Conor McGregor, the UFC’s biggest star, is turning a scandal into a political weapon. On July 14, 2025, his 37th birthday, rapper Azealia Banks accused him of sending nude photos, but McGregor used the attention to push his Ireland presidential campaign with a bold anti-corruption message.
McGregor retweeted a post saying:
“This is why the big news is Conor’s giant c—k rather than the facts he is spraying,” highlighting his accusations of financial misconduct by Irish politicians.
He also posted on X, “Don’t let them distract you with my G C while they rob our country blind!”
Don’t let them distract you with my G C while they rob our country blind! https://t.co/4F7B0g20w4
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 15, 2025
Hung like a Ballydoyle Horse is our Conor 🍆
Slainte Mhath 💙 🏴 🇮🇪— Al Beveridge (@albev75) July 15, 2025
McGregor’s Fighting Career and Scandals
McGregor holds a 22-6 UFC record, winning featherweight and lightweight titles, per UFC Stats. His last fight was a loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021, where he broke his leg. A planned 2023 bout with Michael Chandler was canceled due to injuries. He’s hinted at a 2026 White House UFC event, saying at a BKFC press conference, “I’m in the testing pool. I’m getting ready to make my comeback,”.
His off-cage issues are numerous. In April 2018, he was arrested in Brooklyn for throwing a dolly at a UFC bus, facing misdemeanor charges.. In March 2019, he was charged with robbery and criminal mischief in Miami for smashing a fan’s phone, later settled. That year, he resolved a Dublin pub assault case privately. In June 2023, a woman accused him of sexual assault at an NBA Finals game in Miami, but Florida prosecutors found insufficient evidence. In November 2024, an Irish jury found him liable for a 2018 rape, awarding Nikita Hand 248,603 euros. McGregor, denying the claim, is appealing.
On July 13, 2025, photos showed McGregor kissing a woman on a Fort Lauderdale beach, despite his engagement to Dee Devlin. On July 14, Banks posted alleged nude photos from McGregor, including one captioned “Lifting weights,” and a threat: “Don’t be a rat cos all rats get caught,”. Banks claimed mutual exchanges since 2016, writing, “I have never met the leprechaun but today is his birthday.”
Political Ambitions Amid Controversy
McGregor announced his presidential run in March 2025, focusing on anti-immigration and anti-corruption. He criticized Ireland’s EU Migration Pact, saying on Instagram, “Ireland must fully implement the EU Migration Pact by June 12, 2026. Who else will stand up to Government and oppose this bill? I will!” Irish politicians, including 134 parliament members, rejected his bid, with one calling him a “misogynist and a thug,”. Experts give him little chance, citing the need for 20 Oireachtas members or four local councils to nominate him.
Devlin ignored the scandals, posting a birthday tribute on Instagram. Banks’ allegations, unaddressed by McGregor’s team, have sparked reactions from fighters like Chael Sonnen. McGregor’s campaign, unlikely to succeed due to Ireland’s ceremonial presidency and his controversies, keeps him relevant. His return to the UFC drug testing pool suggests a possible comeback, but for now, he’s fighting in the political arena.
