Conor McGregor proclaims innocence in civil court case, reveals origin of alcohol addiction going into UFC 329
UFC 329 headliner Conor McGregor has opened up about the civil court case he's been fighting to clear his name, whilst also recounting the origin of his alcohol addiction.
Conor McGregor has expounded upon the civil court case that pitted him against an individual named Nikita Hand. The Dubliner proclaimed his innocence and categorically denied the allegations levied against him by Hand.
Additionally, McGregor shed light on another issue he's battled in recent years, that of alcohol addiction. The former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion seemed to suggest that the addiction stemmed from an alcohol-related entrepreneurial pursuit he was extensively involved in.
UFC icon Conor McGregor affirms innocence in Nikita Hand civil court case
Conor McGregor, in early 2019, was the subject of an investigation by the police in his native Ireland, per The New York Times. It was eventually highlighted that McGregor was accused of having beaten and s*xually assaulted a woman known as Nikita Hand at a Dublin hotel back in December of 2018.
However, McGregor, in early 2021, achieved a significant victory in the legal dispute, as prosecutors refused to pursue Hand's criminal case against him due to insufficient evidence.
As such, the criminal case of s*xual assault and other alleged crimes he perpetrated against Hand was deemed null and void, but the complainant proceeded to pursue charges against him in the civil realm, with a civil lawsuit.
The long-running legal battle witnessed McGregor lose the civil court case and be deemed guilty in November of 2024, albeit only in the civil realm and not in the criminal case. Mr. Justice Alexander Owens of Ireland's High Court ordered him to pay €250k in damages and €1.5 million in legal costs to Hand.
McGregor filed an appeal, and matters were later taken to Ireland's Supreme Court. Nevertheless, the Irishman faced another legal setback in 2025 when the verdict in the civil case against him remained unchanged despite his pleas and proclamations of innocence. The MMA great has, to this day, consistently maintained that he didn't r*pe Hand.
As reported by ESPN in 2024, McGregor asserted that he had consensual s*x with Hand. "The Notorious" one has time and again underscored that the s*xual assault accusations against him are downright fabricated, citing that his proclamation of innocence is supported by the fact that the courts didn't prosecute him in the criminal case and only permitted his accuser to proceed with the civil case.
Well, Conor McGregor, who hasn't competed in a professional combat sports contest since his last UFC fight in July 2021, is booked to face Max Holloway in a welterweight matchup. "Mystic Mac" beat Holloway via unanimous decision in their featherweight showdown in 2013. Their much-awaited rematch, at welterweight, will headline UFC 329 in Vegas this Saturday, July 11.
During this week's UFC 329 media day, McGregor fielded several questions. One question was about how some of his critics have argued that he doesn't deserve to compete on such a high-profile global sports platform after his civil court case that made headlines a couple of years back.
McGregor responded by reaffirming his innocence and vowed to clear his name in the civil case just as he did in the criminal case. The 37-year-old stated:
"I am an innocent man. And I'll stand for my innocence until the day I go out. And that is still a situation where I fight. There is a reason it didn't go where it went; and it went to a civil trial. It is what it is. It stings deep. I continue to fight."
He added, "I know the truth. And I know that lying lips are an abomination to the Lord. And I know that anything done in darkness will soon come to light. And I trust in God that it's coming. You best believe it's coming. And I look very, very forward to the day."
UFC 329 headliner Conor McGregor speaks about the athlete fame trap and the origin of his alcohol addiction
Back in November 2016, Conor McGregor became the first-ever simultaneous UFC two-weight champion, holding the world's premier MMA organization's featherweight and lightweight titles. McGregor was preceded by a few other UFC double champions, but he was the first to possess championships at two separate weight classes at the same time.
The combat sports megastar then faced legendary pugilist Floyd Mayweather Jr. in one of the highest-grossing boxing matches ever, which transpired in August of 2017. While he came up short, losing via 10th-round TKO, he earned widespread laudation for crossing over to fight an elite athlete in the latter's sport, in his pro boxing debut nonetheless.
During his UFC 329 media day, McGregor was asked whether he feels he'd been ensnared by the pitfalls that fame brings to athletes. He concurred and went on to retrace the origin of his alcohol addiction.
McGregor alluded to the launch of his Irish Whiskey brand, initially named Notorious Irish Whiskey in 2017, and later officially launched as Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey in 2018. It's well known that he relentlessly and tirelessly worked to turn Proper 12 into a world-renowned spirits brand.
The Dublin-born athlete added it as one of his biggest successes, among various other brands he owns, elevating his standing as a successful businessperson. He sold his majority stakes in Proper Twelve, as a part of a business deal worth around $600 million, to Proximo Spirits in 2021.
McGregor made an allusion to the variables at play and suggested that his alcohol addiction was sparked by the abundance of whiskey at hand coupled with his entrepreneurial promotional obligation for the brand he'd founded. He explained:
"Obviously. You know, 2017, double-weight world champion, Floyd Mayweather banked. And then I launched an Irish whiskey. I didn't drink heavily, if at all, in that time of my life. I was an athlete at the top of my game."
The veteran mixed martial artist continued, "Next thing you know, there's thousands upon thousands of bottles in my garage. Sell this, Conor. Okay. I'd leave my property with two bottles under my arm. And that was it. I was caught... God gave me these lessons."
Having lately spoken about growing closer to his Christian faith and embracing his spiritual side, McGregor added, "I trust in God. I trust in my journey. And I trust in the truth. And if the world is against the truth, then I am against the world. That is where I stand."
Watch Conor McGregor discuss the civil court case and the origins of his alcohol addiction below (*comments at the 12:40-minute mark of the video):
