Former UFC champion Conor McGregor has become synonymous with the sport, not just for his accomplishments in the octagon but also for his numerous legal controversies outside of it.
In November 2024, a civil jury in Ireland held McGregor liable for sexually assaulting Nikita Hand in a Dublin penthouse in 2018.
Earlier that year, McGregor faced allegations of sexual assault involving an unnamed woman during Game 4 of the NBA Finals in Miami.
A detailed account of the alleged assault, shared by the woman’s attorney, adds to a growing list of serious accusations outlined in Conor McGregor’s case timeline. While he avoided criminal charges in this instance, the incident is part of a series of allegations involving violent and criminal conduct throughout his career.
For a comprehensive review of the arrests and near-arrests that have overshadowed McGregor’s legacy, TrialLine legal timeline software provides a detailed and structured timeline of the 34-year-old’s controversies.
November 2017- Present: Driving Violations
Conor McGregor’s frequent encounters with law enforcement often revolve around his driving behavior. In 2017 and 2018, he pleaded guilty to speeding offenses, paid fines, and even faced a six-month suspension of his driving privileges in the latter case.
On March 22, 2022, McGregor was stopped and arrested by the Gardai in West Dublin, with his sports car being impounded by authorities.
He faced charges of dangerous driving alongside four additional offenses, including driving without insurance, driving without a license, and failing to produce required documentation at the Garda station within 10 days.
Later, he was also charged with careless driving. The case has progressed slowly through the legal system, with no plea entered yet, and has been adjourned until December 2023.
April 2018: Barclays Center Bus Attack
In a chaotic and alarming incident, Conor McGregor and his entourage were filmed attacking a bus with various objects, including a hand dolly, and a guard rail, after a UFC media event at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The assault shattered the bus’s window and windshield, injuring several UFC fighters on board and forcing them to withdraw from their upcoming fights. The attack was reportedly an act of retaliation against UFC fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov, who confronted McGregor’s teammate and close friend Artem Lobov at a hotel earlier that week.
Dana White, UFC President condemned and discussed the incident on Fox Sports 1’s First Things First, revealing that she spoke with Conor McGregor about the attack. McGregor reportedly apologized for injuring fighters involved in the feud but did not express remorse for his actions, claiming they were justified.
As a result of the attack, McGregor faced three counts of assault. Additionally, Artem Lobov, who has a fight scheduled, was withdrawn from his match due to his involvement in the incident.
By July 2018, Conor McGregor, who had surrendered to the NYPD following the incident, reached a plea agreement. This deal resulted in the dismissal of his assault and felony criminal mischief charges, sparing him from prison time or losing his travel visa. Instead, McGregor paid restitution for damages, completed five days of community service, and agreed to attend a brief anger management course. “I just want to say I’m thankful to the D.A. and the judge for allowing me to move forward,” McGregor stated at the time.
December 2018: Dublin Sexual Assault
In early 2019, reports surfaced that Irish authorities were investigating Conor McGregor for an alleged sexual assault involving a woman at a Dublin hotel in December 2018. Later that year, in October 2019, another complaint was filed against McGregor by a woman who claimed he had sexually assaulted her in a car outside a Dublin pub. McGregor denied both allegations but was arrested and questioned about the incidents before being released.
In 2021, prosecutors announced they would not pursue charges against McGregor for the alleged 2018 assault nor have they taken legal actions regarding the 2019 complaint. However, the woman at the center of the 2018 allegations filed a civil lawsuit against McGregor, seeking damages for personal injuries and reiterating her claim that he raped her in a Dublin hotel. The court granted her access to extensive evidence collected by police during the investigation, while McGregor continued to deny the accusations.
March 2019: Robbery Arrest in Florida
In an incident captured on a security camera, Conor McGregor grabbed and destroyed the phone of a fan, Ahmed Abdirzak, who attempted to take his photo in Miami Beach. McGregor was arrested and charged with criminal mischief and strong-armed robbery, spending several hours in jail before dropping his civil lawsuit, and authorities opted not to pursue a criminal case after McGregor and the victim reached an out-of-court settlement.
Florida Assistant State Attorney Khalil Madani stated that Abdirzak “has credibility issues as he’s changed his previously sworn testimony.” In a witted summary, Madani noted: “ Due to the witness’s credibility issues, his unwillingness to respond to a subpoena, and the inability of witnesses to testify to his subjective mindset, the State of Florida cannot prove the charges against Mr. McGregor beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Shortly after his arrest in March, McGregor appeared to announce his retirement from mixed martial arts. The former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion tweeted, “Hey guys, quick announcement: I’ve decided to retire from the sport formally known as ‘Mixed Martial Art’ today.
August 2019: Assault in Dublin Pub
In another incident captured on video, Conor McGregor was seen punching a pub customer after he repeatedly declined a shot of McGregor’s Proper No. 12 Irish Whiskey, a brand the mixed martial artist had launched the previous year.
The victim, Desmon Keogh, a man in his 50s from Southwest Dublin, was at the Marble Arch Pub on Bunbulben Road in Drimnagh around 2:30 PM on April 6, 2019, when McGregor punched him.
In November, McGregor pleaded guilty to assault, avoiding a potential six-month jail sentence by paying a fine. Keogh also received an undisclosed sum as compensation. During the court proceeding, it was revealed that McGregor stated: “Your honor, what I have done was very wrong. I would like to apologize today to the injured party again, and to apologize here before the court. I assure you nothing of this nature will happen again regarding me.”
