed several social media messages at Lobov, who subsequently filed another lawsuit against McGregor for defamation, intimidation and harassment.[185] In January 2023, the latter lawsuit was denied by the judge and Lobov was ordered to pay the legal fees.[186]
McGregor officially launched Forged Irish Stout in 2021. In 2024, complaints about the sexualised nature of its advertising were upheld by the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland.[191]
On April 27, 2024, it was announced that McGregor and his company "McGregor Sports and Entertainment" were now part-owners of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC).[193][194][195] McGregor has since appeared at multiple BKFC events.
Personal life
McGregor has two sisters named Erin and Aoife.[196] He has been in a relationship with his fiancée, Dee Devlin, since 2008.[197] They have four children.[198]
McGregor often trains at the Mjölnir gym in Reykjavík, alongside fellow UFC fighter Gunnar Nelson.[199][200][201] He has stated that he does not adhere to any pre-fight rituals or superstitions because he believes them to be "a form of fear".[202][203]
In November 2017 McGregor pleaded guilty to exceeding the speed limit in Rathcoole, County Dublin.[208] He was fined €400.[208] In November 2018 he pleaded guilty to speeding in Kill, County Kildare,[209] and was fined €1,000 and disqualified from driving for six months.[209]
On 22 March 2022, McGregor was arrested in Dublin and charged with six driving offences, including two counts of dangerous driving, being uninsured, having no licence and failing to produce his documents. His car was seized by the Irish police.[210] He was released on bail and his car was returned to him. He was scheduled to appear before Blanchardstown district court in April 2022, and, if convicted, could be subject to a fine of up to €5,000, six months' imprisonment or both.[211][212][213]
On 23 June 2022, McGregor appeared in BlanchardstownDistrict Court in relation to events on 22 March 2022.[214][215] He was remanded on continuing bail pending "further charges" as part of a dangerous driving prosecution.[214][215] He has not yet indicated a plea and the judge remanded him to appear on 8 September 2022 for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.[214][215] On 8 September he was charged with an additional charge of careless driving, adding to the six charges he already faced over the incident: two charges of dangerous driving, two of allegedly driving with no license or insurance and two of failing to produce either license or insurance.[216] The trial was originally set to begin in January 2023, but after McGregor's defence argued to the court that he could not attend the trial then due to being unwell,[217] the judge in the case ordered the trial to start on 31 July 2024.[217]
Accusations of racism
Ahead of his 2015 bout with Brazilian fighter José Aldo, McGregor was accused of racially taunting Aldo.[218]
In 2017, McGregor was accused of racism, after taunting boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. ahead of their August 26 boxing match. McGregor told the 46-year-old to "Dance for me, boy," at a promotional event in Los Angeles, before urging the crowd to yell obscenities at Mayweather, his wife and children. Mayweather told reporters at a fan meet in London: "He totally disrespected Black women, he called Black people monkeys, and he was disrespectful to my [13-year-old] daughter."[219] McGregor responded in a lengthy post via Instagram, stating: "Floyd Mayweather, don't ever bring race into my success again. I am an Irishman. My people have been oppressed our entire existence. And still very much are. I understand the feeling of prejudice. It is a feeling that is deep in my blood. In my family's long history of warfare there was a time where just having the name 'McGregor' was punishable by death. Do not ever put me in a bracket like this again..."[220]
Incident at Bellator 187
On 10 November 2017, McGregor's SBG Ireland teammate Charlie Ward made his debut at Bellator 187 in Dublin against John Redmond.[221] Ward knocked out Redmond in round one,[222] and McGregor jumped the cage (he was not a licensed cornerman) to celebrate Ward's win while the fight was not yet officially declared over.[223] McGregor was separated by referee Marc Goddard, as Goddard needed to verify if the knockout was before the bell, and to ensure lock down of the cage for medical staff to assess the health of the knocked out Redmond. McGregor charged towards Goddard: while he pushed and confronted Goddard in a wild melee, he also checked on the downed Redmond and knocked him down while he was trying to get up.[224]
McGregor did a lap around the cage after he exited the cage a few minutes later, then climbed and straddled the cage apron to continue the celebration of Ward's win. He was stopped by a commissioner and McGregor, agitated, slapped the commissioner's face.[225][226] Redmond stated after the fight that Goddard intended to let the fight continue to round two, but the Mohegan Sun commission, which oversaw the event, elected to end the fight due to McGregor's behaviour in the ring.[227]
A day after the incident, the head of the commission for Bellator 187, Mike Mazzulli, the president of both the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation (MTDAR) and Association of Boxing Commissions, issued a statement, stating that "McGregor's conduct jeopardized the health and safety" of fighters who were in the cage during the Ireland event. In addition, Mr McGregor assaulted Referee Mark Goddard and a (member of) Bellator staff."[228]
Bus attack at UFC 223 Media Day
On 3 April 2018, Khabib Nurmagomedov and his entourage cornered and slapped Artem Lobov at a hotel in Brooklyn, New York.[229][230] Lobov is known to be close to McGregor, with whom Nurmagomedov has had altercations and trash talk exchanges.[231] The two groups have a lengthy history of insults and confrontations.
