UFC martial artist, Conor McGregor, has announced he has given his life to Christ.
The lightweight champion is due to return to the sport, after an eighteen-month suspension for failing to show up to multiple drug tests.
He now says he's been “on a spiritual journey,” and is ready to embrace the game with a new approach.
“I am not here by chance, there is a higher power - God - that dictates my journey and all of our journeys,” McGregor told press at a pre-fight conference. “I live my life by God’s word... I’ve engaged on a spiritual journey, and I’m saved, I am healed.”
McGregor’s recent years have not been without controversy. In July, he was denied a civil appeal against a claim of sexual assault. Judges ordered him to pay £206,000 plus legal costs to Nikita Hand, who accused McGregor of raping her in a Dublin hotel room in 2018.
Ms Hand said the appeal process had “retraumatised” her.
“Being forced to relive it, what happened, has had a huge impact on me," she said. "To every survivor out there, I know how hard it is, but please, don't be silenced.
McGregor now claims he has turned his life around after reflecting “inward”.
Founder of the Bare-Knuckle Fighting Championship, Dave Feldman, said McGregor has made “the kind of changes he had to make”.
"A lot of people in the world need to make changes in their life and they don’t because they don't have the guts to…they don't have the fortitude to,” said Feldman. “I want to take this time to take my hat off and commend Conor.... It's not easy.”
In January, McGregor attended a pre-inauguration ball held by conservative Christian organisation Turning Point USA.