Public opinion and media debates around Conor McGregor—discover key moments of controversy.
Conor McGregor is a highly successful Irish mixed martial artist and businessman. He achieved prominence in the UFC, becoming the first fighter to simultaneously hold titles in two weight classes (Featherweight and Lightweight). Prior to his UFC success, he was also a two-division champion in Cage Warriors. McGregor's achievements have solidified his status as one of the sport's biggest stars.
Ahead of his 2015 bout with José Aldo, Conor McGregor was accused of racially taunting Aldo.
In March 2016, McGregor and Diaz engaged in a brief scuffle during a face-off at the Thursday pre-fight press conference.
In November 2017, Conor McGregor pleaded guilty to exceeding the speed limit in Rathcoole, County Dublin, and was fined €400.
On 10 November 2017, during Bellator 187 in Dublin, Conor McGregor jumped the cage to celebrate his teammate Charlie Ward's win, confronting the referee and checking on the downed opponent, causing a melee.
In 2017, Conor McGregor was accused of racism after taunting Floyd Mayweather Jr. ahead of their boxing match, using phrases and actions considered disrespectful to Black people. McGregor responded by stating his understanding of prejudice due to his Irish heritage and denied any racial intent.
In April 2018, Artem Lobov, a member of the McGregor team, was confronted by Khabib Nurmagomedov.
On 3 April 2018, Khabib Nurmagomedov and his entourage cornered and slapped Artem Lobov at a hotel in Brooklyn, New York. Lobov is known to be close to McGregor.
On 5 April 2018, during promotional appearances for UFC 223, Conor McGregor and a group attacked a bus carrying Khabib Nurmagomedov and other fighters, injuring Michael Chiesa and Ray Borg. McGregor threw a metal dolly at the bus's window.
In June 2018, McGregor was released on $50,000 bail until 14 June after being charged with assault, criminal mischief, menacing, and reckless endangerment. His bail conditions allowed him to travel without restriction.
In September 2018, Michael Chiesa announced a lawsuit against McGregor, claiming he experienced pain, suffering, and a loss of enjoyment of life as a result of the Barclays Center attack.
In October 2018, following the UFC 229 fight, Khabib Nurmagomedov jumped out of the cage and attacked McGregor's training partner Dillon Danis, leading to a brawl involving McGregor and members of Nurmagomedov's team.
In October 2018, the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) filed a formal complaint against both McGregor and Nurmagomedov and issued indefinite bans pending an official hearing.
In November 2018, Conor McGregor pleaded guilty to speeding in Kill, County Kildare, and was fined €1,000 and disqualified from driving for six months.
In December 2018, McGregor allegedly assaulted and raped a woman.
In December 2018, a Dublin court case revealed Conor McGregor had allegedly assaulted and raped a woman, leading to Proximo Spirits announcing it would no longer use McGregor's name or image on the drink.
In December 2018, a Dublin court case revealed Conor McGregor had allegedly assaulted and raped a woman, leading to sponsor losses and retailers dropping his products.
In December 2018, an alleged sexual assault on a woman in a Dublin hotel took place, leading to a police investigation in March 2019.
In December 2018, civil action was taken against McGregor by Nikita Hand, who alleged he violently beat and raped her in Dublin.
In December 2018, the official hearing regarding the brawl took place with the NSAC.
In 2018, McGregor was accused of sexual assault.
In January 2019, the NSAC announced a six-month suspension for McGregor (retroactive to 6 October 2018) and a $50,000 fine related to the UFC 229 post-fight brawl.
In March 2019, The New York Times reported that McGregor was under investigation by the Garda Síochána (police) following allegations of a sexual assault on a woman in a Dublin hotel in December 2018.
On 6 April 2019, Conor McGregor assaulted a man at the Marble Arch pub, which he later purchased.
In August 2019, TMZ Sports published a video showing McGregor punching an older man at The Marble Arch Pub in Dublin on 6 April, leading to a police investigation.
In October 2019, McGregor appeared in court on assault charges related to the pub incident.
In October 2019, a second allegation of sexual assault was reported against McGregor, regarding an assault on a woman in a car alleged to have taken place earlier that month.
In September 2020, McGregor was arrested in Corsica on suspicion of attempted sexual assault and indecent exposure but was released without charge after being held for two days.
