Conor McGregor breaks silence on sexual assault verdict: "Everything that happened was consensual"

Conor McGregor has expressed regret, but his apology doesn't appear to be directed at the alleged rape victim.

On Friday, the former UFC champion was found liable by a jury in a civil case in Dublin, Ireland, which concluded that he sexually assaulted Nikita Hand in a hotel penthouse following a night of partying on December 9, 2018.

In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, McGregor continued to maintain his innocence and expressed his intention to appeal the jury’s verdict, which awarded Hand approximately $257,000 in damages.

At 36, McGregor also shared his regret over his infidelity to his fiancée, Dee Devlin, with whom he has four children — Conor Jr., Croía, Rían, and Mack.

“People want to hear from me, I needed time. I know I made mistakes,” McGregor wrote. “Six years ago, I should have never responded to her outreaches. I should have shut the party down. I should never have stepped out on the woman I love the most in the world. That’s all on me. As much as I regret it, everything that happened that night was consensual and all the witnesses present swore to that under oath. I have instructed my legal team to appeal the decision. I can’t go back and I will move forward.

“I am beyond grateful to my family, friends and supporters all over the world who have stayed by my side. That’s it. No more. Getting back to the gym- the fight game awaits!”

Hand accused McGregor of “brutally raping and battering” her, even claiming he threatened her life while choking her, which left her badly bruised following the event.

“He let me go and I remember saying I was sorry, as I felt that I did something wrong and I wanted to reassure him that I wouldn’t tell anyone so he wouldn’t hurt me again,” Hand recalled in her testimony.

McGregor, on the other hand, denied the allegations, asserting that there was no coercion and that their sexual encounter was consensual.