Conor McGregor’s hometown of Dublin draws global attention for its “never sleeps” energy and vibrant nightlife. However, this month, a violent assault pushed the Irish capital into the spotlight for the wrong reasons and shocked The Fair City. Authorities charged an Argentinian MMA fighter in connection with an alleged assault that took place on February 16 on Cope Street in Dublin.

The attack left the victim critically injured. Some individuals allegedly described the victim as a “drug dealer.” As a result, the court took a strict stance due to the severity of the injuries.

Fresh shock in Conor McGregor’s hometown after immigrant arrest

Police identified the fighter as 28-year-old Argentinian Leonel Ricci (1-0-0). Authorities also charged 36-year-old chef Dominic Smith as a co-accused. On Monday, both men appeared before a judge at Dublin District Court. The judge denied bail and remanded them in custody, citing the seriousness of the victim’s condition. At the same time, doctors admitted the victim to Beaumont Hospital with multiple injuries.

The attackers allegedly punched and kicked him repeatedly in the face. Authorities claim Ricci used his MMA training, including striking, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and wrestling, during the assault. The men also allegedly slammed an e-scooter onto the victim’s head, causing facial fractures, a broken arm, and a significant head wound.

At first, investigators struggled to identify the suspects, but they later spotted distinctive tattoos that helped them track the pair down after images circulated on social media. At the time of the arrest, both men reportedly had no fixed address and were staying at a hostel in Dublin 7.

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Using CCTV footage, officers traced their movements across several streets. In court, defense lawyers argued that the accused believed the victim was a drug dealer who sold drugs to girls. Witnesses reportedly heard Leonel Ricci shout “no more drugs” during the attack. Notably, Ricci had moved to Ireland last November to train in MMA and described joining the Garda police force as his “life-long ambition.”

Despite those arguments, the court still took a firm stance and left Leonel Ricci facing an uncertain future. As a result, the incident has once again reignited debate around immigration, a topic Conor McGregor frequently addresses in public. Over the past year, McGregor has openly linked rising crime rates in Ireland to immigration policies and repeatedly voiced his concerns.

McGregor had spoken out about immigration issues

“Ireland we at war,” wrote Conor McGregor on X, igniting widespread debate across social media after Slovakian migrant Jozef Puska killed a 23-year-old Irish woman. However, the controversy did not end there. Just three days later, another violent incident shocked the country when a stabbing injured three children and two adults. Authorities later identified the suspect as an Algerian-born migrant. As a result, these back-to-back incidents sparked riots in several parts of the country, with citizens openly raising concerns about immigration and public safety.

During that same period, Conor McGregor further intensified his criticism of the Irish government. In fact, last year he took his stance beyond social media and directly targeted the government during an appearance at the White House.

“What is going on in Ireland is a travesty,” Conor McGregor said. “Our government is the government of zero action with zero accountability.” Moreover, the UFC superstar warned that “Ireland is at the cusp of potentially losing its Irishness” due to the “illegal immigration racket.”

As his clashes with the government continued, Conor McGregor openly hinted at running in the presidential elections. Naturally, the statement quickly grabbed attention across the country. However, he later dropped the political talk and refocused on his MMA career.

So, what do you think about Conor McGregor’s stance on the immigration issue? Drop your opinion below.