DUBLIN (AP) — On Wednesday, mixed martial arts celebrity Conor McGregor took the stand, asserting that his encounter with a woman who is suing him for sexual assault was consensual. He claimed that her allegations were entirely fabricated. “Everything is a lie,” he declared during his testimony at the High Court in Dublin. “It is a full-blown lie among many lies.”
The case revolves around accusations that McGregor “brutally raped and battered” the woman in a penthouse at a Dublin hotel on December 9, 2018. The plaintiff testified last week, detailing her traumatic experience in which she claimed McGregor pinned her down, placed her in a headlock, and threatened her life during what they described as an after-party.
In their defense, McGregor’s legal team noted that during the police investigation, the woman never mentioned any threats to her life. Furthermore, they presented surveillance footage in court that allegedly depicted her kissing McGregor’s arm and embracing him shortly after leaving the hotel room.
Regarding the woman’s statement that McGregor said, “now you know how I felt in the octagon” while he had her in a headlock, McGregor refuted this claim, emphasizing that it was implausible for him to link his MMA experiences to such a serious situation. “How anyone could believe that me, as a prideful person, would highlight my shortcomings,” he remarked.
McGregor also contended that he did not coerce the woman into any actions against her will, describing their sexual encounter as vigorous rather than rough. He labeled her allegations as a fantasy, even suggesting that her bruises may have resulted from a playful dive into a bathtub during their time together.
Though McGregor was investigated by the police, no charges were brought against him. The court proceedings continue, drawing significant attention as both parties present their narratives regarding the incident.
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