Irish mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor raped a woman in a Dublin hotel, according to the city’s High Court.

The alleged victim is seeking civil damages against McGregor and another man, alleging she was sexually assaulted in 2018.

But, the court heard on Tuesday, McGregor’s lawyers say the woman is trying to extort money.

The fighter, nicknamed “Notorious”, was in court to hear Judge Alexander Owens tell the jury that the woman is alleged to have been sexually assaulted by McGregor and James Lawrence on December 9.

The judge said it was alleged the couple “had in fact raped her”.

The court was told McGregor picked up the woman and her friend after a Christmas party on December 8.

John Gordon SC, for the alleged victim, said the pair knew each other because they were in the same age group, were from the same area, had friends in common and had been in contact at various times through social media.

At the time he was living in a Dublin suburb with his partner and son. She had been out with friends the night of the alleged incident.

That night he had been drinking and had used cocaine. The court also heard he suffered from depression and had been taking antidepressants.

The court was told that later that night the woman and two of her friends returned to her workplace where they continued to party and at some point she contacted Mr McGregor.

McGregor picked her and her friend up in his car and the alleged victim understood they were being taken to another party.

He sat in the back seat with the two women, while their driver drove them through housing estates and honked the horn.

They later went to Mr. Lawrence’s house, who joined them in the car.

The court was told Mr McGregor had a bag of cocaine, which was shared between Mr McGregor, the complainant and her friend.

The group, which included the complainant, Mr McGregor, as well as his security team and others, then headed to a penthouse suite at the Beacon Hotel in Dublin.

The court was told they were all drinking and laughing. At one point, McGregor entered a bedroom and motioned for the complainant to join him.

The court was told Mr McGregor “made a pass at her” but she did not want to have sex with him because she was on her period.

Gordon told the court she alleged McGregor pinned her to the bed and that she was no physical match for him.

“She will tell you that she was nervous, that she tried to shake him off but was completely unable to do so,” he added.

“You will see photos of her hands and wrists that are black and blue. You will see that her left breast has a bloody scratch. The scratch is there because she was wearing a watch and had her hands up to protect herself. They pressed her and the watch marked the chest.

“Mr McGregor then turns her around, closes her arm and lifts her by the neck. She can’t breathe. And he does it again.

“The third time he does it, she gives up. She can’t take it anymore. In the course of this, he says, ‘Now you know what it was like to be in the octagon when I fell three times.'”

“At that point she was completely terrified. She submitted to what was about to happen, which was a violent and cruel assault.”

It is later alleged that she had sexual relations with Mr Lawrence, but Mr Gordon said he has no recollection of such an event taking place.

The complainant subsequently returned home and visited her mother, who called 999. She was taken to hospital in an ambulance. The court was told she was shaking and in pain as she was taken to hospital.

Gordon said: “To this, Mr McGregor will tell you that it was a consensual encounter, that they were just having fun and a bit of rough sex. That is his answer.

“What did I say about common sense? Don’t be fooled and leave him behind in this (courtroom) room.

“What she’s saying is that she gave him license to carry out what must have been a brutal assault on her body.”

The defense stated in the evidence booklet that the plaintiff had several opportunities to complain to people about how she was treated, but she did not do so.

He will also allege that the alleged victim is involved in an extortion attempt, the court heard.

Gordon said his client is being called a “gold digger and fraud,” adding, “Brave. But where is the bravery in this? The bravery, ultimately, lies with my client.”

“Because she pursued her mission of vindication and compensation to which she is entitled. And for these defendants to dispose of their claim in a careless and brazen manner is something they will consider in due time.”

Earlier, the jury was sworn in at the High Court and told that they are judges of fact as to what happened and that they will have to draw a conclusion that will be based on their decision.

The action is expected to last about two weeks.