UFC star Conor McGregor is under investigation in his native Ireland for sexual assault, according to a report on Tuesday.

The Dublin-born pro brawler is accused of assaulting a woman in December and was arrested the following month, four people familiar with the probe told the New York Times. The news comes just hours after an early morning tweet in which the fighter announced his retirement.

He has not been charged with a crime — though under standard protocol in Ireland and much of Europe, a formal charge does not necessarily follow an arrest.

McGregor, who welcomed his second child in January with longtime girlfriend Dee Devlin, was released after questioning.

The alleged victim told investigators that the incident occurred at the Beacon Hotel on the edge of Dublin.

McGregor, who has made millions in the octagon as one of the MMA’s most recognizable faces and boxed Floyd Mayweather in August 2017, has been spotted at the Beacon before and usually books its only penthouse room, a source told the Times.

His last and most recent known visit there was in December — the night before police say the alleged incident took place.

Police have recovered evidence from the room McGregor stayed in as well as security camera footage.

The allegations had previously been reported by Irish media, but McGregor was not named because of strict laws banning reporters from identifying people charged with rape unless they are convicted.

News of the ongoing investigation comes just after the 30-year-old announced his retirement from mixed martial arts on Twitter — for the second time.

“Hey guys quick announcement, I’ve decided to retire from the sport formally known as ‘Mixed Martial Art’ today,” he tweeted.

“I wish all my old colleagues well going forward in competition. I now join my former partners on this venture, already in retirement.”

He added, referring to his whiskey brand Proper No. 12, “Proper Pina Coladas on me fellas!”

McGregor first posted about retiring “young” back in 2016 — leaving critics dubious about his most recent announcement.

see also Why Conor McGregor's UFC retirement is a little suspicious Conor McGregor tweeted early Tuesday morning that he is retiring...

He had been serving a six-month suspension but expected to return to the octagon in July, he said in a pre-taped interview on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”

But he also hinted that fighting may no longer be in the cards.

“I am set for life, my family is set for life … we are good. But I am eager to fight, we will see what happens, I’m just staying ready,” he said.

McGregor is worth an estimated $99 million, according to Forbes, despite not appearing in a UFC fight since 2016.

He recently wrapped up community service at two churches in Brooklyn for chucking a hand truck at a bus full of rival fighters at the Barclays Center nearly a year ago.

But his legal woes in the US are far from over. He’s facing a civil suit in Florida for allegedly smashing a tourist’s phone when he caught him trying to snap a picture.

“This story has been circulating for some time and it is unclear why it is being reported now. The assumption that the Conor retirement announcement today is related to this rumor is absolutely false,” said McGregor’s spokeswoman Karen J. Kessler.

“Should Conor fight in the future it must be in an environment where fighters are respected for their value, their skill, their hard work and their dedication to the sport.”</s>NEW YORK (AFP) – Mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor is under investigation in his native Ireland on an accusation of sexual assault, the New York Times reported Tuesday.



The report, in which the Times cited four unnamed sources, came a day after the trash-talking star of the Ultimate Fighting Championship wrote on Twitter that he had decided to retire from his career inside the octagon.

‘’Hey guys quick announcement, I’ve decided to retire from the sport formally known as ‘Mixed Martial Art’ today,’’ McGregor wrote. ‘’I wish all my old colleagues well going forward in competition.’’

The New York Times noted that McGregor has not been charged with a crime and the fact that an investigation is continuing ‘’does not imply that McGregor is guilty of a crime.’’</s>Mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor said on Monday he had retired from the sport, vowing to hang up his gloves for the second time in three years.

The trash-talking Irish star of the Ultimate Fighting Championship wrote on Twitter that he had decided to call time on his career inside the octagon.

“Hey guys quick announcement, I’ve decided to retire from the sport formally known as ‘Mixed Martial Art’ today,” McGregor wrote. “I wish all my old colleagues well going forward in competition.

