Conor McGregor is breaking his silence on the sexual assault ruling and taking responsibility for the actions that led him there. On Friday, the former UFC champion was found liable for sexual assault by a civil court jury. The case was filed by Nikita Hand, who alleged the famous fighter “brutally raped and battered” her during a sexual encounter in a Dublin hotel in 2018.
Following the ruling, McGregor spoke up for the first time, expressing regret for stepping out on his longtime partner Dee Devlin. “People want to hear from me, I needed time. I know I made mistakes,” he wrote on X. “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.” However, the Irish mixed martial artist insists his acknowledgment of infidelity doesn’t mean he is guilty of assault.
“As much as I regret it, everything that happened that night was consensual, and all the witnesses present swore to that under oath.”
As a result, McGregor vowed to appeal the ruling, declaring that he “will move forward.” He expressed deep gratitude to his family, friends, and supporters for standing by his side during the trial. “That’s it. No more. Getting back to the gym- the fight game awaits,” he concluded the post. McGregor and Devlin have been together since 2008. The pair, who got engaged in 2020, have four kids together.
Conor McGregor Loses First Brand Deal Due To Sexual Assault Ruling
McGregor’s statement comes just a day after the termination of his partnership with IO Interactive, the developer behind the game Hitman. The company announced the decision in a statement, saying:
“In light of the recent court ruling regarding Conor McGregor, IO Interactive has made the decision to cease its collaboration with the athlete, effective immediately.”
The company explained that they take matters of sexual assault “seriously” and could not “ignore its implications.” As a result, all of McGregor’s content will be removed from their storefront. The Irish Champion was introduced to Hitman: World of Assassination earlier this year as the character, The Disruptor — a multi-billionaire MMA star — for Agent 47 to assassinate.
As part of the ruling, McGregor was ordered to pay Hand nearly €250,000 (($257,000) in damages. Following the ruling the plaintiff gave a tearful statement to the media. “I hope my story is a reminder that no matter how afraid you might be, Speak up! You have a voice and keep on fighting for justice,” she said per Sky Sports. Although the retired athlete didn’t address the press after court, he instructed his legal team to file an appeal. McGregor also expressed disappointment in the jury for not looking at all the evidence.
