Conor McGregor calls himself 'innocent man' ahead of UFC 329

Conor McGregor defended himself against criticism of his UFC comeback at media day Wednesday, insisting he remains innocent despite a civil court finding him liable for sexual assault in Ireland.

The former two-division champion faces Max Holloway in Saturday's UFC 329 main event, his first fight since an Irish jury sided with Nikita Hand in her lawsuit over an alleged 2018 incident at a Dublin hotel. The jury awarded Hand damages totaling £206,000, and McGregor's appeal was rejected.

McGregor maintains innocence after civil verdict

"I am an innocent man," McGregor told reporters, per MMA Fighting. "I'll stand for my innocence until the day I go out. This is still a situation where I fight. There's a reason it didn't go where it went and went to a civil trial." He added that he knows the truth and trusts "anything done in darkness will soon come to light."

Police investigated Hand's claims but never filed criminal charges. During civil trial testimony, Hand said McGregor raped and battered her. McGregor testified the acts were consensual, describing the sex as athletic and physical while denying assault.

The 37-year-old lightweight admitted his life went off the rails after becoming simultaneous UFC champion in two divisions in 2016, then earning roughly $100 million from the Floyd Mayweather boxing match and launching his Proper No. 12 whiskey brand. McGregor said he had thousands of bottles stocked in his garage and got caught in a cycle after the brand took off. He sold his stake in the whiskey company to Proximo Spirits for a reported $600 million in 2021.

McGregor said he has since refocused on faith and family, putting him back on course to fight. He faces Holloway on Saturday at UFC 329.

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• MMA Fighting — ‘I am an innocent man’: Conor McGregor responds to criticism about UFC return after sexual assault civil lawsuit