MMA star Conor McGregor found liable for 2018 sexual assault

An Irish civil jury has found that UFC superstar Conor McGregor is liable of sexually assaulting a woman in a Dublin hotel room in December 2018.

McGregor was ordered by the High Court in Dublin to pay the victim 248,000 euros (NZ$443,000).

No criminal charges came from the incident which allegedly occurred after the two met at a Christmas party in Dublin. The woman said McGregor forced her onto a bed and choked her.

A paramedic treating the woman's injuries the following morning testified that he had never seen such intense bruising on a victim, reported BBC News.

The woman said she then let McGregor do what he wanted to because she feared for her life and that she would not see her daughter again.

"He let me go and I remember saying I was sorry, as I felt that I did something wrong and I wanted to reassure him that I wouldn't tell anyone so he wouldn't hurt me again," the woman said in court.

She alleged that McGregor put her in a choke hold multiple times and later said, "Now you know how I felt in the Octagon where I tapped out three times," in reference to a UFC bout in which he had to admit defeat.

McGregor has denied the accusations, saying that the two had consensual sex. He said in court of the chokehold allegation, "It is a full-blown lie among many lies. How anyone could believe that me, as a prideful person, would highlight my shortcomings."

The jury of eight women and four men deliberated for just over six hours before deciding against McGregor's version of events.

The woman reported the incident to the police at the time, but prosecutors declined to bring charges, citing insufficient evidence and an unlikely chance at a conviction.

After the verdict, McGregor did not speak to reporters but posted on social media that he will appeal the decision.

"The judge's instruction and the modest award was given for assault, not for aggravated or exemplary damages. I am disappointed that the jury did not hear all the evidence that the DDP reviewed. I am with my family now, focused on my future. Thank you to all my support worldwide," he posted.

McGregor, 36, and his longtime fiancee, Dee Devlin, have four children.

McGregor has not fought in UFC since sustaining a broken leg during a July 2021 loss to Dustin Poirier.

The Ireland native is a former featherweight and lightweight champion with a record of 22-6, including 19 wins by knockout.

- Field Level Media