Conor McGregor Responds to Civil Trial Loss: “I Should Have Shut the Party Down”

Conor McGregor, the former UFC champion, issued a public statement on Tuesday following his loss in a civil trial related to allegations of sexual assault, saying that he regretted his actions and acknowledged the need to have “shut the party down” when the situation began to escalate.

McGregor, who faced a lawsuit from a woman who accused him of sexually assaulting her in a private villa in 2018, was found liable by a court in a civil case. While McGregor has denied the allegations and was not criminally charged, the jury ruled in favor of the plaintiff, awarding her damages after she claimed McGregor assaulted her during an event in the Irish coastal town of Marbella.

In his statement, McGregor expressed regret over his role in the events, saying, “Looking back, I should have shut the party down. There’s no excuse for what happened, and I’m deeply sorry for the distress I caused. I’ve learned valuable lessons, and I’ll take full responsibility for my actions moving forward.”

The sexual assault lawsuit, which was filed by an unnamed woman, stemmed from a 2018 encounter at a luxury resort where McGregor and several others were reportedly partying. According to the plaintiff, McGregor’s behavior was inappropriate and crossed a line, culminating in the alleged assault. Although McGregor denied the accusations in court, the jury found him responsible for damages and ruled in favor of the woman.

The case has garnered significant media attention, with McGregor’s legal team previously trying to have the case dismissed. Despite McGregor’s insistence on his innocence, the jury’s verdict in the civil trial concluded that the evidence presented favored the plaintiff’s claims.

Following the verdict, McGregor’s legal team announced that they would appeal the decision, but McGregor himself chose to address the matter directly. In his statement, the fighter reiterated that he took full responsibility for his actions but did not specifically confirm the details of the incident as presented by the plaintiff.

McGregor’s statement also mentioned his commitment to personal growth and learning from his mistakes, vowing to focus on being a better version of himself both inside and outside the ring. “The person I am today is not the person I was back then. I’ve taken steps to grow and become a better man,” McGregor wrote.

The case has raised broader questions about accountability in the sports and entertainment industries, particularly when high-profile figures are involved. While McGregor’s legal troubles have often been in the spotlight, this case has brought a renewed focus on his behavior outside the ring and its impact on his public image.

McGregor, who is currently recovering from an injury and has not fought in the UFC for some time, did not address his future in mixed martial arts in the statement. His legal team is expected to continue pursuing an appeal, and the outcome of that process will likely influence the next steps for the fighter both professionally and personally.