In 2008, McGregor began competing professionally in mixed martial arts (MMA), fighting in the lightweight and featherweight divisions. He won the CWFC Featherweight and Lightweight Championships in 2012 before signing with the UFC in 2013. After five consecutive wins, he won theInterim Featherweight Championship by defeatingChad Mendes atUFC 189. He became the undisputed Featherweight Champion atUFC 194 after knocking outJosé Aldo in 13 seconds, which is the fastest finish in UFC title fight history.[12] In 2017, he won the UFC Lightweight Championship atUFC 205 by defeatingEddie Alvarez.[13] He transitioned briefly to professional boxing, facingFloyd Mayweather Jr. in a highly publicised bout, which he lost viaTKO in the 10th round.[14] He returned to MMA and challenged for the UFC Lightweight Championship atUFC 229, losing toKhabib Nurmagomedov via submission.[15]
McGregor is the biggestpay-per-view (PPV) draw in MMA history, having headlined the fivehighest-selling UFC PPV events.[16] His fight against Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 drew 2.4 million PPV buys, the most ever for an MMA event.[17] His2017 boxing match against Mayweather generated over 5.3 million buys across the United States and the United Kingdom, making it the second highest-selling pay-per-view event in history.[18][19][20] McGregor was ranked as theworld's highest-paid athlete byForbes in 2021, earning a reported $180 million.[21] He also appeared on the list in 2018, ranking fourth with earnings of $99 million.[22] Outside of fighting, McGregor has pursued business ventures.[23]
McGregor has been involved in multiple legal issues, including civil and criminal cases. He has faced charges for assault, disorderly conduct, driving offences and rape. His comments on the2023 Dublin riots and immigration policy in Ireland have also sparked controversy. In November 2024, an IrishHigh Court ruled in a civil case that he had assaulted and raped a woman in 2018, ordering him to pay over€248,000 in damages.[24] In December 2024, he was ordered to pay the victim's legal costs, amounting to approximately€1,500,000.[25] In July 2025, he lost an appeal on the verdict.[26] Following the 2024 civil court ruling, McGregor lost several sponsorship and partnership deals.[27][28]
Conor Anthony McGregor[33] was born inDublin, Ireland,[3] to parents Tony and Margaret McGregor.[34] Tony is fromLiverpool, and was born to an English mother and Irish father.[35][36] He was raised inCrumlin and attended Irish-language schools — theGaelscoil Scoil Mológa, inHarold's Cross, at primary level, andGaelcholáiste Coláiste de hÍde inTallaght at secondary level, where he also developed his passion for sport, playingfootball.[34]
In his youth, he played football for Lourdes Celtic Football Club.[37] At the age of 12, he also beganboxing at Crumlin Boxing Club,[38][39] as a way to defend himself againstbullies and raise his confidence.
On 17 February 2007, at the age of 18, McGregor made his mixed martial arts debut in an amateur fight against Kieran Campbell for the Irish Ring of Truth promotion in Dublin. He won via technical knockout (TKO) in the first round. Following the fight, he turned professional and was signed by the Irish Cage of Truth promotion. In 2008, McGregor began training at the Straight Blast Gym (SBG) in Dublin underJohn Kavanagh.[45]
Professional mixed martial arts career
Early career (2008–2013)
On 9 March 2008, McGregor had his first professional MMA bout, as a lightweight, defeating Gary Morris with a second-round TKO. After McGregor won his second fight against Mo Taylor, he made his featherweight debut in a loss viakneebar against submission specialist Artemij Sitenkov. After a victory at featherweight in his next bout against Stephen Bailey, McGregor contemplated a different career path before his mother contacted his coach John Kavanagh and reinvigorated him to continue pursuing mixed martial arts.[46]
McGregor then won his next fight, also at featherweight, against Connor Dillon, before moving back to lightweight for a fight againstJoseph Duffy, in which he received his second professional loss after submitting to an arm-triangle choke. Following this, during 2011 and 2012, McGregor went on an eight-fight winning streak,[47] during which he won both the CWFC Featherweight and Lightweight championships, making him the first European professional mixed martial artist to hold titles in two divisions simultaneously.[48]
In February 2013, UFC presidentDana White made a trip to Dublin, Ireland to receive a Gold Medal of Honorary Patronage fromTrinity College's studentPhilosophical Society and was inundated with requests to sign McGregor to the UFC. After a meeting with McGregor and talking with UFC CEOLorenzo Fertitta, White offered him a contract days later.[49]
Ultimate Fighting Championship (2013–present)
2013
In February 2013, theUltimate Fighting Championship (UFC) announced that they had signed McGregor to a multi-fight contract.[50] In joining, he became only the second fighter from Ireland to compete for the company, following team member Tom Egan.