His legal team argued that a conviction could jeopardize his career due to his bouts’ need for international travel.
September 2020: Released Following Detention in Corsica Over Sexual Assault Allegations
In September 2020, Conor McGregor was detained and questioned by authorities on the French island of Corsica following allegations of indecent exposure and sexual assault at a bar. He spent two days in custody before being released. Eight months later, prosecutors announced there was insufficient evidence to pursue criminal charges.
A letter obtained by TMZ, written in French and translated, stated:
- “The examination of the present proceeding does not justify any criminal prosecution since:
- The facts and circumstances of the case could not be clearly established by the investigations.
- The pieces of evidence are therefore insufficient for the offense to be constituted and for criminal prosecution to proceed.”
A spokesperson for McGregor noted that the investigation included DNA analysis, which supported his account of the events.
October 2021: Alleged Assault of Italian DJ
Francesco Facchinetti, a well-known Italian DJ and TV presenter, accused Conor McGregor of punching him in the face and breaking his nose outside of a hotel in Rome in October 2021. Facchinetti claimed he and his wife had been partying with McGregor and his fiancée, Dee Delvin, for hours when the fighter suddenly attacked him without provocation. Earlier that day, McGregor and Delvin had taken their third child to the Vatican for baptism.
“He is very dangerous; he needs to be stopped,” Facchinetti said, formally filing charges against McGregor. As of early 2022, McGregor was still under investigation for the incident. He has neither been charged nor made any public comment on the matter.
July 2022: Alleged Assault on Yacht in Ibiza
In January 2023, reports surfaced that a woman in her 40s accused Conor McGregor of physically assaulting her aboard his yacht in Ibiza, Spain, during his birthday celebration in July 2022. She alleged that McGregor became verbally abusive, then escalated to punching and kicking her, even threatening to drown her. The woman claimed she injured her wrist after falling from one of the blows and fled the yacht in fear for her life, eventually being rescued by a Red Cross boat.
McGregor has denied the allegations, “Mr. McGregor is steadfast in his denial of all the accusations made by a guest on his boat,” his spokesperson Karen Kessler stated.
While the woman did not initially provoke a statement to Spanish law enforcement, she filed a complaint with Irish police in September. This prompted Spanish authorities to repone their investigation, though no charges have been filed against McGregor. The woman also filed a civil lawsuit against him but withdrew the claim in February 2023 without explanation.
A Turn of Events in the Case: Conor McGregor Found Liable in 2018 Dublin Assault Case
In November 2024, an Irish civil jury ruled that MMA fighter Conor McGregor was liable for sexually assaulting Nikita Hand in a Dublin hotel penthouse in December 2018. The court awarded Hand €248,603.60 (approximately $257,000) in damages.
Hand testified that after a night of partying, McGregor assaulted her, leaving her with severe bruises and post-traumatic stress disorder. She described being choked and threatened during the encounter. A paramedic who examined Hand the following day testified that her injuries were unusually severe.
McGregor denied the allegations, maintaining that the encounter was consensual. He expressed disappointment with the jury’s decision and announced plans to appeal.
Additionally, the court ordered McGregor to cover Hand’s legal costs, which could reach approximately €1 million (around $1.05 million). The judge also warned McGregor against making public statements about the case, cautioning that further comments could result in contempt of court charges.
This civil lawsuit followed a criminal investigation into the 2018 incident. Prosecutors had previously declined to file charges, citing insufficient evidence for a conviction.
January 2025: Facing a Lawsuit Over the Miami Incident During the NBA Finals
In January 2025, a 49-year-old senior vice president at a prominent Wall Street financial institution filed a civil lawsuit against former UFC champion Conor McGregor, alleging sexual assault. The incident reportedly occurred on June 9, 2023, during Game 4 of the NBA Finals at the Kaseya Center in Miami, where the Miami Heat faced the Denver Nuggets. The plaintiff claims that McGregor assaulted her in a bathroom at the venue. Despite an earlier criminal investigation that did not result in charges, she has chosen to pursue civil action to raise awareness and encourage others to report sexual assault.
The lawsuit also implicates the Kaseya Center’s staff and security, alleging they were aware of McGregor’s conduct and failed to provide adequate protection. It accuses the venue’s personnel of continuing to serve McGregor alcohol, despite being aware of a heightened risk of battery. McGregor’s attorney has denied the allegations, and the case is currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
The Case Timeline Presented in TrialLine
Conor McGregor, renowned for his sports accomplishments, is also widely recognized for his numerous run-ins with the law. After losing a civil lawsuit in 2024 and other recent controversies, McGregor has sparked various public reactions.
His actions outside the sports world have attracted significant criticism. His provocative social media posts and combative attitude have led to legal troubles and harmed his reputation. A judge even chastised McGregor for attempting to manipulate public opinion through selective online content, cautioning that such behavior could result in contempt of court charges.
As McGregor faces yet another lawsuit, it’s time to review his case timeline with TrialLine and understand why public perception of him continues to decline due to his actions.
TrialLine is a powerful, cloud-based legal timeline software that helps attorneys review and organize case events efficiently. Legal professionals can easily analyze and visualize cases by creating detailed, customized timelines, ensuring no crucial details are missed. Whether reviewing case history or preparing for court, TrialLine streamlines the process for clear, effective case presentations.
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