“I now join my former partners on this venture, already in retirement. Proper Pina Coladas on me fellas!”

McGregor, 30, has not fought since being well beaten by rival Khabib Nurmagomedov in October last year.

The Dubliner, one of the most bankable stars in UFC, had previously vowed to retire in 2016 in a move that was widely seen as a negotiating gambit.

“I have decided to retire young. Thanks for the cheese,” McGregor wrote in April 2016. His short-lived retirement ended in August 2016, when he returned to fight Nate Diaz in Las Vegas.

McGregor’s decision comes after a troubled few weeks for the Irish fighter.

He was arrested in Miami earlier this month after allegedly smashing a phone outside a Florida nightclub.

He was later charged with criminal mischief and strong-armed robbery after police said he had slapped the phone out of a fan’s hand and then stomped on it.

McGregor was also arrested last year in New York after police said he attacked a charter bus carrying several rival martial arts fighters. Video footage of the altercation showed McGregor, throwing a steel dolly through a window of the bus.

McGregor was also at the centre of a brawl which erupted at ringside in the immediate aftermath of his defeat to Nurmagomedov last October in Las Vegas.

In January, the Nevada State Athletic Commission later handed McGregor a six-month suspension for his role in the post-fight melee, backdated to October.

McGregor would have been eligible to fight again in early April.

McGregor is one of the most successful fighters in the history of mixed martial arts, helping to broaden the sport’s appeal beyond its base of hardcore fans.

The Irishman is estimated to have earned $200 million from his fighting career, which included a much-hyped cross-combat bout against former welterweight boxing champion Floyd Mayweather in August 2017.</s>Mixed martial star Conor McGregor said on March 25, 2019 he had retired from the sport, vowing to hang up his gloves for the second time in three years.

Mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor is under investigation in his native Ireland on an accusation of sexual assault, the New York Times reported Tuesday.

The report, in which the Times cited four unnamed sources, came a day after the trash-talking star of the Ultimate Fighting Championship wrote on Twitter that he had decided to retire from his career inside the octagon.

"Hey guys quick announcement, I've decided to retire from the sport formally known as 'Mixed Martial Art' today," McGregor wrote. "I wish all my old colleagues well going forward in competition."

The New York Times noted that McGregor has not been charged with a crime and the fact that an investigation is continuing "does not imply that McGregor is guilty of a crime."

But the newspaper said he had been questioned by law enforcement authorities in January after a woman accused him of sexual assault in December.

A spokesman for Ireland's police service would not confirm to the newspaper that McGregor was a suspect in the alleged assault.

The woman making the accusation said it occurred at the Beacon Hotel, where McGregor has been an occasional guest, according to the Times.

McGregor and the UFC have not commented on the allegations. Karen J. Kessler, a publicist for McGregor based in New Jersey, issued a statement that said the Times report and McGregor's retirement were not related.

"This story has been circulating for some time and it is unclear why it is being reported now," the statement said in part. "The assumption that the Conor retirement announcement today is related to this rumour is absolutely false."

The Dubliner, one of the most bankable stars in UFC, had previously vowed to retire in 2016 in a move that was widely seen as a negotiating gambit.

The 30-year-old has not fought since being well beaten by rival Khabib Nurmagomedov in October of last year.

McGregor was later handed a six-month suspension for his role in a post-fight melee after the Nurmagomedov bout, a ban that would have left him eligible to fight again in early April.

He was arrested in Miami earlier this month after allegedly smashing a phone outside a Florida nightclub.

He was later charged with criminal mischief and strong-armed robbery after police said he had slapped the phone out of a fan's hand and then stomped on it.