McGregor was expected to faceAndy Ogle on 17 August 2013 atUFC Fight Night 26, but Ogle pulled out of the bout citing an injury and was replaced by eventualUFC Featherweight ChampionMax Holloway.[53] McGregor won the fight by unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–26). Following the bout with Holloway, anMRI scan revealed that McGregor had torn hisanterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during the bout and would require surgery, keeping him out of action for up to ten months.[54]
2014
McGregor was expected to faceCole Miller on 19 July 2014, atUFC Fight Night 46 in his comeback bout after recovering from his ACL injury.[55] However, Miller pulled out of the bout citing a thumb injury and was replaced byDiego Brandão.[56] McGregor fought Brandão in front of a crowd of 9,500 atThe O2 inDublin, Ireland. The fight was officially halted by referee Leon Roberts at 4:05 of the first round. The win earned McGregor his firstPerformance of the Night award.[57]
Prior to his next bout, McGregor met withLorenzo Fertitta and signed a new multi-fight contract with the UFC. McGregor next facedDustin Poirier on 27 September 2014, atUFC 178.[58] Despite McGregor landing only 9 significant strikes to Poirier's 10, he managed to secure a victory early on in the first round, by pressuring Poirier onto his back foot, before exploding with a left hook behind Poirier's ear, forcing referee Herb Dean to step in to end the fight. The finish officially came at 1:46 into the first round.[59][60] This marked Poirier's first UFC loss via KO/TKO and earned McGregor his second straight "Performance of the Night" award.[61]
2015
Championship pursuits
McGregor facedDennis Siver on 18 January 2015 atUFC Fight Night 59.[62][63] He won the fight via TKO in the second round. The victory also earned McGregor his third straight "Performance of the Night" award.[64]
McGregor (right),Dana White (middle) andJosé Aldo (left) in London as part of the World Tour promotingUFC 189 in March 2015
Interim Featherweight Championship bout
The highly anticipated bout with Aldo was announced on 30 January 2015, at theUFC 183 Q&A. McGregor declared that he was expected to face Aldo on 11 July 2015 atUFC 189 for the undisputedUFC Featherweight Championship, during the UFC's annualInternational Fight Week. The fight took place at theMGM Grand Garden Arena inLas Vegas, Nevada.[65] The UFC, confident that the fight would exceed expectations, increased the promotional budget for the event, with company Dana White stating that "[the UFC] spent more money promoting Aldo–McGregor than any fight in UFC history."[66]
The fight against Aldo was announced on 30 January 2015, at theUFC 183 and both McGregor and Aldo embarked on a 12-day world tour, during which eight cities in five countries were visited, including Aldo's home country of Brazil (Rio de Janeiro) and McGregor's hometown of Dublin. The tour began in Rio de Janeiro on 20 March and ended in Dublin on 31 March.[67] However, on 23 June, it was reported that Aldo had suffered a rib fracture and had pulled out of the bout as a consequence.[68][69] McGregor remained on the card and was rescheduled to faceChad Mendes for theInterim Featherweight Championship.[70] The official attendance for the event, 16,019, broke the record in Nevada, while the gate of $7,200,000 broke the record for a mixed martial arts event in the United States.[71] Prior to the fight, McGregor's entrance song, "The Foggy Dew", was sung live by Irish singer-songwriterSinéad O'Connor.[72] McGregor won the fight via TKO, winning the UFC Interim Featherweight Championship.[73][74]
On 10 August, it was announced that the event would take place on 12 December, when McGregor would faceJosé Aldo for theUFC Featherweight Championship.[76] At the weigh-ins, both McGregor and Aldo achieved the weight limit of 145 pounds.[77][78] McGregor knocked out Aldo thirteen seconds into the first round with a left hook, ending his seven-year-longWEC andUFC title reign and eighteen-fight win streak to claim the title, earning the "Performance of the Night" bonus as well.[79][80] This finish marked thefastest knockout in a title bout in UFC history.[81]
2016
First UFC loss
McGregor in 2016
McGregor facedThe Ultimate Fighter Season 5 winner and former UFC Lightweight Championship challengerNate Diaz on 5 March 2016 atUFC 196 in a welterweight bout.[82] On 24 February 2016, a press conference was held to help promote the new main event, with both men trading insults.[83] At the Thursday pre-fight press conference on 3 March, McGregor and Diaz engaged in a brief scuffle during a face-off, after McGregor landed a strike on Diaz's lead hand.[84]
The fight began with combination in the first round, Diaz returned fire with two consecutive hooks, one a slap, a signature of Nate and his brother,Nick Diaz, termed the "Stockton Slap". McGregor had success with his bodywork, but Diaz began to land combinations of his own. After a one-two punch from Diaz, McGregor attempted adouble leg takedown, which Diaz defended bysprawling. Diaz then threatened theguillotine choke, which forced McGregor onto his back after stopping McGregor from scrambling and Diaz secured themount and secured arear naked choke. McGregor tapped to the submission at 4:12 into the second round.[85][86][87] Both competitors were awarded "Fight of the Night" bonuses, and McGregor received the highest disclosed purse of any fighter in the history of the company to that point, at $1,000,000.[88][89] McGregor was critical of his own performance while praising Diaz, saying "I was inefficient with my energy. It was a battle of energy and he got the better of that."[90]
Rematch with Nate Diaz
