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‘I am an innocent man’: Conor McGregor responds to criticism about UFC return after sexual assault civil lawsuit

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2 months ago

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‘I am an innocent man’: Conor McGregor responds to criticism about UFC return after sexual assault civil lawsuit

Conor McGregor once again proclaimed his innocence after he faced criticism for making his return to action at UFC 329 following a civil lawsuit in Ireland where he was found liable for a sexual assault that allegedly took place back in 2018.

As he prepares to face Max Holloway on Saturday, McGregor was asked about the backlash he's faced at home after a jury found him liable following a lawsuit filed by a woman named Nikita Hand, who accused the former UFC champion of assaulting her in a Dublin hotel. The jury sided with Hand and awarded her damages totaling £206,000 ($271,742.84).

McGregor appealed the verdict but that was also shut down by the courts.

“I am an innocent man,†McGregor said during UFC 329 media day. “I'll stand for my innocence until the day I go out. This is still a situation where I fight. There's a reason it didn't go where it went and went to a civil trial. It is what it is. It stings deep. I continue to fight.

“I know the truth. I know that lying lips are an abomination to the lord. I know that anything done in darkness will soon come to light. I trust in god that it's coming. You best believe it's coming and I look very, very forward to the day.â€

Police investigated the claims but criminal charges were never filed against McGregor.

Hand ultimately filed a civil lawsuit instead, and during testimony, she claimed that the UFC superstar “raped and battered†her during the alleged incident.

When he took the stand, McGregor claimed that the acts with Hand were consensual and while the sex was “athletic, physical,†he denied assaulting her.

While McGregor continues to vehemently deny the allegations against him, the 37-year-old fighter admitted on Wednesday that his life spiraled out of control after he achieved so much success inside and outside of combat sports.

In 2016, McGregor became the first ever simultaneous two-division UFC champion and that led to a massive boxing match being booked against Floyd Mayweather where he reportedly earned around $100 million for the fight. That was also when McGregor launched his Proper No. 12 whiskey brand, which he eventually sold alongside his partners in 2021 to Proximo Spirits for a reported $600 million price tag.

“Obviously. 2017, double weight world champion, Floyd Mayweather banked and then I launch an Irish whiskey,†McGregor said. “I didn't drink heavily at all in that time of my life. I was an athlete at the top of my game. Next thing you know, there's thousands upon thousands of bottles in my garage.

“[They'd tell me] sell this, Conor. OK, I'd leave my property with two bottles under my arm. That was it. I was caught. That's it.â€

McGregor says in recent years he's cleaned up his act and devoted himself to faith and family, which put him back on track to resume his fighting career.

“God gave me these lessons, that's it,†McGregor said. “I was trapped and caught. It is what it is. I trust in God. I trust in my journey and I trust in the truth. If the world is against the truth, then I am against the world. That is where I stand.â€

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MMA

Just Scrap Radio Ep. 230 with Dan Ige and Drakkar Klose

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1 hour ago

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September 8, 2026

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Just Scrap Radio Ep. 230 with Dan Ige and Drakkar Klose
Trending:

NSAC doubles down on punishment for UFC 329 fighters, fines Paddy Pimblett and two other big names

The 230th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com, with host Cole Shelton, is live to preview Noche UFC on Saturday.

We're joined by UFC bantamweight Dan Ige (0:00). We close things out by talking to UFC lightweight Drakkar Klose (14:26).

Dan Ige opens up the show to talk about his Noche UFC scrap against David Martinez. Dan chats about moving down to bantamweight and when that idea first came together. He then talks about the practice cut to 135lbs. Dan then talks about whether or not he was surprised to get a top-ranked opponent like Martinez, and why he actually called for this fight and event. He then talks about the style matchup, fresh matchups at 135lbs and what a win does for him here.

Drakkar Klose then closes out the program to talk about his Noche UFC fight against Tommy Gantt. Drakkar talks about another year-long layoff due to injury and when he was fully cleared to return. He then talks about how familiar he was with his opponent and whether or not it caught him by surprise. Drakkar then chats about the style matchup and wanting to bring Tommy into deep waters. Drakkar then talks about what a win does for him and wanting the Beneil Dariush rematch.

Be sure to tune in every Tuesday for another episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN as Cole Shelton chats with fighters to help preview or recap their fights.

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Stay locked to BJPENN.com all week for your Noche UFC coverage.

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM

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MMA

Ex-UFC stars new career takes wild turn during traffic stop

Published

1 hour ago

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September 8, 2026

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Ex-UFC star's new career takes wild turn during traffic stop
Former
Ultimate Fighting Championship title challenger Marlon
Moraes now deals with real-world situations, as seen in a
recent South Florida traffic stop.

Viral footage circulating on social media shows Moraes, now working
as a police officer, dealing with a motorist who repeatedly
confronted and verbally challenged him. After several warnings to
back away, the man moved toward Moraes, who responded by taking him
to the ground.

Marlon Moraes hip tosses motorist while working as South
Florida police officer

The incident took place on March 27. Moraes joined the Davie Police
Department in Florida in June 2024 before taking a position with
the Coral Springs P.D. later that year.

In the viral footage, the situation escalates after the motorist
repeatedly insults Moraes and another officer. Moraes warns him
against moving closer before eventually using a hip toss to bring
him to the ground, where other officers move in to handcuff
him.

The incident adds another chapter to Moraes’ unusual post-fighting
career, which has seen him transition into law enforcement while
also returning to mixed martial arts competition. The Brazilian
exited the UFC in 2023 on a seven-fight losing streak. He defeated
Maximiliano
Perez by unanimous decision on Aug. 28, returning to
competition after three years to record his first victory since
2019.

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MMA

Shavkat Rakhmonov admits UFC return is far from guaranteed

Published

3 hours ago

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September 8, 2026

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Shavkat Rakhmonov admits UFC return is far from guaranteed
Shavkat
Rakhmonov isn’t ready to say that his
Ultimate Fighting Championship career is over, but the unbeaten
welterweight admits his return is far from guaranteed.

Rakhmonov has been sidelined since defeating Ian Garry in
December 2024. He entered that bout with a knee injury and it left
a long-lasting impact. In a new interview, he reflected on the
fight and where he stands in the 170-pound division.

Shavkat Rakhmonov details the knee injury that has kept him
sidelined since beating Ian Garry

“Nomad†admits that he should not have competed with his injury. He
also took a shot at Dagestani stars Khabib
Nurmagomedov and Islam
Makhachev, claiming they would never fight injured.

“Well, that's my problem; I couldn't fight,†Rakhmonov told Alf
Global. “If I had fought, I could've become champion, but that's
how it turned out. I was injured. What can I do? We are only human.
I actually shouldn't even have fought Ian Garry at
all. With injuries like that, I shouldn't have fought at all; I
just took a risk. That's the Kazakh way. Kazakhs are very daring.
They're not afraid. If it had been some other Dagestani fighter
like Khabib or Islam Makhachev, they definitely would've
refused.â€

Rakhmonov then delved deeper into how his injury worsened during
the Garry fight.

“I already had an injury going into the Ian Garry fight,†he added.
“I stepped in; I hadn't fought for a year; I wanted to fight. That
old injury was still bothering me a lot. My leg was swollen. And
when he was striking me, it was probably because I completely
lacked a ligament. I couldn't really feel that strike, in
general.â€

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