On 5 April 2018, during promotional appearances for UFC 223, McGregor and a group of about twenty others were let into the Barclays Center by credentialled members of his promotional team. They attempted to confront Nurmagomedov, who was on a bus leaving the arena with "red corner" fighters for UFC 223 on it, such as Rose Namajunas, Al Iaquinta, Karolina Kowalkiewicz, Ray Borg and Michael Chiesa.[232] McGregor ran up alongside the slowly moving bus and then ran past it to grab a metal equipment dolly, which he then threw at the bus's window, before trying to throw other objects in the vicinity.[233] Chiesa and Borg were injured by the shattered glass and sent to hospital. They were soon removed from the card on the advice of the NYSAC and the UFC's medical team.[234] Lobov was also pulled from his fight for his involvement in the dispute.
Dana White said there was a warrant out for McGregor's arrest and the NYPD said McGregor was a person of interest.[235] White said McGregor had told him via text message: "This had to be done."[236] "You can imagine he's going to be sued beyond belief", White said, and denied suggestions that the violence was a publicity stunt intended to generate interest in the UFC.[237] McGregor and others involved initially fled the Barclays Center after the incident,[238] although he and a fellow accused turned themselves in that night. McGregor was charged with three counts of assault and one count of criminal mischief.[239][240] He was further charged with menacing and reckless endangerment at his arraignment and was released on $50,000 bail until 14 June 2018.[241][242] Under the bail conditions negotiated by his then attorney, Jim Walden, and set by the judge, McGregor was allowed to travel without restriction.[243][244] On 12 April 2018, McGregor hired lawyer Bruce Mafeo of Cozen O'Connor to represent him in this matter.[245] McGregor pleaded no contest to a count of disorderly conduct and was ordered to perform five days of community service and attend anger management classes.[246] On 12 September 2018, Chiesa announced a lawsuit against McGregor, saying that he "experienced pain, suffering and a loss of enjoyment of life" as a result of the attack.[247]
Following the fight at UFC 229 on 6 October 2018, Khabib Nurmagomedov jumped out of the cage and charged towards McGregor's training partner Dillon Danis. Soon afterwards, McGregor and Abubakar Nurmagomedov, Khabib's cousin, also attempted to exit the octagon, but a scuffle broke out after McGregor punched Abubakar, who then punched him back.[248] Two of Nurmagomedov's cornermen retaliated: Esed Emiragaev and Zubaira Tukhugov.[249] Tukhugov was scheduled to fight on 27 October 2018 at UFC Fight Night: Volkan vs. Smith against Artem Lobov, the McGregor team member who was confronted by Nurmagomedov in April 2018. Nurmagomedov's payment for the fight was withheld by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) as a result, pending an investigation into his actions. Nurmagomedov appeared at the post-fight interview and apologized to the NSAC.[250]
The NSAC filed a formal complaint against both McGregor and Nurmagomedov, and on 24 October, the NSAC voted to release half of Nurmagomedov's $2million fight payout immediately.[251] Both Nurmagomedov and McGregor received indefinite bans, at least until the official hearing, which took place in December 2018.[252] On 29 January 2019, the NSAC announced a six-month suspension for McGregor (retroactive to 6 October 2018) and a $50,000 fine. He became eligible to compete again on 6 April 2019.[253]
Dublin rape case
In March 2019, The New York Times reported that McGregor was under investigation by the Garda Síochána (police), following allegations of a sexual assault on a woman in a Dublin hotel in December 2018.[254][255] A second allegation of sexual assault was reported in October 2019, regarding an assault on a woman in a car alleged to have taken place earlier that month.[256]
In January 2021, after prosecutors declined to prosecute McGregor for the 2018 alleged sexual assault, a civil claim for damages was launched in the High Court. A spokeswoman for McGregor said in a statement that the allegations against him were "categorically rejected" and that he was "confident that justice will prevail" in the civil case.[257][258] In March 2022, the High Court made a pre-trial discovery order against McGregor requiring the Gardaí to disclose certain information and documents gathered by them.[259]
The civil action was taken against McGregor by Nikita Hand, who alleged he violently beat and raped her in Dublin in December 2018. The trial began in the High Court in Dublin on 5 November 2024, with Mr Justice Alexander Owens as judge.[260][261][262] On 22 November 2024, the jury returned their verdict and found that McGregor had raped Hand. Accordingly, McGregor was ordered to pay Hand nearly €250,000 in damages.[263][264][265][266] On 5 December 2024, Justice Owens ordered McGregor to pay the entirety of Hand's legal costs, approximately €1,500,000, and said that he may begin contempt of court proceedings against McGregor for his comments about the case on social media after it concluded.[267][268][269]
Aftermath
After the trial, McGregor indicated on social media that he planned to appeal the verdict, and Hand said she hoped that the case would encourage victims of assault to continue "pushing forward for justice". The Irish Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, praised Hand's bravery and determination, and the Taoiseach, Simon Harris, had a phone conversation with Hand before complimenting her "bravery and courage" when speaking to the media.[270][271][272] It also emerged that Hand's partner had been stabbed and windows were smashed when attackers wearing balaclavas invaded their home in June 2024. This information was withheld from the jury during the trial.[273]