A rematch with Diaz was scheduled for 9 July atUFC 200; however, on 19 April, the UFC announced that McGregor had been pulled from the event after failing to fulfil media obligations related to the fight.[91][92] In turn, the fight with McGregor was rescheduled and took place the following month, contested again at welterweight, atUFC 202.[93] McGregor won the rematch via majority decision (48–47, 47–47, 48–47).[94] The bout was once again awarded "Fight of the Night" honours.[95] The event broke the record previously held byUFC 100 for the highest selling pay-per-view in UFC history, with 1,650,000 buys.[96]
Two–division champion
On 27 September, it was officially announced that McGregor's next bout would be againstEddie Alvarez for theUFC Lightweight Championship on 12 November atUFC 205.[97] Afterdropping Alvarez multiple times throughout the first round, McGregor landed a multiple-punch combination to stop his opponent via technical knockout in the second round. This result marked the first time a competitor had heldUFC championships in two different weight classes, and it also repeated McGregor's feat during his career atCage Warriors.[98][99] This win earned McGregor the "Performance of the Night" and is widely considered one of his best performances inside the octagon.[100][101][102]
Stripping of Featherweight Championship
On 26 November, due to his inactivity in the division, it was initially announced that McGregor had vacated the Featherweight Championship, therefore promoting José Aldo to undisputed champion.[103] McGregor's coach, however, confirmed further reports which stated that McGregor had actually been stripped of the title.[104]
2017
After winning the lightweight championship at UFC 205, McGregor announced he would take time off from the UFC to wait for the birth of his first child due in 2017.[105] McGregor spent the majority of his public appearances in early-2017 campaigning for a boxing match withFloyd Mayweather Jr.[106] After months of negotiations, the two finally came to terms on 14 June 2017 and announcedthe match to take place on 26 August.[107] The match ultimately ended in the 10th round with a victory by TKO for Mayweather.[108]
On 3 August, it was announced that McGregor would return to the octagon for the first time since November 2016 atUFC 229 to challenge the undefeatedKhabib Nurmagomedov for theUFC Lightweight Championship on 6 October.[110] This bout was considered one of the biggest contests in the history of the sport and it was filled with pre-fighthype.[111][112] Nurmagomedov submitted McGregor with aneck crank in the fourth round.[113][114]
2019
On 26 March 2019, McGregor announced his retirement on social media.[115][116] However, Dana White viewed this announcement as a ploy to secure an ownership stake in the company,[117][118] with White later suggesting his retirement would not last and that he had been in regular contact with him and stated he would fight again in the future.[119] McGregor had previously tweeted that he wanted a rematch with Khabib Nurmagomedov and that he would see him in the Octagon.[120][121]
2020
After over a year away from the Octagon, McGregor facedDonald Cerrone in a welterweight bout on 18 January 2020 atUFC 246.[122] He won the fight via technical knockout 40 seconds into the first round.[123] This win earned him aPerformance of the Night award.[124] The win made McGregor the first UFC fighter to hold knockout finishes in the featherweight, lightweight and welterweight divisions.[125] On 6 June 2020, McGregor announced once more that he was retiring from fighting.[126]
2021
Despite talks of retirement, McGregor was booked to face formerUFC Lightweight Championship challengerDustin Poirier in a rematch of their 2014 bout atUFC 257 on 24 January 2021.[127] He lost the fight via technical knockout in the second round, marking the first knockout loss in his career.[128] McGregor was later handed a 6–month medical suspension after the knockout.[129]
McGregor facedDustin Poirier for a third time on 10 July 2021 atUFC 264.[130] McGregor lost the fight via technical knockout in round one after the ringside doctor stopped the bout. McGregor had rolled his ankle while stepping back, resulting in a broken lowertibia which rendered him unable to continue.[131][132][133]
2023–2024
After the layoff nursing his leg injury, McGregor coachedThe Ultimate Fighter 31 for the second time with the opposing coach beingMichael Chandler. Filming of the show started in February 2023[134] and aired on television from May to August 2023.[135] The show led to McGregor being scheduled to fight in a welterweight bout against Chandler atUFC 303 on 29 June 2024.[136] Following speculation on the fight's status due to an abruptly cancelled press conference,[137][138] the UFC officially announced the fight's cancellation on 13 June 2024, citing an injury (broken toe) sustained by McGregor.[139]
2025
On October 7, 2025, it was announced that McGregor had failed to disclose his whereabouts for drug testing on three occasions in 2024. As a result, he was given an eighteen-month suspension, retroactive to the date of his failure. He will be eligible to compete again in March 2026.[140]
Fighting style
McGregor is known mostly as acounter-striker and prefers to fight standing up, as opposed to on the ground.[141] He is known for his striking precision and knockout power. McGregor is left-handed and primarily fights out of thesouthpaw stance but often switches to an orthodox stance. He will frequently try to be the aggressor in his bouts.[3] McGregor'sboxing is typically considered his best skill, with the majority of his victories coming by way of knockout or technical knockout via punches.[39] Many pundits cite McGregor's pull-back left-handed counter as his most dangerous strike.[142][143]
McGregor's signature style off arena is to repeatedly engage intrash talk and "psychological warfare" against his opponents, which has led to earning him the moniker 'The Notorious',[144] and has brought comparisons withMuhammad Ali, whom McGregor cites as one of his early inspirations.[145][146] After Ali died in June 2016, McGregor opined that "nobody will ever come close to [Ali's] greatness".[147][148] McGregor has also citedBruce Lee as an inspiration,[149] and compared himself to Lee.[150] During the buildup to his bout againstDonald Cerrone and the rematch againstDustin Poirier, McGregor was respectful towards his opponents and refrained from trash talking.[151] However, McGregor heavily used trash talk in the buildup to his trilogy fight with Poirier.[152]
