Conor McGregor Faces Fallout: Will More Sexual Misconduct Claims Follow Rape Case Loss?

Conor McGregor, once among the highest-earning athletes globally with an income of up to £128 million annually, is now fighting to salvage his reputation. The 36-year-old Irishman recently lost a civil case brought by Nikita Hand, who accused him of rape and was awarded nearly €250,000 (£210,000) in damages.

Hand, 35, convinced a Dublin jury that McGregor had lied about the 2018 incident, during which she alleged he "brutally raped" and "battered" her at a hotel penthouse following a cocaine-fueled Christmas party. She described the harrowing attack, saying she feared for her life. Outside court, Hand encouraged other survivors of sexual assault to speak up, stating, "No matter how afraid you might be, keep fighting for justice."

McGregor, who denied all allegations, responded angrily on social media, calling Hand a "vicious liar" and announcing plans to appeal the decision. The trial followed Ireland’s Director of Public Prosecutions' earlier decision not to pursue criminal charges due to insufficient evidence. McGregor is also liable for around €300,000 in his legal fees and a large portion of Hand’s costs, which could total an additional €500,000.

This case is not the only controversy surrounding McGregor. Over the past five years, at least four other women have accused him of sexual misconduct. Although these cases were dismissed by police or prosecutors, they could be revisited as civil suits in light of Hand’s victory.

One allegation dates back to 2019, when a woman claimed McGregor sexually assaulted her in a car outside a Dublin pub. Another incident in 2020 involved allegations of indecent exposure and sexual assault on the French island of Corsica, though prosecutors ultimately dropped the case due to insufficient evidence. In 2022, a woman accused McGregor of attacking her on his yacht during a party in Ibiza, alleging she had to jump into the sea to escape. She later filed a civil suit, which was reportedly discontinued under unclear circumstances.

In 2023, McGregor faced accusations of forcing a woman to perform a sex act on him in a VIP men’s restroom during an NBA Finals game in Miami. Security footage showed McGregor leading the woman into the restroom, contradicting her initial claim of being forcibly taken. Prosecutors dropped the case in October 2023.

These legal battles have also begun to affect McGregor’s professional endeavors. Game developer IO Interactive announced it would no longer collaborate with him and would remove all McGregor-related content from its platforms.

As McGregor continues to deny the allegations, it remains to be seen whether any of these women will pursue new civil claims against him, further jeopardizing his public image and financial standing.