Latest news with #PachaNightclub
Telegraph
27-06-2025
- Telegraph
Like his good friend Donald Trump, Conor McGregor rides out any scandal
When Conor McGregor was convicted of sucker-punching a man in a Dublin pub in 2019, he bought the pub and 'barred' his victim. Fast-forward to last week and he reportedly did not even need to lift a finger for the latest recipient of one of his left hooks to be thrown out of Ibiza's Pacha nightclub. It seems that whatever the crime or controversy, sooner or later the world's most infamous mixed martial arts fighter ends up coming out of it on top. Next week he could take major step in that direction when it comes to the most serious alleged offence committed by a man who has become the living embodiment of his nickname, 'The Notorious'. The Republic of Ireland's Court of Appeal is set to consider an application for new evidence to be introduced in his battle against a civil ruling that he raped Nikita Hand at a Dublin hotel in December 2018. That ruling, delivered by a jury at the Irish capital's High Court in November, meant McGregor was ordered to pay the mother of one more than €248,000 (£206,000) in damages. McGregor, who faced no criminal charges over the alleged rape after prosecutors deemed there was 'no reasonable prospect of conviction', immediately announced his intention to appeal. That appeal was lodged in February, and it emerged in April that he was attempting to introduce new evidence alleging Hand had been assaulted by her then partner on the night McGregor was found to have raped her. The evidence has been provided by two former neighbours of Hand, one of whom has signed a sworn affidavit claiming to have seen her being punched after she returned home that evening. Hand, who told November's civil trial that McGregor had 'brutally raped and battered' her, signed an affidavit calling her neighbours' allegations 'lies'. Even if the Court of Appeal rules the new evidence inadmissible or refuses to quash last year's verdict, McGregor already appears to have found a way of emerging from it all remarkably unscathed. It all comes amid a burgeoning 'bromance' with the man who arguably laid out the blueprint for him to do so. McGregor was still awaiting his trial last year when Donald Trump became the first former US president to be convicted of a felony after being found guilty of 34 charges linked to hush-money payments made to ex-adult star Stormy Daniels. The verdict did not prevent Trump running for re-election and, weeks later, he survived a would-be assassin's bullet on the campaign trail. McGregor, who had caused a political earthquake at the end of 2023 by signalling his intention to run for the presidency of his own country, posted to his 10 million followers on X: 'A 78 year old multiple billionaire he should be on a yacht on the med touring golf courses. But he is not. He is in Pennsylvania spitting out bullets! Running for the love of his country! God speed Donald! God bless the United States.' Whether Trump saw the message or not, less than two months after McGregor's own court defeat, the Irishman was among the guests at the US president's second inauguration and also posed for a photograph with Nigel Farage at a pre-event rally. By the time Ireland's prime minister Micheal Martin visited the White House in the week leading up to St Patrick's Day, Trump was publicly singling out McGregor as his favourite Irishman. If that was embarrassing for the taoiseach, it became even more so on St Patrick's Day when McGregor was invited for an audience with Trump and seized a platform to spout anti-immigration rhetoric he had begun to voice in the preceding months and years. That had included in the build-up to a riot in Dublin in November 2023, which was triggered by the stabbing of three young children outside a primary school. McGregor posted on X: 'Innocent children ruthlessly stabbed by a mentally deranged non-national in Dublin, Ireland today. There is grave danger among us in Ireland that should never be here in the first place, and there has been zero action done to support the public in any way, shape or form with this frightening fact. NOT GOOD ENOUGH.' Following the riot, and facing accusations of incitement, McGregor said he did not condone the violence. His White House visit was followed by an announcement that he would run for the presidency of Ireland later this year. But despite previously being publicly endorsed by Elon Musk and claiming to have the support of Trump himself, McGregor faces what would appear insurmountable hurdles to becoming his own country's head of state. Under the current rules, candidates must garner the support of 20 Oireachtas (parliament) members, or the backing of four of Ireland's local authorities in order to stand. A recent Irish Times survey of 949 local councillors found not one of the 187 who responded said they would nominate him for the role. Stiofán Conaty, a Sinn Fein councillor from Cavan County Council, told the publication: 'No such pressure would ever influence me to even consider voting for that horrid man.' McGregor's presidential ambitions could hardly be further removed from his stance on politics a decade ago after he was criticised for wearing a Remembrance Day poppy. 'F--- politics and f--- religion,' he wrote on Twitter in October 2015. 'I just want to swing a few lefts and a few rights for a couple of hundred mill in peace.' Back then, McGregor was at the peak of his powers in the Ultimate Fighting Championship with a five-year, 15-bout winning streak that included becoming the first man to hold championships in two weight classes simultaneously. Arguably the world's most recognisable MMA fighter, he was even named the following year as RTE Sports Person of the Year – Ireland's equivalent of the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year award. By then, McGregor had announced his retirement from UFC amid speculation about who would win in a fight between him and the world's best boxer, Floyd Mayweather Jnr. That planted the seed for a crossover boxing match between the pair on August 26, 2017, which became the second-highest-selling pay-per-view event in history. McGregor was beaten but, in reality, there were no losers from a fight in which he later said he earned 'around' $100 million. He went on to be ranked by Forbes as the world's fourth-highest-paid athlete on $99 million. The Mayweather fight also brought unprecedented public scrutiny on McGregor, who was accused of racism after telling his black