On 14 June 2017, it was announced that McGregor would compete in his first professional boxing match against the undefeatedFloyd Mayweather Jr.,on 26 August 2017 atT-Mobile Arena inParadise, Nevada. The fight was broadcast on Showtime PPV in the US and Sky Sports Box Office in the UK.[153] The bout was contested atsuper welterweight (154 pounds) with 8 oz. gloves.[154][155] The fight was expected to be the richest in boxing history.[156]
On 24 August 2017, it was announced that Mayweather and McGregor would compete for theWBC Money Belt.[157] According to theNevada State Athletic Commission, Mayweather would earn a guaranteed purse of $100 million, and McGregor was guaranteed $30 million.[158] The match resulted in Mayweather winning via TKO in the 10th round, with the scorecards reading 87–83, 89–82, 89–81, all in favour of Mayweather. The Nevada State Athletic Commission announced the live gate for the event was $55,414,865.79 from 13,094 tickets sold.[159] Given the success in pay-per-views, Mayweather reportedly earned around $280 million overall, while McGregor came out with earning $130 million.[160]
Charges and controversies
Driving offences
In November 2017 McGregor pleaded guilty to exceeding the speed limit inRathcoole, County Dublin.[161] He was fined €400.[161] In November 2018 he pleaded guilty to speeding inKill, County Kildare,[162] and was fined €1,000 and disqualified from driving for six months.[162]
On 22 March 2022, McGregor was arrested in Dublin and charged with six driving offences, including two counts of dangerous driving, being uninsured, having no licence and failing to produce his documents. His car was seized by theIrish police.[163] He was released on bail and his car was returned to him. He was scheduled to appear before Blanchardstown district court in April 2022, and, if convicted, could be subject to a fine of up to €5,000, six months' imprisonment or both.[164][165][166]
On 23 June 2022, McGregor appeared inBlanchardstownDistrict Court in relation to events on 22 March 2022.[167][168] He wasremanded on continuing bail pending "further charges" as part of a dangerous driving prosecution.[167][168] He had not yet indicated a plea and the judge remanded him to appear on 8 September 2022 for directions from theDirector of Public Prosecutions.[167][168] On 8 September he was charged with an additional charge of careless driving, adding to the six charges he already faced over the incident: two charges of dangerous driving, two of allegedly driving with no license or insurance and two of failing to produce either license or insurance.[169] The trial was originally set to begin in January 2023, but after McGregor's defence argued to the court that he could not attend the trial then due to being unwell,[170] the judge in the case ordered the trial to start on 31 July 2024.[170] In July 2024 he was given a two-year driving ban and a five-month suspended sentence, on condition that he keeps the peace for two years.[1]
Accusations of racism
Ahead of his 2015 bout with Brazilian fighterJosé Aldo, McGregor was accused of racially taunting Aldo.[171]
In 2017, McGregor was accused of racism, after taunting boxerFloyd Mayweather Jr. ahead of their August 26 boxing match. McGregor told him to "Dance for me, boy," at a promotional event in Los Angeles, before urging the crowd to yell obscenities at Mayweather, his wife and children. Mayweather told reporters at a fan meet in London: "He totally disrespected Black women, he called Black people monkeys, and he was disrespectful to my [13-year-old] daughter."[172] McGregor responded in a lengthy post viaInstagram, stating: "Floyd Mayweather, don't ever bring race into my success again. I am an Irishman. My people have been oppressed our entire existence. And still very much are. I understand the feeling of prejudice. It is a feeling that is deep in my blood. In my family's long history of warfare there was a time where just having the name 'McGregor' was punishable by death. Do not ever put me in a bracket like this again..."[173]
Florida arrest
McGregor's March 2019 mugshot
On 11 March 2019, McGregor was arrested outside of theFontainebleau Hotel inMiami Beach, Florida, after he attacked a fan taking a picture with a cellphone. In an incident that was caught on a security camera, McGregor lunged to hit the man, grabbed his device and smashed it on the ground with his feet. Subsequently, he was arrested and charged withstrong-armed robbery andcriminal mischief.[174] McGregor was held in custody for several hours before being released on a $5,000 bond. On 14 March 2019, news surfaced that McGregor was also facing acivil lawsuit from the fan involved in the incident.[175] On 8 April, the civil lawsuit against McGregor was dropped by the fan.[176] On 13 May, it was revealed that the criminal charges against McGregor had also been dropped after the accuser's attorney said that his client had "been made whole" by McGregor, in a reference to an out-of-court settlement that was reached.[177][178]
Mixed martial arts event incidents
Incident at Bellator 187
On 10 November 2017, McGregor'sSBG Ireland teammateCharlie Ward made his debut atBellator 187 in Dublin against John Redmond.[179] Ward knocked out Redmond in round one,[180] and McGregor jumped the cage (he was not a licensed cornerman) to celebrate Ward's win while the fight was not yet officially declared over.[181] McGregor was separated by referee Marc Goddard, as Goddard needed to verify if the knockout was before the bell, and to ensure lock down of the cage for medical staff to assess the health of the knocked out Redmond. McGregor charged towards Goddard: while he pushed and confronted Goddard in a wild melee, he also checked on the downed Redmond and knocked him down while he was trying to get up.[182]
