Once a celebrated UFC champion and global sports icon, Conor McGregor‘s reputation has been marred by legal troubles, including a recent civil liability for sexual assault, leading to public scrutiny and speculation about his potential for redemption.
Hard to believe, but not long ago, Conor McGregor was on top of the world. Remember those epic battles with Nate Diaz? He became the first simultaneous two-division champ in UFC history and even faced off against Floyd Mayweather in a mega-fight.
Fast forward to now, and it’s a different story. Since 2021, McGregor’s been pretty inactive in the octagon. Instead, he’s making headlines for all the wrong reasons—arrests, accusations, lawsuits. Recently, a jury in Ireland found him liable for sexual assault from allegations dating back to 2018.
Conor insists he’s innocent and plans to appeal. But once again, he’s under the spotlight for negative reasons. Can he turn it around?
“Conor’s going to be in a shitstorm here,” said UFC legend Matt Brown on The Fighter vs. The Writer. “Financially, he’ll be fined—no biggie for him. But publicity-wise? It’s gonna sting. And rightly so.
“Convicted or not, civilly liable or not, he put himself in this mess. Now he has to face the music.”
Whether his appeal works or not remains to be seen. But public opinion? It’s already harsh on his behavior outside the cage.
McGregor was never an angel, sure. But these are serious allegations. Accusations like these don’t just vanish.
“The public opinion of him has changed,” Brown noted. “He wasn’t squeaky clean like Tiger Woods. We knew he was wild—that was part of the charm. But now? A jury says he’s crossed a line.
“Some folks will lose respect for him and tune out. Long-reaching effects.”
Still, redemption isn’t impossible for McGregor. Other sports figures have bounced back before.
Take Mike Tyson, for instance—convicted of rape in ’92, served time, yet found a way back.
Tyson returned to boxing amid controversies—remember when he bit Holyfield’s ear? Yet over time, through media appearances and his podcast, he regained popularity. His comeback fight with Jake Paul drew over 100 million viewers on Netflix!
Brown isn’t sure if McGregor can follow suit—but it’s possible.
“I don’t think this is unsalvageable,” Brown said. “But Conor has to save himself. The UFC can’t do it for him. He needs to make changes—ditch the clubs and focus on what matters.
“If he shows growth and focuses on family and positive changes—people love redemption stories! We want Conor to succeed, but it’s up to him.”
Brown always doubted McGregor would fight again—even before this trial—but hopes he finds his way back.
Maybe that means returning to the UFC or just reclaiming his image.
“I’ll cheer him on if he turns things around,” Brown concluded. “He could become a better person from all this. Though I’m skeptical it’ll happen soon—it took Tyson years.”