In light of the court ruling, IO Interactive ceased its collaboration with McGregor, removing content that featured him from their Hitman video game series.[274] The Rape Crisis Network Ireland also called for retailers to stop selling his stout and whiskey brands.[275] Various retailers and Irish wholesalers, including the Musgrave Group, announced that they would no longer stock his beer brand or whiskey, which would see the brands removed from SuperValu, Centra, Tesco Ireland, Spar, Mace and Londis stores, among others.[276] A few days after the verdict, Proper No. Twelve-parent company Proximo Spirits announced it would no longer feature McGregor in association with the brand.[277]Wetherspoons and other pub chains likewise stopped selling McGregor's stout brand.[278]
Florida robbery arrest
McGregor's March 2019 mugshot
On 11 March 2019, McGregor was arrested outside of the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida, after he attacked a fan taking a picture with a cellphone. In an incident that was caught on a security camera, McGregor lunged to hit the man, grabbed his device and smashed it on the ground with his feet. Subsequently, he was arrested and charged with strong-armed robbery and criminal mischief.[279] McGregor was held in custody for several hours before being released on a $5,000 bond. On 14 March 2019, news surfaced that McGregor was also facing a civil lawsuit from the fan involved in the incident.[280] On 8 April, the civil lawsuit against McGregor was dropped by the fan.[281] On 13 May, it was revealed that the criminal charges against McGregor had also been dropped after the accuser's attorney said that his client had "been made whole" by McGregor, in a reference to an out-of-court settlement that was reached.[282][283]
Dublin pub assault
On 15 August 2019, TMZ Sports published a video that showed McGregor punching an older man at The Marble Arch Pub in Dublin.[190] The incident happened on 6 April and was originally reported by Irish media, although without the video that showed the attack.[284] McGregor had repeatedly offered the victim a shot of his whiskey, which the victim repeatedly declined, then McGregor had punched him.[284] Irish police stated that they had opened an investigation.[285] McGregor was charged with assault and first appeared in court on 11 October 2019.[284] The court heard that McGregor had 18 prior convictions from 2018 going back to 2009.[284] The majority were for driving offences, but he was given the Probation Act in 2009 when he was an apprentice plumber for an assault causing harm offence.[284] On 1 November, McGregor pleaded guilty to the assault and was fined €1,000.[286][284]
Corsica sexual assault arrest
On 10 September 2020, McGregor was arrested on the French island of Corsica on suspicion of attempted sexual assault and indecent exposure for an incident alleged to have taken place in a bar. After being held in custody for two days while being interviewed by police, he was released without charge.[287][288][289] Eight months later, French authorities dropped the investigation due to insufficient evidence.[290][291]
Attack on Francesco Facchinetti
On 17 October 2021, McGregor allegedly assaulted Francesco Facchinetti, an Italian musician and TV presenter, in a nightclub in Rome, breaking Facchinetti's nose in front of witnesses and bodyguards. A few days later, Facchinetti filed charges against McGregor for the attack.[292][293][294][295][296]
Alleged attack on yacht
In January 2023, McGregor was accused of assaulting a 42-year-old woman aboard his yacht in Ibiza, Spain, during his birthday party on 22 July 2022. The woman claimed she was berated by McGregor before being physically assaulted. She further claimed that she was forced to jump from the yacht to escape McGregor and that she sustained a broken arm in the process. The woman did not file a formal statement with Spanish police at the time of the incident. In January, she gave a formal statement with Irish police, who then shared that statement with their Spanish counterparts. The woman has also filed a civil suit against McGregor over the alleged incident.[297][298][299] After making her formal statement, the woman's car was set ablaze outside of her Dublin home.[300] In February, a brick was reportedly thrown through a window of that residence.[301] In late February 2023, news surfaced that the lawsuit was discontinued by the plaintiff, with no further information provided.[302]
Miami Heat-related incidents
Punching the Miami Heat mascot
On 10 June 2023, McGregor appeared at Game Four of the 2023 NBA Finals in Miami, Florida, to promote his pain relief spray in a planned skit with the Miami Heat's mascot, Burnie. McGregor proceeded to punch the man wearing the mascot costume (Heat dancer Chris Brown) once and "knock him out", but then he dealt a second, powerful and apparently off-script punch to Brown's jaw while Brown was on the ground. Brown was subsequently treated in a local hospital emergency room and later released. Most of the crowd in attendance booed McGregor for his actions.[303][304] On 13 June, three days after the incident, McGregor claimed that "it was a skit" and that "all is well" between the two.[305][306]
Alleged sexual assault
On 11 June 2023, Miami police received a report that McGregor had sexually assaulted a woman the previous night in a restroom at the Miami Heat arena after Game Four of the NBA Finals.[307] McGregor released a statement via the Kessler PR Group, a public relations and crisis management group, denying the allegation.[308] On 18 October, the case was dropped.[309]
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