Conor McGregor, the former UFC champion, is known not only for his achievements inside the ring but also for his numerous legal troubles outside it. This article delves into the various instances where McGregor has faced accusations, violations, and legal battles, painting a comprehensive picture of his controversial career.
UFC Anti-Doping Policy Violations
Conor McGregor has been handed an 18-month suspension from the UFC for violating anti-doping rules. Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD), the UFC’s anti-doping enforcement body, confirmed the suspension after McGregor missed three attempted biological sample collections in 2024 - on June 13, September 19, and September 20. This constitutes a violation of the UFC ADP (anti-doping policy).
UFC rules ensure its competitors must provide information of their whereabouts at all times in order for them to be contacted for biological sample collections to comply with its anti-doping policy. UFC athletes are required to provide accurate whereabouts information at all times, so they can be contacted and submit to biological sample collections without prior warning.
The 18-month period of ineligibility from competing in UFC for a violation of the company’s anti-doping policy is backdated to commence on September 20, 2024, and will expire on March 20, 2026.
CSAD noted McGregor was recovering from an injury and not in fight preparation during the missed collections, and that he fully cooperated with the inquiry, accepted responsibility and supplied information that explained the circumstances. A UFC statement said McGregor “fully cooperated with CSAD’s investigation, accepted responsibility, and provided detailed information that CSAD determined contributed to the missed tests.” Taking McGregor’s cooperation and circumstances into account, CSAD reduced the standard 24-month sanction for three whereabouts failures by six months.
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Despite these mitigating factors, CSAD emphasizes that accurate whereabouts filings and the ability to conduct unannounced testing are essential to the success of the UFC ADP. CSAD independently administers the UFC’s year-round anti-doping program. Biological sample collections under the UFC ADP are conducted by Drug Free Sport International (DFSI), a global leader in the anti-doping industry with more than 5,000 trained collection personnel.
McGregor, 37, has since re-entered the UFC testing pool and has provided four samples in 2025. The former two-division champion has not competed since July 2021. His planned bout with Michael Chandler for UFC 303 in 2024 was cancelled after McGregor withdrew with an injury.
Gambling Policy Violation
As the UFC 307 main event between Alex Pereira and Khalil Rountree got underway, McGregor placed a huge $1 million bet on either fighter to win by knockout or TKO. “If you don’t take risks you won’t drink champagne,” McGregor wrote on X. Of course, ‘Poatan’ went on to win the bout via TKO in the fourth round to retain the UFC light heavyweight title. “I couldn’t pick a winner until the fight started, but I just knew there was going to be a KO,” McGregor posted after the fight. “A million on a KO by either fighter at 1/5. Good bet! $200,000 profit!
Interestingly, McGregor shared the bet on X before almost immediately taking it down. However, per a memo sent to athletes in October 2022, UFC fighters are prohibited from gambling on any UFC fight, regardless of whether they are involved or not. The decision was made following a gambling scandal involving former fighter and coach James Krause. The fact that McGregor quickly deleted the post suggests he may have become aware of his error, but it’s unlikely that he’ll face any real consequences from the UFC. It was a nice 200k pickup for the Irish megastar.
Legal Issues and Accusations
This week, the Irish mixed martial artist was accused of attempting to rape an unnamed woman at the Kaseya Center in Miami following Game 4 of the NBA Finals. A detailed account of the claimed sexual assault provided by the woman’s attorney constitutes one of several serious allegations made against McGregor in his career, though he ultimately did not face criminal charges. The incident follows a series of other accusations describing violent and criminal conduct on his part.
Read also: Revisiting the McGregor-Diaz clashes
Sexual Assault Allegations
- 2018 Dublin Hotel Incident: In early 2019, reports emerged that McGregor was under investigation by Irish law enforcement for an alleged sexual assault of a woman in a Dublin hotel the previous December. In November 2024, a civil jury in Ireland awarded the woman 250,000 Euros after a case in which she testified McGregor had put her in a chokehold and threatened to kill her during their encounter in the hotel room.
