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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Simon Samano

Woman accuses Conor McGregor of ‘violently’ raping her at NBA Finals; UFC star denies allegation

A woman has accused Conor McGregor of sexually assaulting her at Game 4 of the NBA Finals, but the UFC star has denied the allegation, according to TMZ.

TMZ reported Thursday that it obtained demand letters authored by South Florida-based attorney Ariel Mitchell that were sent to McGregor, the NBA and the Miami Heat, which hosted Game 4 of the NBA Finals last Friday at Kaseya Center. McGregor was in attendance for a promotional appearance in which he knocked out the Heat mascot.

TMZ reported that the alleged incident occurred after the game ended. According to Mitchell’s letters, the alleged victim was “violently” raped inside of a men’s bathroom after arena security helped separate the woman from her friend and forced her into the restroom where McGregor and his security guard waited.

“Security refused to let (the woman) exit or allow anyone else, including her friend, inside the bathroom,” Mitchell wrote in the letter. The attorney went on to write that McGregor “shoved his tongue in the victim’s mouth and aggressively kissed her.”

TMZ, citing the letters, reported that McGregor stopped after the woman told him she had to urinate. But then McGregor allegedly forced the woman to perform oral sex on him and attempted to sodomize her after pinning her against the wall. According to TMZ, Mitchell’s letter details that the alleged victim managed to elbow McGregor repeatedly, which allowed her to flee the bathroom, although she left her purse behind. Mitchell said she got it back only after pleading with McGregor’s security team.

Conor McGregor is seen on the court during a timeout at Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Kaseya Center in Miami. (Megan Briggs, Getty Images)

Although the woman reported the alleged sexual assault to local authorities, she apparently does not want to press charges, with Mitchell writing in her letters that the woman is only seeking settlements with McGregor, the NBA and Heat. TMZ reported that the Miami Police Department said it has conducted an investigation since Sunday, which remains ongoing.

McGregor’s representatives told TMZ in a statement that the “allegations are false,” adding that “Mr. McGregor will not be intimidated.”

In a statement, the UFC said: “The organization is aware of the recent allegations regarding Conor McGregor and will continue to gather additional details regarding the incident. UFC will allow the legal process to play out before making any additional statements.”

The Heat organization also issued a statement on social media: “We are aware of the allegations and are conducting a full investigation. Pending the outcome of the investigation, we will withhold further comment.”

NBA spokesperson Mike Bass said in a statement to Sports Illustrated that the league is “aware of the allegations” and “working with the team to gather more information.”

McGregor, 34, has been accused of sexual assault multiple times before – twice in 2019 in March and October of that year in Ireland; September 2020 in Corsica, which was later dropped; and in 2021 he faced a lawsuit for an alleged 2018 incident. Earlier this year in January, McGregor was accused of attacking a woman on a yacht in Ibiza. He’s not faced legal punishment in any of those cases.

McGregor is currently featured as a coach on Season 31 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” which airs every Tuesday on ESPN through Aug. 15. McGregor is coaching opposite Michael Chandler, with the two expected to fight, although no agreement has been reached.

McGregor hasn’t competed since July 2021 when he lost to Dustin Poirier by injury TKO after breaking his leg in the final seconds of the first round.

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