Conor McGregor has sparked controversy after losing a civil case and engaging in a heated exchange with Jake Paul on social media.
The former UFC champion was ordered to pay over £200,000 to Nikita Hand after a Dublin jury found him liable for assault in a 2018 incident. McGregor denies the allegations, claiming the encounter was consensual, and has announced plans to appeal the verdict.
The legal decision drew reactions from McGregor’s rivals, including Jake Paul, who tweeted, “Dana hits his wife Conor’s convicted of rape But I’m the bad guy.” McGregor responded from his Twitter handle, TheNotoriousMMA, with a homophobic slur, calling Paul a “little gay nerd.” Paul fired back, criticizing McGregor for his remark and suggesting it reflected poorly on his character.
Hand, who accused McGregor of assaulting her at a Dublin hotel, addressed the media outside court, expressing hope that her case would inspire other survivors to seek justice. “No matter how afraid you might be, speak up, you have a voice,” she said, thanking her family and friends for their support.
The jury deliberated for over six hours before reaching a verdict. Hand’s case against another man, James Lawrence, whom she accused of non-consensual sex during the same incident, was dismissed.
McGregor, who remained silent as he left court, later stated, “I will be appealing today’s decision. I am with my family now, focused on my future.”
