MMA star found liable of rape will have an uphill fight to stand in the Irish election on his anti-immigration ticket this November.

Conor McGregor will run for the Irish presidency in elections later this year, the controversial former fighter said on Thursday, as he announced his candidacy for the largely ceremonial role on an anti-immigration stance.

Conor McGregor has hit back at a report claiming the government will stop his presidential election bid. The MMA fighter, who has not fought in almost four years, has claimed that he will run for Áras an Uachtaráin in this year's election,