McGregor Liable for Assault, Plans to Appeal

Conor McGregor has been found liable in a civil suit for sexually assaulting Nikita Hand in a Dublin hotel in December 2018, with the jury awarding her €248,603.60 (approximately $258,440) in damages. The case centered on allegations that McGregor assaulted Hand during a night of partying, with medical evidence supporting her claims of significant bruising. McGregor, who has denied the accusations, maintains that the encounter was consensual and plans to appeal the ruling. Despite a thorough investigation, criminal charges were not pursued due to insufficient evidence. The civil case verdict relied on the 'balance of probabilities' standard rather than the more stringent 'beyond a reasonable doubt' applied in criminal cases. The verdict has sparked controversy and strong reactions within the MMA community, with some, like Demetrious Johnson, openly criticizing McGregor's actions.