opponent to, 'Dance for me, boy', during a promotional event. Mayweather later claimed McGregor had 'called black people monkeys' and had spoken 'disrespectfully to my mother and my daughter'. Responding on Instagram, McGregor wrote: 'Floyd Mayweather, don't ever bring race into my success again. I am an Irishman. My people have been oppressed our entire existence. And still very much are. I understand the feeling of prejudice. It is a feeling that is deep in my blood. In my family's long history of warfare there was a time where just having the name 'McGregor' was punishable by death. Do not ever put me in a bracket like this again …' Following the bout, McGregor looked likely to return to UFC before the end of the year. But plans were scrapped when he pushed a referee and slapped another official at a rival MMA event in Dublin, in which he was not even competing. The next day, the head of the commission for the event issued a statement accusing McGregor of having 'assaulted' the pair. McGregor apologised and UFC president Dana White later blamed his behaviour partly on his rapid rise to fame, branding his entourage 'cling-ons'. 'He's a young, rich kid who is a god in Ireland,' White said. 'That's not the healthiest environment either. When you make that kind of money, you're that famous and you're a professional athlete, you're gonna have an overload of cling-ons.' McGregor's MMA return was still on hold when, in April 2018, he was filmed in New York throwing a metal equipment dolly at the window of a bus carrying his UFC nemesis and heir apparent, Khabib Nurmagomedov. The window shattered, injuring two other fighters. White called the incident 'the most disgusting thing' in the history of the organisation. McGregor turned himself in to police and was charged with assault, criminal mischief and other crimes. He pleaded no contest to a count of disorderly conduct and was ordered to carry out five days of community service and attend anger-management classes. One of his victims, Michael Chiesa, later sued McGregor over his injuries. The case was settled out of court more than four years later. White's condemnation did not prevent him signing a six-fight deal for McGregor to return to the UFC, starting with a bout against new lightweight champion Nurmagomedov in October that year. McGregor was defeated and a brawl broke out afterwards that led to both men receiving lengthy bans and heavy fines. After defeating Conor McGregor, Khabib Nurmagomedov jumped out of the octagon and a brawl ensued 🎥 @AndreasHale d — SB Nation (@SBNation) October 7, 2018 It was during his six-month suspension that McGregor allegedly raped Hand and was arrested over accusations he stamped on a fan's phone in another incident caught on camera. The alleged victim in that case stopped cooperating with police and charges were later dropped. On March 26, McGregor announced his second retirement from MMA, hours before news broke that he was being investigated over his alleged rape of Hand. On April 6 came the Dublin pub attack in which McGregor punched Desmond Keogh for refusing an offer to sample the fighter's 'Proper No. Twelve' brand of whiskey. McGregor pleaded guilty to the assault in November that year and was fined €1,000. He also issued a public apology. However, when it was reported in April 2021 that McGregor had bought the Marble Arch pub where the incident had taken place, he reposted a link to the article saying: 'Ye and your mans barred.' Keogh told the Irish Mirror: 'I wouldn't want to be spending money in his pub to be honest.' That same month, McGregor and his business partners sold Proper No. Twelve for $600 million. The rape investigation and a further – denied – sexual assault allegation failed to prevent McGregor making what was a winning UFC comeback in January 2020. He retired again and, later that year, was arrested on the French island of Corsica on suspicion of attempted sexual assault and indecent exposure. He was released without charge and a police investigation into the denied claims was eventually dropped. Hand filed her civil lawsuit against McGregor in January 2021, days before what proved to be the fighter's final UFC comeback. He lost that bout, to Dustin Poirier, and a rematch in July. By then, Forbes had ranked him as the world's highest-paid athlete on $180 million following the sale of his whiskey brand. In October that year, McGregor was publicly accused by Italian DJ Francesco Facchinetti of breaking his nose in a nightclub in Rome. Facchinetti filed a criminal complaint but, as of today, no known action has been taken over an alleged incident McGregor has yet to comment on. The following July, McGregor held a birthday party on his yacht in Ibiza, after which a woman filed a complaint that he had physically assaulted her and that she had broken her arm jumping off the boat to escape him. McGregor denied the allegation and the woman later withdrew a lawsuit she had lodged against him. After making the allegations, her car was torched outside her home and a brick thrown through her window. During last year's civil rape proceedings against McGregor, it emerged that a gang of masked men had broken into Hand's home, smashed the windows and stabbed her boyfriend in the months leading up to the court case. There is no suggestion McGregor had any involvement in or prior knowledge of these incidents but, with him having 47 million followers on Instagram in addition to 10 million on X, they could indicate his supporters are prepared to go to extreme lengths to silence his accusers. McGregor is now facing another sexual assault lawsuit, filed in Florida in January this year over allegations – which he denies – of attempted rape during the NBA Finals in June 2023. Following a police investigation into the claims, prosecutors confirmed in October that McGregor would face no criminal charges. His alleged victim's lawsuit claims McGregor 'attempted to forcefully place his unprotected penis' into her mouth and anus without her consent. The claim was filed days before Trump's inauguration, but, like the verdict in November's civil case against him, did not prevent him attending or being invited to the White House in March. It has certainly not stopped his relentless campaigning for the presidency of Ireland. So, when footage emerged last week of him punching someone to the floor of Pacha during his latest trip to Ibiza, it hardly came as a surprise that his victim was apparently ejected and he was allowed to carry on as if nothing had happened.
