Former two division UFC champion Conor McGregor stunned the MMA world last night by announcing his retirement from professional MMA competition.
However, less than twenty four hours later, it has been revealed that a now retired McGregor is reportedly being investigated by the Gardai in Ireland after a sexual assault accusation was levied against him.
The New York Times reported the news, citing four unnamed people who are familiar with the ongoing investigation. McGregor has not been charged with any crime at this time, but was arrested this past January and questioned by law enforcement before getting released by the authorities pending further investigation.
An unnamed woman who made the accusation against the retired fighter said the incident happened at the Beacon Hotel in Dublin, Ireland this past December. The New York Times reports that McGregor has been to the hotel multiple times in the past, mainly booking the lone penthouse room in the establishment. The last visit to the hotel was in December of 2018, which is around the time the unnamed woman claimed the assault happened.
A spokesperson for the Gardai, which is the Irish term for the police force, has not named McGregor as a suspect, just stating that an "unnamed sportsman" has not been charged and the investigation continues.
There has been no comment at this time from McGregor or the UFC at this time.
McGregor last competed at UFC 229, suffering a fourth round submission loss to UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. McGregor was recently arrested in Florida for allegedly destroying a cell phone and is due back in court on April 10 for arraignment. McGregor is also in the midst of serving a suspension for his involvement in the UFC 229 post-fight brawl, but that comes to an end early next month.
Ariel Helwani of ESPN would post the following on Twitter, which is a statement from a spokesperson for McGregor: