Conor McGregor is set to return to the UFC octagon on Sunday at UFC 329 against Max Holloway, marking his first fight in five years. However, his return to the spotlight is met with significant controversy, with many questioning his suitability for public attention.
McGregor has been absent from fighting since a leg break in his 2021 defeat to Dustin Poirier. His time away from the cage has been marked by legal challenges and public statements that have drawn criticism.
In November 2024, Nikita Hand won a civil case against McGregor, accusing him of rape. A jury found McGregor sexually assaulted Hand in a Dublin hotel in December 2018 and ordered him to pay £206,000 in damages. McGregor's appeal against this verdict was lost in July 2025. Following the appeal loss, Hand announced intentions to sue McGregor and two others for malicious abuse of court processes.
Despite the legal outcomes, McGregor maintains his innocence, stating he is "an innocent man" and that the case went to a civil trial for a reason. He has accused Hand and her lawyers of lying, while Hand has described the trial process as retraumatizing.
In addition to the sexual assault allegations, McGregor received an 18-month ban from the UFC for violating its anti-doping policy. This ban stemmed from missing three drug tests within a 12-month period in 2024. The ban, backdated to September 2024, concluded in March. McGregor has since been tested 14 times by Combat Sports Anti-Doping this year, more than any other fighter on the UFC roster.
Further past legal issues include a 2019 conviction and fine for punching a man in a Dublin pub who had refused him a drink.
McGregor's public profile has also been impacted by his commentary on social and political issues. In March of the previous year, Irish political leaders stated that McGregor "does not speak for Ireland" after he criticized the country's immigration policy. He later withdrew his bid to run for president. "I'm not here to win anyone back, I'm here to represent my country. What is taking place in Ireland is the saddest story in the West," McGregor said at a recent press conference.
Some observers suggest that support for McGregor in Ireland, where he was once seen as a national hero, has diminished. His upcoming bout against Holloway, however, signifies a major event in the MMA calendar, with attention focused on whether his in-ring performance can overshadow the controversies surrounding him.