- 2019 Dublin Pub Incident: In October 2019, police received another complaint against McGregor from a woman who said he had sexually assaulted her in a car outside a Dublin pub. In 2021, prosecutors indicated they would not be charging McGregor in connection with the alleged 2018 assault; neither have they pursued legal action over the 2019 complaint.
- 2020 Corsica Investigation: McGregor was detained and questioned by authorities on the French island of Corsica in September 2020 for alleged indecent exposure and sexual assault in a bar, spending two days in custody. Eight months later, they declared a lack of sufficient evidence to justify a criminal prosecution. “Conor Mcgregor vigorously denies any accusations of misconduct,” his representative told TMZ.
- 2023 Ibiza Yacht Allegation: This past January, reports emerged that a woman in her 40s had accused McGregor of physically assaulting her on his yacht in Ibiza, Spain, during his birthday celebration the previous July. She claimed that he became verbally abusive, then punched and kicked her, even saying he would drown her. The woman also sued McGregor but withdrew the claim in February with no reason given. McGregor has denied these claims.
Assault and Violent Conduct
- 2018 Bus Attack: In a bizarre and frightening scene, McGregor and an entourage were caught on video pelting a bus with loose objects after a UFC media event, including a hand dolly and a guard rail, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. They shattered the vehicle’s windows and windshield, injuring multiple UFC fighters aboard, who subsequently missed their next fights. UFC president Dana White condemned McGregor’s behavior as “disgusting.” By July 2018, McGregor reached a plea deal that saw his assault and felony criminal mischief charges dropped, with no prison sentence or loss of his travel visa. Instead, he paid restitution for damages, served five days of community service and agreed to take a short anger management course. “I just want to say I’m thankful to the D.A.
- 2019 Phone Smashing Incident: In an encounter caught on a security camera, McGregor seized and smashed the phone of a fan who tried to take his picture in Miami Beach. Arrested for criminal mischief and strong-armed robbery, he spent several hours in jail before he was released on a $5,000 bond, pledging full cooperation in any investigation.
- 2019 Pub Assault: Once again caught lashing out on video, McGregor in August 2019 punched a pub customer who had repeatedly refused a shot of his Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey, a liquor brand the mixed martial artist launched the year prior. That November, he pleaded guilty to assault, paying a fine and avoiding a stint of up to six months behind bars. The victim received an undisclosed sum in compensation as well. During court proceedings, it was revealed that McGregor had 18 prior convictions on his criminal record, most connected to his driving offenses. The fighter told the court, “Your honour, what I done was very wrong.
- 2021 Italian DJ Incident: Francesco Facchinetti, a famed Italian DJ and TV presenter, accused McGregor of punching him in the face and breaking his nose outside a hotel in Rome in October 2021. According to Facchinetti, he and his wife had been partying with McGregor and the fighter’s fiancée Dee Devlin for hours when McGregor attacked him totally unprovoked. “He is dangerous, he needs to be stopped,” Faccinetti said at the time, formally pressing charges against McGregor, who as of early 2022 was still under investigation for the complaint.
Driving Offenses
McGregor’s most consistent run-ins with the police stem from his driving habits. In both 2017 and 2018, he pleaded guilty to speeding offenses and paid fines, in the latter case having his diving privileges revoked for six months. Last year, he was arrested on six traffic charges, including being uninsured and driving without a license, and authorities impounded his sports car. He was later charged with careless driving as well.
Here's a summary of McGregor's driving-related offenses:
| Year | Offense | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Speeding | Guilty plea, fine |
| 2018 | Speeding | Guilty plea, fine, driving privileges revoked for 6 months |
| Last Year | Multiple traffic charges (uninsured, driving without a license) | Arrest, sports car impounded, charged with careless driving |
How Conor McGregor Lost His Mind (MMA Documentary)
The numerous legal issues and UFC violations have undoubtedly cast a shadow over Conor McGregor's illustrious career. From anti-doping suspensions to allegations of sexual assault and violent conduct, McGregor's actions outside the octagon have often overshadowed his achievements inside it. With his suspension ending in March 2026, it remains to be seen what the future holds for the controversial fighter.