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.
MMA
‘I am an innocent man’: Conor McGregor responds to criticism about UFC return after sexual assault civil lawsuit
Published
1 month agoon
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€
You may like
MMA
Anthony Smith pleads not guilty to four felony charges in Nebraska
Published
6 hours agoon
August 18, 2026
Smith has pleaded not guilty to four felony charges stemming
from a July domestic incident in Nebraska.
Court records confirmed
Smith’s plea, resulting in the cancellation of an arraignment
scheduled for Aug. 17. The former
Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight title
challenger is now due back in court for a status hearing Sept. 21
in Sarpy County.
Former UFC title challenger Anthony Smith faces four felony
charges stemming from an alleged July domestic incident in Gretna,
Nebraska
Smith faces one Class 2 felony count involving an attempted Class 1
offense, a terroristic-threats charge and two counts of
first-degree false imprisonment, all classified as Class 3A
felonies. A Class 2 felony in Nebraska can carry a prison term of
one to 50 years, while Class 3A felonies carry up to three years of
imprisonment and 18 months of post-release supervision.
Prosecutors allege that Smith became involved in an altercation
with his wife at a Gretna, Nebraska, bar on July 26. They claim
Smith threatened to kill his wife, forced her into his vehicle and
later attempted to strike her with the vehicle after she exited it.
His wife was not physically injured, according to prosecutors’
account.
Smith has not publicly addressed the allegations. His wife, Mikhala
Renee Newman, previously offered a different characterization of
the incident, saying Smith was experiencing a mental health crisis
and that she had sought help to protect him from himself.
MMA
Gillian Robertson rejects Din Thomas' apology due to insincerity: "I don't think there's a conversation to be had"
Published
7 hours agoon
August 18, 2026
Zuffa LLCThe relationship between Gillian Robertson and coach Din Thomas appears to have been fractured.
Thomas was in Robertson's corner for the UFC 330 co-main event. Robertson challenged Mackenzie Dern for the women's strawweight title this past Saturday in Philadelphia. “The Savage†ultimately had her five-fight winning streak snapped, and her bid for UFC gold fell short via unanimous decision.
During the UFC 330 post-fight show on Paramount+, Thomas announced that he will no longer be cornering fighters. While many felt the timing of Thomas' reveal was bizarre, the backlash occurred when the longtime coach said he felt Robertson came as close as she'll ever get to winning UFC gold.
During Monday's edition of “Deep Waters,†Thomas apologized for his comments and even called them “despicable.†Despite the apology, Robertson isn't exactly forgiving. On a recent episode of “The Ariel Helwani Show,†Helwani detailed a message that Robertson sent to him (via Home of Fight).
I reached out to Gillian Robertson following Din Thomas' comments and subsequent apology to get her thoughts on the situation. Here’s what she had to say:
“Prior to [Saturday’s broadcast], I didn’t see any sign of what was to be said.
After the broadcast, he had said, ‘I will… pic.twitter.com/NnoonGmkGQ
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) August 18, 2026
“He did reach out to me privately at 5:00 PM and then sent a voice message apologizing around 7:30 PM, to which I have not responded due to comments he has made since the broadcast, privately, to my team that led me to believe there is not much weight in the apology, such as, ‘Me doing that publicly was more so for TV purposes and ratings,’†Robertson wrote.
The top 115-pounder seems ready to move on from the situation, and she wants to get back to work as soon as possible.
“I don't think there's a conversation to be had,†Robertson wrote. “I'm good with everything. The people who sign my checks are cool. As for now, I regroup, take some time to heal, and I will be back in the gym as soon as possible on the same mission.â€
Thomas noted that he had been considering ending his run cornering fighters long before Robertson fought Dern. The former American Top Team mentor said he thought he'd be done after Tyron Woodley was knocked out by Jake Paul in their boxing rematch back in 2021. Whether or not he sticks to it this time remains to be seen.
Do you agree with Gillian Robertson's response to Din Thomas' apology? Sound off in the comments below.
This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM
DWCS Week 2 official after all 10 fighters make weight
Anthony Smith pleads not guilty to four felony charges in Nebraska
Gillian Robertson rejects Din Thomas' apology due to insincerity: "I don't think there's a conversation to be had"
Trending
-
MMA2 days agoJalin Turner explains how he handled the burden of hurting his opponents
-
MMA2 days agoDin Thomas retires from cornering after Gillian Robertson’s UFC 330 loss
-
MMA2 days agoCharles Johnson’s wild UFC 330 submission was no fluke: ‘Once or twice a week’
-
MMA1 day agoIan Machado Garry sends defiant message after Islam Makhachev defeat
-
MMA2 days agoChidi Njokuani explains bizarre UFC 330 weigh-in mix-up
-
MMA2 days agoLucas Fernando nearly quit MMA before breakthrough UFC 330 victory
-
MMA2 days agoNeil Magny closes in on Jim Miller’s all-time UFC wins record
-
MMA2 days agoIan Garry confronts Michael Morales at UFC 330: ‘Make sure you back it up’