McGregor was also arrested last year in New York after police said he attacked a charter bus carrying several rival martial arts fighters. Video footage of the altercation showed McGregor throwing a steel dolly through a window of the bus.</s>Conor McGregor 'is under investigation for sexually assaulting a woman at a Dublin hotel in December'
• Mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a Dublin hotel in December
• The Irish UFC star, who retired from the sport on Tuesday, has not been charged, but is being investigated by local police, according a New York Times report
• The woman making the claim said the incident occurred at Dublin's Beacon Hotel, where McGregor stays on occasion. He reportedly visited in December
• Irish media laws have prevented McGregor from being named in the news, but the incident has been reported locally without naming the alleged perpetrator

Mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a Dublin hotel in December.

The Irish UFC fighter, who retired from the sport earlier on Tuesday, has not been charged, but is being investigated by local police, according to the New York Times.

While the investigation is ongoing, that does not necessarily mean that McGregor is guilty of any crime.

'This story has been circulating for some time and it is unclear why it is being reported now,' McGregor spokeswoman's Karen Kessler said in a statement given to ESPN's Ariel Helwani.

'The assumption that the Conor retirement announcement is related to this rumor is absolutely false. Should Conor fight in the future it must be in an environment where fighters are respected for their value, their skill, their hard work and their dedication to the sport.'

The woman making the claim said the incident occurred at Dublin's Beacon Hotel, where McGregor reportedly stays on occasion.

He last visited in December, the New York Times reported.

Irish media laws have prevented McGregor from being named in news stories about the alleged sexual assault, but the incident has been reported locally without specifying him as the alleged perpetrator.

McGregor has been in a relationship with girlfriend Dee Devlin since 2008, and the couple has a son, Conor Jack McGregor Jr., who was born in 2017.

McGregor, who has retired from MMA twice in the last three years, has had several recent legal issues.

Last April he was accused of assault and criminal mischief after attacking a bus of rivals at Brooklyn's Barclays Center. He pleaded no contest to disorderly conduct and has since completed community service.

More recently, McGregor was arrested in Miami on March 11 for allegedly destroying the cellphone of someone trying to take his photo.

He has been charged with robbery and criminal mischief in Florida, and the case is still pending.

He last fought at UFC 229 in October, when he fell to Khabib Nurmagomedov and was subsequently suspended for nine months and fined $500,000 following a post-match brawl.

Nurmagomedov had been one of the passengers on the bus that McGregor attacked in Brooklyn.

'I wish all my old colleagues well going forward in competition,' McGregor wrote on Twitter Tuesday morning. 'I now join my former partners on this venture, already in retirement. Proper Pina Coladas on me fellas!' (Proper No. 12 his whiskey brand)

McGregor previously held the UFC lightweight belt but in October he was forced to relinquish it by UFC president Dana White because the fighter hadn't participated in a MMA event since 2016 - nearly a year before his doomed boxing debut against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in August of 2017.

While McGregor's one and only professional boxing match was a financial success, resulting in 4.3 million domestic pay-per-view purchases and reportedly earning him over $100 million, he was clearly outmatched by Mayweather, who earned a TKO victory and effortlessly improved his record to 50-0.

Previously McGregor was the first UFC fighter to hold titles in two weight classes simultaneously.</s>Mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor appeared to announce his retirement from the sport via Twitter Tuesday morning.

"Hey guys quick announcement, I’ve decided to retire from the sport formally known as “Mixed Martial Art” today," read the message from McGregor's verified Twitter account. "I wish all my old colleagues well going forward in competition. I now join my former partners on this venture, already in retirement. Proper Pina Coladas on me fellas!"</s>Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor has announced his retirement from the sport, posting the news on Twitter.

“Hey guys quick announcement, I’ve decided to retire from the sport formally known as ‘Mixed Martial Art’ today,” wrote McGregor, 30, on the social media platform Tuesday.

“I wish all my old colleagues well going forward in competition. I now join my former partners on this venture, already in retirement. Proper Pina Coladas on me fellas!”

The controversial Irish fighter, whose nickname is “The Notorious,” is currently ranked 8th on the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) pound-for-pound list. He leaves the sport with a 21-4-0 record, and UFC belts in two divisions.

