Mark RaimondiESPN staff writer2 minutes to read
UFC star Conor McGregor has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman during last week’s NBA Finals game in Miami, according to legal letters obtained by ESPN Thursday.
The woman said McGregor forced himself “violently” on her inside a men’s bathroom at the Kasiyah Center, according to a letter he sent to McGregor and his team. She said McGregor “forcefully kissed her” before also trying to force sex on her more than once.
The incident allegedly occurred during Game 4 of the Finals on Friday. The woman accused Miami Heat and NBA security of aiding McGregor in the attack by separating her from her girlfriend and forcing her into the bathroom.
McGregor, 34, denied the allegations through his attorney, Barbara Lannis.
“Mr. McGregor will not be intimidated,” Lanis wrote in a statement to ESPN.
Attorney Ariel Mitchell, who is representing the woman, wrote in the letter to McGregor that the woman immediately contacted law enforcement and her law office after the alleged attack. The letter warned of the possibility of litigation and called on MacGregor to preserve all potential evidence. Mitchell also sent legal letters to the Heat and the NBA.
The Miami Police Department declined to comment to ESPN regarding any possible investigation into the charges against McGregor.
The UFC released a statement Thursday saying it was aware of the allegations against McGregor, adding that it “will continue to collect additional details regarding the incident. The UFC will allow the legal process before making any additional statements.”
McGregor was in the game as a guest of the NBA and the Heat, who were playing the Denver Nuggets in the Finals. During the first half of Game 4, McGregor was involved in a skit promoting the recovery spray in which he punched mascot Heat Burnie twice, sending the man portraying the mascot to the emergency room to receive painkillers.
The Heat and the NBA have both acknowledged the woman’s allegations in statements.
“We are aware of these allegations and are conducting a full investigation,” Heat said. Pending the outcome of the investigation, we will withhold any further comment.”
The NBA said it was working with the Heat to gather more information.
McGregor has been accused of sexual assault four previous times outside the United States, although he has faced no legal punishment and at least one case has been dropped.
TMZ first reported the latest allegations against McGregor.
A former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion, McGregor is the highest-grossing superstar in mixed martial arts history, having participated in several of the best-selling pay-per-view events of all time, including his 2017 boxing match with Floyd Mayweather. McGregor has been recovering from a broken leg since July 2021 and is a coach on the current season of The Ultimate Fighter, which was filmed in Las Vegas earlier this year.
ESPN’s Nick Friedel contributed to this report.
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