In January 2021, after prosecutors declined to prosecute McGregor for the 2018 alleged sexual assault, a civil claim for damages was launched in the High Court.
In October 2021, McGregor allegedly assaulted Francesco Facchinetti in a nightclub in Rome, breaking his nose, which led to Facchinetti filing charges.
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 in relation to the 2018 allegation.
On 22 March 2022, Conor McGregor was arrested in Dublin and charged with six driving offences. His car was seized but later returned, and he was released on bail.
On 22 March 2022, Conor McGregor was arrested in Dublin and charged with six driving offences. His car was seized but later returned, and he was released on bail.
In April 2022, Conor McGregor was scheduled to appear before Blanchardstown district court in relation to his arrest in March 2022 for driving offences.
On 23 June 2022, Conor McGregor appeared in Blanchardstown District Court in relation to events on 22 March 2022 and was remanded on continuing bail pending "further charges" as part of a dangerous driving prosecution.
On July 22, 2022, an incident allegedly occurred on McGregor's yacht in Ibiza, Spain, where he was accused of assaulting a 42-year-old woman during his birthday party.
On 8 September 2022, Conor McGregor was charged with an additional charge of careless driving, adding to the six charges he already faced over the incident in March 2022.
In late November 2022, Artem Lobov sued Conor McGregor, seeking five percent of the proceeds from the $600 million Proper No. Twelve deal conducted in 2021.
In 2022, the Black Forge Inn, owned by Conor McGregor, was targeted by petrol bombs.
In January 2023, Conor McGregor's driving trial, originally set to begin, was delayed after his defence argued he was unwell. The trial was rescheduled for 31 July 2024.
In January 2023, Lobov's lawsuit against McGregor for defamation, intimidation, and harassment was denied by the judge, and Lobov was ordered to pay the legal fees.
In January 2023, McGregor was accused of assaulting a woman on his yacht in Ibiza in July 2022. She gave a formal statement with Irish police, who then shared that statement with their Spanish counterparts.
In late February 2023, news surfaced that the lawsuit regarding the alleged incident on McGregor's yacht was discontinued by the plaintiff, with no further information provided.
On June 9, 2023, McGregor allegedly sexually assaulted a woman in a bathroom at the Kaseya Center, home of the Miami Heat.
In June 2023, McGregor appeared at Game Four of the 2023 NBA Finals in Miami, Florida, to promote his pain relief spray and punched the Miami Heat's mascot, Burnie, twice, sending the man in the suit to the hospital. Most of the crowd booed McGregor for his actions.
In June 2023, Miami police received a report that McGregor had sexually assaulted a woman the previous night in a restroom at the Miami Heat arena, after Game Four of the NBA Finals.
In November 2023, Conor McGregor criticized Taoiseach Leo Varadkar for his views on immigration and for failing to mention Hamas when discussing an Irish hostage release.
In November 2023, following a stabbing in Dublin, McGregor made anti-immigration statements on social media, stating that "Ireland is at war". He also called for the perpetrator to be "tortured and killed". Subsequently, on November 28, it was reported that McGregor was under criminal investigation for incitement to hatred.
Throughout his career, McGregor has become the subject of many controversies, and in 2023, McGregor made controversial comments about the Dublin riots, the Irish government's immigration policy and race.
In June 2024, after the trial, it emerged that Hand's partner had been stabbed and windows were smashed when attackers wearing balaclavas invaded their home.
The trial for Conor McGregor driving offenses was set to begin on 31 July 2024.
In November 2024, the Irish High Court, in a civil case, found that McGregor assaulted and raped a woman in December 2018 and ordered him to pay over €248,000 in damages.
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.
In December 2024, McGregor was further ordered to pay the entirety of the woman's legal costs, approximately €1,500,000.
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 begin contempt of court proceedings against McGregor for his comments about the case on social media after it concluded.
In 2024, complaints about the sexualized nature of Forged Irish Stout's advertising were upheld by the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland.
In 2024, following a Dublin court case where Conor McGregor was found to have assaulted and raped a woman in December 2018, he lost a sponsorship with IO Interactive. Additionally, retailers such as SuperValu, Tesco, and Wetherspoons stopped selling his stout and whiskey brands.
In 2024, following a Dublin court case where 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.
On January 15, 2025, a lawsuit was filed against McGregor accusing him of sexual assault during an NBA Finals game in Miami on June 9, 2023.