Major blow for Conor McGregor as shamed fighter shares new statement

UFC star Conor McGregor’s own people have dropped a bomb on him with the former champ dealt his biggest blow yet.

Conor McGregor and Ebanie Bridges promote Proper Twelve.Photo: Twitter, Instagram ebanie_bridges.

Conor McGregor has been wiped from history by his own company in the biggest hit yet to the former world champion.

The disgraced fighter’s world is crumbling around him with companies and other organisations abandoning the sinking ship that is the 36-year-old’s empire.

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A civil court’s verdict has changed everything.

Ms Nikita Hand accused McGregor of “brutally raping and battering” her after a Christmas night out in 2018.

The total amount of damages awarded to Ms Hand by the jury was 248,603.60 euro ($398,380.86 AUD).

The UFC star has previously said he is preparing to appeal the civil court jury’s verdict that he assaulted the woman in a Dublin hotel room.

On Tuesday “The Notorious” released another statement that showed he plans to move on from the case and return to the “fight game” where he has not fought since 2021.

“People want to hear from me, I needed time,” he posted on Twitter.

“I know I made mistakes. Six years ago, I should have never responded to her outreaches. I should have shut the party down. I should never have stepped out on the woman I love the most in the world. That’s all on me.

It is a tough image to look at. Picture: PA/Alamy

“As much as I regret it, everything that happened that night was consensual and all the witnesses present swore to that under oath. I have instructed my legal team to appeal the decision.

“I can’t go back and I will move forward. I am beyond grateful to my family, friends and supporters all over the world who have stayed by my side.

“That’s it. No more. Getting back to the gym- the fight game awaits.”

Not everyone is moving forward with him.

Whisky label Proper Twelve on Wednesday morning made a move to no longer use his “name and likeness” to market the drink.

The whisky company was the most lucrative and prominent of McGregor’s business interests having been one of the founders of the company in 2018.

His stake in the company was worth a staggering $130 million when the company was sold to alcohol giant Proximo for $600 million in 2021.

Having been the biggest star the UFC has ever known, McGregor was kept on as the promotional face and frontman for the beverage as it continued to expand into markets around the globe.

Conor McGregor and Ebanie Bridges promote Proper Twelve.Photo: Twitter, Instagram ebanie_bridges.

That has all come to a crashing end with Tuesday’s news.

“Since 2021, Proximo Spirits has been the 100pc owner of Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey,” the company said in a statement.

“Going forward, we do not plan to use Mr. McGregor’s name and likeness in the marketing of the brand.”

The Rape Crisis Network Ireland was among the groups urging retailers to stop selling McGregor’s stout and whiskey after the civil case, The Sun reports.

McGregor has also continued to be the face of the Forged Irish Stout, which he has promoted with Australian former world champion Ebanie Bridges.

Bridges was also an official ambassador for Proper Twelve and has been pictured with McGregor holding the products in viral photos.

The brands are suddenly on the nose.

The Musgrave Group, which operates supermarkets including Centra and SuperValu, have pulled both the beer and whisky products from their shelves.

Irish mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor arrives at Brooklyn Criminal Court. Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP.

A Musgrave spokesperson told the Irish Sun: “Musgrave can confirm these products are no longer available to our store network.”

Musgrave, a family owned company, boasts a network of over 1,250 shops.

The BWG Foods group, which includes Spar, Eurospar, Londis and XL stores, has also pulled the products.

Supermarket giant Tesco has also removed all alcoholic drinks associated with McGregor.

A spokesperson said: “We can confirm that we are removing Proper No Twelve Whiskey from sale in Tesco stores and online”.

McGregor has been dropped by video game developer IO Interactive.

The tech firm behind the Hitman video game series says it has ended its relationship with McGregor.

A statement from Hitman’s official X account read: “In light of the recent court ruling regarding Conor McGregor, IO Interactive has made the decision to cease its collaboration with the athlete, effective immediately.

“We take this matter very seriously and cannot ignore its implications.

“Consequently, we will begin removing all content featuring Mr. McGregor from our storefronts starting today.”

McGregor last year said his total earnings as an athlete totalled “about $650 million”.

Originally published as Major blow for Conor McGregor as shamed fighter shares new statement