McGregor did a lap around the cage after he exited the cage a few minutes later, then climbed and straddled the cage apron to continue the celebration of Ward's win. He was stopped by a commissioner and McGregor, agitated, slapped the commissioner's face.[183][184] Redmond stated after the fight that Goddard intended to let the fight continue to round two, but the Mohegan Sun commission, which oversaw the event, elected to end the fight due to McGregor's behaviour in the ring.[185]
A day after the incident, the head of the commission for Bellator 187, Mike Mazzulli, the president of both the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation (MTDAR) and Association of Boxing Commissions, issued a statement, stating that "McGregor's conduct jeopardized the health and safety" of fighters who were in the cage during the Ireland event. In addition, Mr McGregor "assaulted Referee Mark Goddard and a [member of] Bellator staff".[186]
Bus attack at UFC 223 Media Day
On 3 April 2018,Khabib Nurmagomedov and his entourage cornered and slappedArtem Lobov at a hotel in Brooklyn, New York.[187][188] Lobov is known to be close to McGregor, with whom Nurmagomedov has had altercations andtrash talk exchanges.[citation needed] On 5 April 2018, during promotional appearances forUFC 223, McGregor and a group of about twenty others were let into theBarclays Center by credentialled members of his promotional team. They attempted to confront Nurmagomedov, who was on a bus leaving the arena with "red corner" fighters for UFC 223 on it, such asRose Namajunas,Al Iaquinta,Karolina Kowalkiewicz,Ray Borg andMichael Chiesa.[189] McGregor ran up alongside the slowly moving bus and then ran past it to grab a metal equipmentdolly, which he then threw at the bus's window, before trying to throw other objects in the vicinity.[190] Chiesa and Borg were injured by the shattered glass and sent to hospital. They were soon removed from the card on the advice of theNYSAC and the UFC's medical team.[191] Lobov was also pulled from his fight for his involvement in the dispute.
Dana White said there was a warrant out for McGregor's arrest and theNYPD said McGregor was aperson of interest.[192] White said McGregor had told him via text message: "This had to be done."[193] "You can imagine he's going to be sued beyond belief", White said, and denied suggestions that the violence was a publicity stunt intended to generate interest in the UFC.[194] McGregor and others involved initially fled the Barclays Center after the incident,[195] although he and a fellow accused turned themselves in that night. McGregor was charged with three counts ofassault and one count ofcriminal mischief.[196][197] He was further charged with menacing and reckless endangerment at his arraignment and was released on $50,000bail until 14 June 2018.[198][199] Under the bail conditions negotiated by his then attorney,Jim Walden, and set by the judge, McGregor was allowed to travel without restriction.[200][201] On 12 April 2018, McGregor hired lawyer Bruce Mafeo ofCozen O'Connor to represent him in this matter.[202] McGregor pleaded no contest to a count of disorderly conduct and was ordered to perform five days of community service and attend anger management classes.[203] On 12 September 2018, Chiesa announced a lawsuit against McGregor, saying that he "experienced pain, suffering and a loss of enjoyment of life" as a result of the attack.[204]
Following the fight at UFC 229 on 6 October 2018, Khabib Nurmagomedov jumped out of the cage and charged towards McGregor's training partnerDillon Danis. Soon afterwards, McGregor andAbubakar Nurmagomedov, Khabib's cousin, also attempted to exit the octagon, but a scuffle broke out after McGregor punched Abubakar, who then punched him back.[205] Two of Nurmagomedov's cornermen retaliated: Esed Emiragaev andZubaira Tukhugov.[206] Tukhugov was scheduled to fight on 27 October 2018 atUFC Fight Night: Volkan vs. Smith againstArtem Lobov, the McGregor team member who was confronted by Nurmagomedov in April 2018. Nurmagomedov's payment for the fight was withheld by theNevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) as a result, pending an investigation into his actions. Nurmagomedov appeared at the post-fight interview and apologized to the NSAC.[207]
The NSAC filed a formal complaint against both McGregor and Nurmagomedov, and on 24 October, the NSAC voted to release half of Nurmagomedov's $2 million fight payout immediately.[208] Both Nurmagomedov and McGregor received indefinite bans, at least until the official hearing, which took place in December 2018.[209] On 29 January 2019, the NSAC announced a six-month suspension for McGregor (retroactive to 6 October 2018) and a $50,000 fine. He became eligible to compete again on 6 April 2019.[210]
Assault incidents
Dublin pub assault
On 15 August 2019,TMZ Sports published a video that showed McGregor punching an older man at The Marble Arch Pub in Dublin.[211] The incident happened on 6 April and was originally reported by Irish media, although without the video that showed the attack.[2] McGregor had repeatedly offered the victim a shot of his whiskey, which the victim repeatedly declined, then McGregor had punched him.[2] Irish police stated that they had opened an investigation.[212] McGregor was charged with assault and first appeared in court on 11 October 2019.[2] The court heard that McGregor had 18 prior convictions from 2018 going back to 2009.[2] The majority were for driving offences, but he was given the Probation Act in 2009 when he was an apprentice plumber for an assault causing harm offence.[2] On 1 November, McGregor pleaded guilty to the assault and was fined €1,000.[213][2]
Attack on Francesco Facchinetti
On 17 October 2021, McGregor allegedly assaultedFrancesco Facchinetti, an Italian musician and TV presenter, in a nightclub inRome, breaking Facchinetti's nose in front of witnesses and bodyguards. A few days later, Facchinetti filed charges against McGregor for the attack.[214][215][216][217][218]
