Why Does Conor McGregor Get a Comeback?
Conor McGregor returns to headline UFC 329 tonight after being found liable for rape in civil court, a comeback made possible by the UFC's right-wing politicization and the broader 'Epstein class' culture of impunity for powerful men. On the normalization of sexual violence, Dana White's friendship with Trump, and how public awareness fails to disrupt the status quo.
n November 2024, a Dublin High Court civil jury found ex-UFC fighter Conor McGregor legally liable for the sexual assault and rape of Nikita Hand. Twelve days into a trial that opened on November 5th, a jury of four men and eight women sided with Hand, a 35-year-old Dublin hair colourist who alleged McGregor "would not take no for an answer" in the penthouse suite of the Beacon Hotel on December 9th, 2018. [The jury awarded her €248,603.60](https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/courts/2024/11/22/conor-mcgregor-to-pay-almost-250000-damages-to-nikita-hand-after-jury-finds-he-assaulted-her-in-dublin-hotel/) in general and special damages, along with [€1.5 million in legal costs](https://www.irishstar.com/sport/other-sports/conor-mcgregor-nikita-hand-comments-37412385). Ireland's Director of Public Prosecutions had already declined to bring criminal charges, citing insufficient evidence to secure a conviction, which is why the case proceeded as a civil matter rather than a criminal one. A technicality that let a wealthy man buy his way out of the criminal justice system.
McGregor tried to overturn the verdict. In July 2025, Ireland's Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal in its entirety, on all five grounds, and was [reportedly scathing](https://www.postwrestling.com/2026/07/07/conor-mcgregor-is-selling-america-a-comeback-story-but-ireland-isnt-buying-column/) about "fresh evidence." In December 2025, the Supreme Court [refused to hear a further appeal](https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/courts/2025/12/04/nikita-hand-welcomes-supreme-court-decision-to-reject-conor-mcgregors-appeal-bid/), finding no issue of general public importance. Hand won at trial, was vindicated on appeal, and outlasted McGregor's attempt to reopen the case.
McGregor hasn't fought in the UFC in five years, since his appearance at UFC 264 on July 10, 2021, losing to Dustin Poirier via first-round TKO after suffering a broken leg. His only loss since he stopped Donald Cerrone in 40 seconds in January 2020. A scheduled return against Michael Chandler fell through last year when he withdrew from the bout, citing injury. The New York Times [reported that McGregor sought a therapeutic-use exemption](https://www.postwrestling.com/2026/07/08/report-conor-mcgregor-continued-anabolic-steroids-and-hgh-usage-after-leg-healed/) to use performance-enhancing drugs during his recovery, was denied it, withdrew from USADA's testing pool for two years anyway, and kept using anabolic steroids and human growth hormone well after the leg had healed.
In the five years since, McGregor was dropped by Proper No. Twelve, the Irish whiskey brand he co-founded. [Proximo confirmed](https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/27/business/proper-12-conor-mcgregor-sexual-assault-ruling) it would no longer use his "name and lik
Did you enjoy this article?
Recommend it — Standard Reader surfaces well-loved writing to more readers across the network.