Conor McGregor’s appeal against a High Court ruling that found him liable for assaulting Nikita Hand has been unsuccessful. Hand, 35, filed a civil case against the former UFC champion, accusing him of sexually assaulting her in a penthouse at the Beacon Hotel. Despite McGregor claiming the encounter was consensual, the jury deliberated for over six hours and held him civilly responsible for the assault. Hand was awarded £206,000 in damages, with McGregor ordered to pay £85,000. Additionally, Hand’s case against James Lawrence, whom she accused of a similar assault, was not successful.
McGregor had initially sought to introduce new evidence in his appeal but later withdrew that bid. The Court of Appeal recently dismissed his appeal entirely, upholding the jury’s findings. Hand expressed gratitude to her supporters and emphasized the importance of survivors speaking out and seeking justice. When asked if she had a message for McGregor, Hand declined.
In a separate development, US President Donald Trump announced plans for a UFC event at the White House in July 2026, garnering interest from fighters like McGregor. The Irish fighter expressed his excitement on social media and indicated his willingness to participate. UFC President Dana White also showed enthusiasm for the idea, with McGregor hinting at a potential return to the ring despite not having fought since his loss to Dustin Poirier in 2021. McGregor was set to face Michael Chandler last year but had to withdraw due to an injury during training.