Daily Mail
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Pictured: Conor McGregor gets frisky with partner Dee Devlin as UFC star sports bruised eye in first sighting since horror Ibiza nightclub attack
Conor McGregor has been seen for the first time since flooring a party goer at the infamous Pacha nightclub in Ibiza on Tuesday morning. The disgraced fighter was seen hitting the reveller on the Spanish party island as he boozed until the early hours. McGregor, 36, was seen in conversation with a man before putting his arm around his shoulders and lashing out on the dance floor at 5:53am as music continued to loudly blare. He could be seen speaking to the man for a few seconds before hitting him with his left hand while holding a glass of alcohol in his right. McGregor, a former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion, then landed another blow just seconds later to leave the reveller on the floor. The Irishman, who was wearing tight white pants and a black and white shirt, has not fought since 2021 and was protected from his victim by his entourage after flooring him. Now, he has been seen relaxing with fiance Dee Devlin on a yacht in Ibiza - but appearing to don a marked eye. McGregor kisses the mother of his children during a getaway on a yacht in Ibiza The former UFC star and political hopeful made headlines when he knocked out a partygoer McGregor was seen shirtless but appearing to have a mark by his left eye MCGregor and Devlin got engaged in August 2020, with the MMA star proposing while he celebrated his 32rd birthday in the south of France. They have been together since 2008. And, this week, their love was on full display as the Irishman was seen grabbing his fiance and kissing her neck. They also shared a kiss and danced in the marina, with a shirtless McGregor appearing to have a red mark on his face following the midweek incident. McGregor was then reportedly allowed to continue partying while the man punched by him was booted out of the venue. One party-goer told The Sun: 'Clearly something's been said to annoy him and he's reacted very badly. 'The guy seemed to fall to the floor, and his mates came to pick him up and get him away. 'There [didn't appear to be any] consequences for Conor, but the guy he punched was taken away and I didn't see him again.' The violent scrap came just hours after McGregor was seen partying with Katie Price at Wayne Lineker's famous O Beach club. McGregor sported red shorts, a cap and sun glasses while puffing on a cigar and playing up to the crowds at a wild day time party. Price shared a picture of the pair on her Instagram page with the caption: 'You legend,' after McGregor tagged her in his own story and said: 'Forever'. Tottenham defender Kevin Danso also posted a picture with the former fighter on his Instagram. Lineker, meanwhile, expressed his disappointment with McGregor over the incident, having revealed the identity of the man involved - someone called Joe Gomez. He wrote: 'This is my very close friend who has worked at Ocean for eight years, he has the most special heart and in all of the years that I've known him he has never raised his voice once. 'He took two punches from Conor McGregor in Pacha for absolutely no reason. 'Let me introduce you to Joe Gooomez (sic). He took the punches like a champion.' He continued: 'I've since deleted my post of Conor at Ocean on Sunday. To say I'm disappointed is an understatement. 'We at Ocean Beach Ibiza will always put our family first #wearefamily.'
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Yahoo
Conor McGregor caught on video knocking out man in Ibiza nightclub
Conor McGregor is once again in the news for the wrong reasons. Conor McGregor's only fights continue to come outside of the cage. Footage emerged Tuesday of the former UFC two-division champion twice punching a man in an Ibiza nightclub. In the video, which was first published by The Sun, McGregor can be seen speaking with an unidentified man from an elevated position before throwing two left hands in rapid succession, with the second punch sending the man reeling to the floor of the Pacha nightclub. Advertisement The Sun reported that the altercation occurred at 5:53 a.m. and that McGregor was permitted to stay while the victim of his punches was thrown out of the club. No arrests were reportedly made at the scene. Video of the altercation can be watched below. McGregor, 36, has not fought since he suffered a first-round loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021, however his name has remained in the headlines, often for the wrong reasons. McGregor was found liable for a 2018 sexual assault this past November and currently faces a sexual assault lawsuit stemming from an alleged 2023 incident in Miami. In a separate incident in Ibiza in 2023, he was accused of attacking a women on his yacht. This past January, he dropped multiple racial epithets in a social-media tirade against former rival Khabib Nurmagomedov. Tuesday's news also harkens back to the fighter's infamous sucker-punch attack of a 50-year-old man at a Dublin pub in 2019. Advertisement Both McGregor and representatives for the UFC star have yet to comment on his latest altercation. McGregor was expected to make a long-discussed UFC return against Michael Chandler in June 2024, however the bout was cancelled weeks out from the event due to a broken toe suffered by the Irishman.
