Conor McGregor suffered a legal setback in his attempt to appeal the sexual assault sentence against him.
The 37-year-old wrestler was found guilty of sexual assault last November in a civil case in the Irish High Court.
The lawsuit originated from the accusation of a woman who claimed to have been attacked by McGregor in a hotel room in 2018. The jury ruled in favor of the woman and ordered McGregor to pay 248,000 euros, equivalent to approximately $257,000.
McGregor filed an appeal against that decision earlier this year.
On Thursday, the High Court ruled against McGregor again and dismissed the appeal on all points, according to multiple reports.
McGregor’s legal team presented several arguments, including new testimony from the woman’s neighbor, who described having seen her in a physical altercation before the incident with McGregor. However, McGregor’s team withdrew that argument earlier this month.
According to the Irish national broadcaster RTÉ, the woman stated before the High Court that she met McGregor at a Christmas party in 2018 in Dublin. She accused him of forcing her onto a bed, strangling her, and making her fear for her life. McGregor, who has four children with his longtime partner, admitted to having had sexual relations with the woman, but denied that it was violent or forced. He did not face any criminal proceedings for the incident.
McGregor maintained his innocence in an extensive social media post on Friday, calling the case an “extortion.”
McGregor (22-6) hasn’t competed in mixed martial arts since suffering a broken leg in a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021. Earlier this month, he said he had undergone drug testing as part of the UFC’s mandatory testing program, in a step towards his return to competition. He has expressed interest in making an appearance at a proposed UFC event at the White House in 2026.