Alleged attack on yacht
In January 2023, McGregor was accused of assaulting a 42-year-old woman aboard his yacht inIbiza, Spain, during his birthday party on 22 July 2022. The woman claimed she was berated by McGregor before being physically assaulted. She further claimed that she was forced to jump from the yacht to escape McGregor and that she sustained a broken arm in the process. The woman did not file a formal statement with Spanish police at the time of the incident. In January, she gave a formal statement with Irish police, who then shared that statement with their Spanish counterparts. The woman has also filed a civil suit against McGregor over the alleged incident.[219][220] After making her formal statement, the woman's car was burned outside of her Dublin home, though no link was made to McGregor's alleged attack.[221][222] In February, a brick was reportedly thrown through a window of that residence.[221] In late February 2023, news surfaced that the lawsuit was discontinued by theplaintiff, with no further information provided.[223]
Punching the Miami Heat mascot
On 10 June 2023, McGregor appeared at Game Four of the2023 NBA Finals in Miami, Florida, to promote his pain relief spray in a planned skit with theMiami Heat's mascot,Burnie. McGregor proceeded to punch the man wearing the mascot costume (Heat dancer Chris Brown) once and "knock him out", but then he dealt a second, powerful and apparently off-script punch to Brown's jaw while Brown was on the ground. Brown was subsequently treated in a local hospital emergency room and later released. Most of the crowd in attendance booed McGregor for his actions.[224][225] On 13 June, three days after the incident, McGregor claimed that "it was a skit" and that "all is well" between the two.[226][227]
Rape and sexual assault cases
Dublin rape case
In March 2019,The New York Times reported that McGregor was under investigation by theGarda Síochána (police), following allegations of a sexual assault on a woman in a Dublin hotel in December 2018.[228][229] A second allegation of sexual assault was reported in October 2019, regarding an assault on a woman in a car alleged to have taken place earlier that month.[230]
In January 2021, afterprosecutors declined to prosecute McGregor for the 2018 alleged sexual assault, a civil claim for damages was launched in theHigh Court. A spokeswoman for McGregor said in a statement that the allegations against him were "categorically rejected" and that he was "confident that justice will prevail" in the civil case.[231][232] In March 2022, the High Court made a pre-trial discovery order against McGregor requiring the Gardaí to disclose certain information and documents gathered by them.[233]
Thecivil action was taken against McGregor by Nikita Hand, who alleged he violently beat and raped her in Dublin in December 2018. The trial began in theHigh Court in Dublin on 5 November 2024, with Mr. JusticeAlexander Owens as judge.[234][235][236] On 22 November 2024, the jury returned their verdict and found that McGregor had raped Hand. Accordingly, McGregor was ordered to pay Hand nearly€250,000 in damages.[237][238][239][240] On 5 December 2024, Justice Owens ordered McGregor to pay the entirety of Hand's legal costs, approximately€1,500,000, and said that he may begincontempt of court proceedings against McGregor for his comments about the case on social media after it concluded.[241][242][243]
After the trial, McGregor indicated on social media that he planned to appeal the verdict, and Hand said she hoped that the case would encourage victims of assault to continue "pushing forward for justice". TheIrish Minister for Justice,Helen McEntee, praised Hand's bravery and determination, and theTaoiseach,Simon Harris, had a phone conversation with Hand before complimenting her "bravery and courage" when speaking to the media.[244][245][246] It also emerged that Hand's partner had been stabbed and windows were smashed when attackers wearing balaclavas invaded their home in June 2024. This information was withheld from the jury during the trial.[247]
In light of the court ruling,IO Interactive ceased its collaboration with McGregor, removing content that featured him from theirHitman video game series.[248] The Rape Crisis Network Ireland also called for retailers to stop selling his stout and whiskey brands.[249] Various retailers and Irish wholesalers, including theMusgrave Group, announced that they would no longer stock his beer brand or whiskey, which would see the brands removed fromSuperValu,Centra,Tesco Ireland,Spar, Mace and Londis stores, among others.[250] A few days after the verdict, Proper No. Twelve-parent company Proximo Spirits announced it would no longer feature McGregor in association with the brand.[251]Wetherspoons and other pub chains likewise stopped selling McGregor's stout brand.[252]
At the start of July 2025 McGregor withdrew his application to bring in new witnesses, Samantha O'Reilly and Steven Cummins, and evidence in support of his appeal against the finding that he had raped Hand.[253] The late withdrawal of the witnesses and evidence was described by her legal team as a concession that the evidence was a lie and that the matter should be referred to theDirector of Public Prosecutions to consider perjury, which the court agreed to do.[254] On 31 July, McGregor lost his appeal and the original ruling was upheld.[255] Hand's legal team has initiated legal proceedings to seek damages from McGregor, O'Reilly, and Cummins.[256]
Corsica sexual assault arrest
On 10 September 2020, McGregor was arrested on the French island ofCorsica on suspicion of attempted sexual assault and indecent exposure for an incident alleged to have taken place in a bar. After being held in custody for two days while being interviewed by police, he was released without charge.[257][258][259] Eight months later, French authorities dropped the investigation due to insufficient evidence.[260]