McGregor’s announcement comes just hours after an interview aired on “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon in which the fighter claimed he was in negotiations for an upcoming fight.

McGregor, told Fallon, “My next fight, we’re in talks for July. We’ll see what happens. A lot of politics going on. The fight game is a mad game but as I said again, to my fans I am in shape and I am ready.”

UFC supremo Dana White sent a text message to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto saying McGregor’s had achieved “incredible things” in UFC.

“He has the money to retire and his whiskey is killin’ it,” said White, referring to McGregor’s new business venture after the fighter linked upwith Eire Born Spirits to launch a whiskey brand, Proper No. Twelve.

It totally makes sense,’ added White. “If I was him I would retire too. He’s retiring from fighting. Not from working. The Whiskey will keep him busy and I’m sure he has other things he’s working on.

“He has been so fun to watch!!! He has accomplished incredible things in this sport. I am so happy for him and I look forward to seeing him be as successful outside of the octagon as he was in it.”

Second time’s a charm?

 This isn’t the first time McGregor has tweeted his retirement. In 2016, he tweeted “I have decided to retire young. Thanks for the cheese. Catch ya’s later.”

MMA fan’s treated Tuesday’s early morning announcement with a dash of skepticism, given McGregor’s previous claims.

CNN has reached out to McGregor and the UFC for comment on the announcement.

Turbulent year

 Earlier this month McGregor — whose mother famously described as being “born with his fists clenched” — was arrested on charges of felony strong-armed robbery and criminal mischief following an altercation with a photo-seeking fan.

The fan and McGregor were leaving the Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel, when the fan tried to take a picture with the fighter with a cell phone, according to a police report. McGregor then slapped the phone out of the fan’s hand and stomped on the phone several times.

Last April, McGregor was charged with assault, attempted assault and criminal mischief after he and others allegedly attacked a bus carrying UFC fighters at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The incident left at least two athletes injured and unable to fight at the UFC 223 event two nights later.

McGregor’s last fight ended with a fourth round loss to Russian fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov, a bout that was marred by ugly scenes following his defeat.

Both fighters received bans after a post-fight brawl erupted — the Irishman was handed a six-month suspension and fined $50,000, while his opponent was banned for nine months and fined $500,000 by the Nevada Athletic Commission.

Storied career

 The Dubliner, a former trainee plumber, is widely considered one of the greatest fighters to grace the UFC.

He also transcended disciplines, trading the MMA octagon for the boxing ring, taking on the legendary fighter Floyd Mayweather. He lost that bout, but gave the boxer a run for his money that few had expected.

The UFC star was beaten in the 10th round, going further than many had expected against a fighter who notched up his 50th victory to take his record to 50-0.

“I’m always thinking about fighting,” McGregor told CNN last August before the multi-million dollar bout.

“It’s just in me. I cannot stop thinking about it. Certain sequences, certain movements, certain ways to prepare. It’s a 24/7 mindset. That mindset has got me to where I am today.”

McGregor attributes much of his success to his background and upbringing, but also to the fierce bond he feels with his family name.

“The McGregor name is historic when it comes to combat,” he says proudly. “Way back, study my family’s name, study my family’s heritage. We were a feared clan.

“At one stage, it was punishable by death to have the surname McGregor. It’s in my blood to fight — and that’s it. It’s what my ancestors have been doing long before me,” he added.

“The Notorious” suffered the indignity of being stripped of his featherweight and lightweight belts — ending his reign as the only fighter to simultaneously hold two UFC titles — due to his decision to focus on the Mayweather boxing match.

Could McGregor join Ronda Rousey in WWE?

 Hot on the back of his retirement from UFC, the Twitter rumor mill immediately started speculating of a possible switch to join former UFC women’s champion Ronda Rousey in WWE.

The talk was fueled by a cheeky comment from wrestler and fellow Irishman Finn Balor, who posted “See you at Wrestlemania” in reference to the upcoming WWE flagship event on April 7.

