Conor McGregor business partner explains standing by him after losing assault case
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Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship president Dave Feldman has revealed his decision to stand by Conor McGregor after the Irishman was found liable of assaulting a woman who accused him of rape in a Dublin hotel in 2018. The 36-year-old faced an accusation in the civil action that he “brutally raped and battered” Nikita Hand in December 2018. McGregor told the court he had consensual sex with Ms Hand in a penthouse at the Beacon Hotel.
Ms Hand won her claim against him for damages in a High Court civil case. A jury of eight women and four men spent six hours and 10 minutes deliberating before returning its verdict after days of listening to evidence and closing speeches. The former two-division champion was eventually ordered to pay Nikita Hand £200,000.
McGregor stated he is keen to move forward with his life and return to the UFC, but intends to appeal against the decision. Last year, 'The Notorious' became a co-owner of BKFC - with the promotion's president opening up on the Irishman's recent troubles outside of the Octagon.
Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Feldman said: “Whatever may have happened, and whatever the accusation was, I’m not getting involved with that. What I’m getting involved in is: a guy that was with us – our partner, our friend – was kicked when he was down, and we’re not gonna kick him when he’s down. We’re gonna help lift him back up, and that’s what we’re trying to do.
“I believe that if you’re with somebody, you’re with them 100 times. My dad has a saying, ‘You can’t be 99 per cent loyal; you’re either 100 per cent or get out of here.’ You can’t be with someone 99 times, and the 100th time – when it goes wrong – you turn your back on them. You’re with them all the time. So if we’re with him, we’re taking a ride with him, and we’re going all the way with him.