Miami Heat – alleged sexual assault
On 11 June 2023, Miami police received a report that McGregor had sexually assaulted a woman the previous night in a toilet at theMiami Heat arena, after Game Four of theNBA Finals.[261] McGregor released a statement denying the allegation.[262] On 18 October, the case was dropped.[263]
On January 15, 2025, a lawsuit was filed against McGregor in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, accusing him of sexual assault during an NBA Finals game in Miami on June 9, 2023. The suit alleges that McGregor assaulted a 49-year-old woman in a bathroom at the Kaseya Center, home of theMiami Heat. The plaintiff, identified as a vice president at a prominent Wall Street financial firm, claims that McGregor "intentionally engaged in unlawful sexual contact", "attempted to forcefully place his unprotected penis into [her] mouth without her consent". She attempted to leave the stall, but McGregor allegedly slammed her against a wall face first, put her in an arm lock and "attempted to forcefully place his unprotected penis into [the victim's] anus without her consent." The lawsuit also names the Miami Heat and arena staff as defendants, alleging gross negligence in their handling of the situation. Key details of the lawsuit include an allegation that the woman was led to the men's restroom by a member of McGregor's team; and that arena staff and security were aware of potential misconduct but failed to provide adequate protection. The plaintiff's attorney stated that his client's main goal in filing the lawsuit was to raise awareness and encourage others to report sexual assault. The lawsuit seeks medical treatment costs, compensatory damages, and other relief from both McGregor and the Heat organisation.[264][265]
Unsolicited nude photos incident
In July 2025, rapperAzealia Banks, writing onX, accused McGregor of sending her unsoliciteddick pics.[266] However, in later posts Banks stated she and McGregor had in fact been exchanging unsolicited nude pictures as far back as 2016.[267]
On 23 November 2023, in response to thestabbing of a woman and three children in Dublin, McGregor made multipleanti-immigration statements, tweeting that "Ireland is at war". In response to a tweet byBritain First leaderPaul Golding calling on McGregor to lead a "freedom march", McGregor condemned the riots that followed the stabbings but tweeted "Ashling Murphy murdered. Two Sligo men decapitated. This is NOT Ireland's future! If they do not act soon with their plan of action to ensure Ireland's safety, I will." He also called for the man who perpetrated the stabbings to be "tortured and killed".[269] It was reported on 28 November that McGregor was being investigated as part of a criminal probe into incitement to hatred, following his social media statements following the stabbings.[270] The Twitter posts were subsequently deleted and in March 2025 it was announced that McGregor would not be charged for incitement.[271]
Views on the Gaza war
McGregor is a strong supporter ofIsrael.[272][273] On 26 November 2023, McGregor criticised then TaoiseachLeo Varadkar for his views on immigration and for his failure to mention the Palestinian militant groupHamas when he wrote about anIrish hostage released by the group, in which he described her as "an innocent child who was lost."[274]
2025 Irish presidential run and White House visit
It was reported in December 2023 that McGregor was considering running for the office ofPresident of Ireland,[275] to whichElon Musk posted onX "Not a bad idea."[276] As to why he would run, McGregor said, "Among many other things, the allocation of our nation's funds has been nothing short of criminal, and without an iota of consideration for the public's thinking. ... Our people feel ignored. Unheard. Until of course election time. Then the waffle begins."[275] A poll that month found that eight percent of people polled would vote for McGregor for office, while 89 percent said they would not.[277]
On 17 March 2025, McGregor visited theWhite House in Washington DC at the invitation ofU.S. PresidentDonald Trump, for aSaint Patrick's Day event. During the visit, McGregor claimed that Ireland was "on the cusp of losing its Irishness" due to an "illegal immigration racket." His comments were condemned byTaoiseachMicheál Martin, who stated that they were "wrong" and did not reflect the spirit of Saint Patrick's Day or the values of the Irish people. TheTánaiste andMinister for Foreign Affairs,Simon Harris, echoed Martin's remarks. The leader of theSocial Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP),Colum Eastwood, said "Conor McGregor has never been elected to anything, he doesn't represent the Irish people. In fact, we're all pretty embarrassed by him."Matthew O'Toole of the SDLP said the meeting was an "insult to the island of Ireland" and "deeply depressing", and that McGregor was an "appalling individual" and "beyond the pale".[278] During the visit, he announced his intention to stand as an independent candidate in the2025 Irish presidential election.[279]
The chief executive of theDublin Rape Crisis Centre, Rachel Morrogh, said the meeting between McGregor and Trump was shocking since a jury had recently found that McGregor had committed rape. Human rights lawyer and former head of the Rape Crisis Centre, Noeline Blackwell, said "The other thing that occurred to me, though, was the enormous sense of entitlement that Mr McGregor seems to feel. I was thinking of Nikita Hand with judgment of her peers in the jury that Mr McGregor was civilly liable for the sexual assault on her, and just thinking that that's the reality for an awful lot of people who are victims of sexual abuse – that even after a court judgment, even after hearing the level of hurt and harm that Nikita Hand suffered, that she and others like her have to, in some ways, put up with the reality that in the community sometimes the message just isn't getting through to those who are actually found by court of law to be liable along the way." Referring to Trump and McGregor,Ruth Coppinger TD said inDáil Éireann, "two rapists met each other in the White House". During the meeting, Trump described McGregor as "inspiring" and "fantastic".[278][280][281][282][283]