Balor, who often posts cryptic comments in jest on social media, is in action against former mixed martial artist Bobby Lashley at Wrestlemania, which would give McGregor the perfect introduction to the company — even if it was as a one-off special guest.

The wrestling giants have a history of poaching top talent from MMA, as they’ve successfully done with Rousey, Lashley and reigning Universal champion Brock Lesnar — who would also represent a tantalizing opponent for McGregor to launch a surprise attack on.

Boxer Mike Tyson played a starring guest role at Wrestlemania 14 back in 1998, so it’s not inconceivable that McGregor could be lined up for a similar high-impact cameo should the offer be right.</s>NEW YORK — Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor has announced his retirement from the sport, posting the news on Twitter.

“Hey guys quick announcement, I’ve decided to retire from the sport formally known as ‘Mixed Martial Art’ today,” wrote McGregor, 30, on the social media platform Tuesday.

“I wish all my old colleagues well going forward in competition. I now join my former partners on this venture, already in retirement. Proper Pina Coladas on me fellas!”

The controversial Irish fighter, whose nickname is “The Notorious,” is currently ranked 8th on the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) pound-for-pound list. He leaves the sport with a 21-4-0 record, and UFC belts in two divisions.

McGregor’s announcement comes just hours after an interview aired on “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon in which the fighter claimed he was in negotiations for an upcoming fight.

McGregor, told Fallon, “My next fight, we’re in talks for July. We’ll see what happens. A lot of politics going on. The fight game is a mad game but as I said again, to my fans I am in shape and I am ready.”

UFC supremo Dana White sent a text message to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto saying McGregor’s had achieved “incredible things” in UFC.

“He has the money to retire and his whiskey is killin’ it,” said White, referring to McGregor’s new business venture after the fighter linked upwith Eire Born Spirits to launch a whiskey brand, Proper No. Twelve.

It totally makes sense,’ added White. “If I was him I would retire too. He’s retiring from fighting. Not from working. The Whiskey will keep him busy and I’m sure he has other things he’s working on.

“He has been so fun to watch!!! He has accomplished incredible things in this sport. I am so happy for him and I look forward to seeing him be as successful outside of the octagon as he was in it.”

This isn’t the first time McGregor has tweeted his retirement. In 2016, he tweeted “I have decided to retire young. Thanks for the cheese. Catch ya’s later.”

MMA fan’s treated Tuesday’s early morning announcement with a dash of skepticism, given McGregor’s previous claims.

CNN has reached out to McGregor and the UFC for comment on the announcement.

Earlier this month McGregor — whose mother famously described as being “born with his fists clenched” — was arrested on charges of felony strong-armed robbery and criminal mischief following an altercation with a photo-seeking fan.

The fan and McGregor were leaving the Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel, when the fan tried to take a picture with the fighter with a cell phone, according to a police report. McGregor then slapped the phone out of the fan’s hand and stomped on the phone several times.

Last April, McGregor was charged with assault, attempted assault and criminal mischief after he and others allegedly attacked a bus carrying UFC fighters at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The incident left at least two athletes injured and unable to fight at the UFC 223 event two nights later.

McGregor’s last fight ended with a fourth round loss to Russian fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov, a bout that was marred by ugly scenes following his defeat.

Both fighters received bans after a post-fight brawl erupted — the Irishman was handed a six-month suspension and fined $50,000, while his opponent was banned for nine months and fined $500,000 by the Nevada Athletic Commission.

The Dubliner, a former trainee plumber, is widely considered one of the greatest fighters to grace the UFC.

He also transcended disciplines, trading the MMA octagon for the boxing ring, taking on the legendary fighter Floyd Mayweather. He lost that bout, but gave the boxer a run for his money that few had expected.

The UFC star was beaten in the 10th round, going further than many had expected against a fighter who notched up his 50th victory to take his record to 50-0.

“I’m always thinking about fighting,” McGregor told CNN last August before the multi-million dollar bout.

