Former mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor has filed an appeal against a civil case judgment that ordered him to pay $270,000 in damages to Nikita Hand, who accused him of assaulting her at a Dublin hotel in December 2018.
Court documents confirm McGregor submitted his appeal last Friday through the Irish courts system. The appeal comes after a jury found in favor of Hand in the civil proceedings last year. In addition to the damages awarded, McGregor was also ordered to pay the legal costs associated with the civil action.
The Dublin native’s legal challenges have mounted in recent years. In 2019, he faced charges in Miami for damaging a fan’s phone. In 2021, an Italian DJ accused McGregor of attacking him at a nightclub. More recently in 2023, a woman alleged she was assaulted on McGregor’s yacht in Spain, and he was involved in an incident with an NBA mascot that resulted in the performer requiring hospital treatment.
The 35-year-old’s professional career has also seen significant changes since his victorious return against Donald Cerrone in January 2020. He subsequently faced setbacks in two high-profile matches against Dustin Poirier in 2021, with the second contest ending in a serious leg injury.
His anticipated comeback against Michael Chandler, originally planned for 2024, has yet to materialize. Meanwhile, the sport has evolved with new champions like Islam Makhachev, Charles Oliveira, and Alex Volkanovski commanding attention in the divisions where McGregor once reigned.
Despite recent controversies, McGregor maintains significant commercial appeal. However, his position among the sport’s elite competitors has faced increasing scrutiny as his time away from competition extends.
