In November a jury at the High Court in Dublin found McGregor liable for assaulting Nikita Hand, who says he “brutally raped and battered” her in a hotel penthouse in 2018.

He was ordered to pay Hand almost €250,000 ($400,000), as well as about €1.3 million ($2.3 million) in legal costs.

Hand, 35, successfully sued McGregor in civil court after prosecutors declined to bring charges, saying there was insufficient evidence and a conviction was unlikely.

The Associated Press generally does not name alleged victims of sexual violence unless they come forward publicly, as Hand has done.

McGregor alleged that Hand fabricated the allegations after the two had consensual sex.

He launched an appeal, but at a hearing earlier this month his lawyer unexpectedly withdrew a request to introduce new evidence.

Three appeals court judges in Dublin on Thursday dismissed the appeal “in its entirety.”

Hand was in court for the ruling, but McGregor was not.

McGregor also faces a lawsuit in Florida for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in the bathroom of the Kaseya Centre, home arena of the Miami Heat, during a 2023 NBA finals game with the Denver Nuggets.

Readers seeking support can contact 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or the National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service on 1800 211 028.

In an emergency, dial Triple Zero (000).