“It’s just in me. I cannot stop thinking about it. Certain sequences, certain movements, certain ways to prepare. It’s a 24/7 mindset. That mindset has got me to where I am today.”

McGregor attributes much of his success to his background and upbringing, but also to the fierce bond he feels with his family name.

“The McGregor name is historic when it comes to combat,” he says proudly. “Way back, study my family’s name, study my family’s heritage. We were a feared clan.

“At one stage, it was punishable by death to have the surname McGregor. It’s in my blood to fight — and that’s it. It’s what my ancestors have been doing long before me,” he added.

“The Notorious” suffered the indignity of being stripped of his featherweight and lightweight belts — ending his reign as the only fighter to simultaneously hold two UFC titles — due to his decision to focus on the Mayweather boxing match.</s>Mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor appeared to announce his retirement from the sport via Twitter Tuesday morning.

"Hey guys quick announcement, I’ve decided to retire from the sport formally known as “Mixed Martial Art” today," read the message from McGregor's verified Twitter account. "I wish all my old colleagues well going forward in competition. I now join my former partners on this venture, already in retirement. Proper Pina Coladas on me fellas!"

McGregor had a 21-4 record in MMA fights, according to ESPN.com, including 18 by knockout or TKO. All four of his losses were by submission, including his defeat on October 6, 2018, that cost him the UFC Lightweight Championship.

Most of the initial reactions on Twitter were of disbelief, with some implying that McGregor was making it up.</s>Mixed martial arts superstar Conor McGregor is being investigated by Irish police over a claim of sexual assault, the New York Times reported on Tuesday.

Early Tuesday morning, McGregor announced on Twitter that he was retiring from the Ultimate Fighting Championship, which has made him one of the world's highest-paid athletes. Forbes estimates he earned $99 million last year.

"I wish all my old colleagues well going forward in competition," he tweeted. "I now join my former partners on this venture, already in retirement. Proper Pina Coladas on me fellas!"

McGregor hasn't been charged with a crime. In January, he was arrested, questioned about the claim and released, the Times said. An investigation is continuing. (In Ireland and much of Europe, a formal criminal charge does not necessarily follow an arrest.)

The woman making the assault allegation said it happened at the Beacon Hotel, which sits on the outskirts of Dublin. McGregor has been a repeated guest at the hotel, usually booking its penthouse room, the Times reported. He last visited in December.

Ireland's police service would not confirm that McGregor was a suspect, the Times said.

On Tuesday afternoon, McGregor’s spokesperson, Karen Kessler, issued a statement denying that McGregor's retirement was related to the Times report. “This story has been circulating for some time and it is unclear why it is being reported now," she said. "The assumption that the Conor retirement announcement today is related to this rumor is absolutely false. Should Conor fight in the future it must be in an environment where fighters are respected for their value, their skill, their hard work and their dedication to the sport."

Irish news media have been reporting on the case since late last year, without naming McGregor. Ireland's laws don't allow rape suspects to be publicly named unless they have been convicted.

Volatile and colorful, McGregor is one of the faces most closely associated with mixed martial arts, even though he has fought only once since 2016. He lost that October 2018 match to Khabib Nurmagomedov.

In recent years, McGregor has repeatedly attracted headlines for violent incidents outside the ring. Last July, McGregor pleaded guilty to a disorderly conduct charge after he threw a hand truck at a bus window outside Barclays Center after a UFC promo event; two fighters suffered facial injuries from broken glass. In January, the Nevada Athletic Commission suspended him from fighting for six months and fined him $50,000 after a fight broke out following his match with Nurmagomedov. He has an Apr. 10 court date in Miami on charges of strong-armed robbery and criminal mischief; he allegedly smashed a man's cellphone at a nightclub earlier this month.
Mixed martial artist Conor McGregor announces his retirement from the sport on Twitter. The New York Times reports that McGregor was arrested in January for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in Ireland. According to the New York Times, he was released and is under investigation by authorities.