Conor McGregor claims innocence despite sexual assault verdict: ‘I know the truth’

LAS VEGAS – Conor McGregor says he’s innocent, regardless of whether or not an Irish jury found him liable for sexual assault.

At a UFC 329 pre-fight news conference Wednesday, McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) was asked about the legal and moral concerns many have with his participation in his return to the sport. In November 2024, McGregor was found liable for sexual assault when a jury found he had nonconsensual sex with a woman, Nikita Hand, in a Dublin hotel room in 2018.

“I’m an innocent man, and I’ll stand for my innocence until the day I go out,” McGregor told MMA Junkie and other reporters, as he sat at the podium, three days prior to his headlining battle vs. Max Holloway. “That is still a situation where I fight. There’s a reason where it didn’t go where it went and went to a civil trial. It is what it is. It stings deep. I continue to fight. I know the truth, and I know that lying lips are an abomination to the Lord. I know anything done in darkness will soon come to light, and I trust in God that it’s coming. You best believe it’s coming. I look very, very forward to the day.”

Hand accused McGregor of forcing her onto the bed, choking her, and having sex with her against her will. During trial, Hand’s attorney brought up testimony from medical professionals, including paramedic Eithne Scully, who indicated the scene on the ambulance with Hand after the incident was one of the worst she’s ever been on.

McGregor was not arrested at the time of the incident, and authorities declined to pursue the accusations criminally. Hand then filed a civil suit against McGregor and his friend James Lawrence, though the jury did not find Lawrence liable for sexual assault. After two weeks of hearings, McGregor was ordered to pay Hand $260,000. He appealed the decision, but the appeal was denied in July 2025.

Conor McGregor addresses being found liable of sexual assault by an Irish jury ahead of his #UFC329 comeback.

“I am an innocent man, and I will stand for my innocence until the day I go out.” pic.twitter.com/jb8U5VwCf9

— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) July 8, 2026

During the trial, McGregor had admitted to alcohol and cocaine use, particularly around the incident. McGregor has since said he’s cleaned up through faith and a renewed relationship with religion. Wednesday, he pointed to alcohol, specifically as a problem during his five years away from the cage.

“You know in 2017, (I’m) a double-weight world champion, Floyd Mayweather-banked,” McGregor said. “Then I launch an Irish whiskey. I didn’t drink heavily if at all at that time in my life. I was an athlete at the top of my game. Next thing you know, there’s thousands upon thousands of bottles in my garage. Sell this, Conor. OK. I’d leave my property with two bottles under my arm. That was it. I was caught. That’s it. God gave me these lessons. I was trapped and caught. It is what it is. I trust in God. I trust in my journey. I trust in the truth. If the world is against the truth, then I am against the world. That is where I stand.”

McGregor, 37, has not competed in combat sports since July 2021 when he broke his leg in a bout vs. Dustin Poirier. He fights former-turned-current rival Holloway (27-9 MMA, 23-9 UFC) in a five-round welterweight bout at T-Mobile Arena.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Conor McGregor claims innocence despite sexual assault verdict: ‘I know the truth’