In an April poll by theSunday Independent, 7% of those polled said they would vote for McGregor in a presidential election, while 90% said they would not. 69% of respondents said they would be less likely to vote for a TD or councillor if they nominated McGregor to run. 78% saidDonald Trump disrespected Ireland by inviting McGregor to the White House.[284]
On August 4, 2025, McGregor launched an online petition, hoping to generate enough public support to pressure a change in the current electoral rules. His petition is aimed to circumvent the Irish constitution and allow for a direct popular vote on who can appear on the ballot. Under Ireland's constitution, a presidential candidate must be nominated by least 20 members of theOireachtas, or by four local authorities.[285]
On September 15, 2025, McGregor announced that he was withdrawing from the presidential race after "careful consideration."[286]
Business ventures
Endorsements and sponsors
McGregor has had endorsement deals withBeats by Dre,Monster Energy,Reebok andBud Light.[287][288] In 2017, his endorsement deals rounded up to $7 million.[289] In light of a2024 Dublin court case, in which McGregor was found to have assaulted and raped a woman in December 2018, McGregor lost his first sponsor when theIO Interactive video game company ceased its collaboration with him.[290][291] After the court case, Rape Crisis Network Ireland called for retailers to stop selling his stout and whiskey brands.[292]Musgrave delisted McGregor-linked drinks,[293] resulting inSuperValu,Costcutter,Centra and Carry Out ceasing to sell McGregor's Forged Irish Stout and Proper No. Twelve whiskey.[294]Tesco andOcado additionally pulled all alcoholic products associated with McGregor from their stores,[295][296] alongsideWetherspoons,Asda, andBWG Group who stopped stocking Proper No. Twelve whiskey.[297][298] Irish airports inCork andDublin also pulled McGregor-related alcohol products from their airport bars.[299]
Clothing
Just ahead of hisfight with Mayweather, McGregor announced a fashion partnership with tailoring brand David August; the brand is named "August McGregor" and is aimed at providing modern men's suits tomillennials.[300] August had met McGregor about three years earlier, via Dana White.[301]
Alcohol and pub
In September 2018, McGregor launched Proper No. TwelveIrish whiskey in Ireland and the United States.[302] The whiskey is named after the Crumlin neighbourhood inDublin 12, in which McGregor grew up.[303] In 2021, it was reported that McGregor and his business partners sold their majority stake in the Proper No. Twelve company toProximo Spirits, who previously had a 49% stake, for a deal worth a reported $600 million.[304][305] In the aftermath of a2024 Dublin court case, in which McGregor was found to have assaulted and raped a woman in December 2018, Proximo Spirits announced it would no longer use McGregor's name or image on the drink.[306]
In an August 2022 interviewArtem Lobov alleged that McGregor was initially headed towards creating avodka product, but it was Lobov who pitched the idea of doing a whiskey instead.[307] In the same interview, Lobov also stated that he was the one who did the background study and conducted business deals for the product.[307] In late November 2022, news surfaced that Lobov had sued McGregor, seeking five percent of the proceeds of the $600 million deal conducted in 2021.[308] Following the suing, McGregor aimed several social media messages at Lobov, who subsequently filed another lawsuit against McGregor fordefamation, intimidation and harassment.[309] In January 2023, the latter lawsuit was denied by the judge and Lobov was ordered to pay the legal fees.[310]
On 25 July 2025 at 3am a fire broke out at the Black Forge Inn, but the blaze was extinguished and there were no casualties.[315] The fire is being treated as suspicious, though Gardaí do not believe a petrol bomb was involved.[315] The following month, a man in his twenties was arrested by Gardaí attached to theSpecial Detective Unit and held in a Garda station in Dublin.[316]
On 27 April 2024, it was announced that McGregor and his company "McGregor Sports and Entertainment" were now part-owners ofBare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC).[318][319][320] McGregor has since appeared at multiple BKFC events.
Personal life
McGregor has two sisters named Erin and Aoife.[321] He has been in a relationship with his fiancée, Dee Devlin, since 2008.[322] They have four children.[323] His cousinsKeith Buckley andWarren Davis are both professional footballers.[324][325][326]
McGregor often trains at the Mjölnir gym inReykjavík, alongside fellow UFC fighterGunnar Nelson.[327][328][329] He has stated that he does not adhere to any pre-fight rituals or superstitions because he believes them to be "a form of fear".[330][331]
^abcdLynch, Niamh (19 March 2025)."Why Conor McGregor has 'close to zero chance' of becoming Ireland's next president".Sky News. Retrieved21 March 2025.McGregor's far right and populist policies may on the surface appeal to disenchanted voters – his social media posts were linked to the 2023 anti-immigration Dublin riots – but a December 2023 poll in the Irish Independent found that just 8% of respondents would vote for McGregor, with 89% saying they would not cast a ballot for him. While there is part of the electorate that would support Trump-like candidates, Ireland has "nothing in comparison to the proportion of Americans who share those views". "There are people with right-wing views or populist views or anti-immigrant views but not enough to affect McGregor.
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