Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor has announced his retirement via Twitter. This is the second retirement announcement from McGregor in his combat sports career. McGregor’s decision has shocked the MMA community in the morning on Tuesday. Whether or not McGregor carries out his retirement this time around remains to be seen. McGregor wrote,
“Hey guys quick announcement, I’ve decided to retire from the sport formally known as ‘Mixed Martial Art’ today, I wish all my old colleagues well going forward in competition. I now join my former partners on this venture, already in retirement. Proper Pina Coladas on me fellas!”
The announcement came following the Irish superstar’s appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. The Champ confirmed he was in negotiations with the promotion for a bout this summer.
McGregor told Fallon,
“We’re in talks for July, so we’ll see what happens. A lot of politics going on. The fight game is a mad game but again, like I said, and to my fans, I am in shape and I am ready.”
Conor McGregor insisted that he is financially secure and doesn’t need to fight. He was lined for a matchup with Donald Cerrone at UFC 239 but hesitated being in the co-main event. McGregor said.
“In reality, I can pick who I please, I’ve done a lot, I’ve fought a lot. I’ve never pulled out of contests. I’ve gone through some crazy injuries, some crazy external situations that many a man would sprint for the hills if it happened to them but I stood firm, done my piece for the company. Like I said, this whiskey is my baby. I have a lot of great entities. I don’t necessarily need to fight, I am set for life, my family is set for life. We are good. But I am eager to fight. So, we will see what happens. I’m just staying ready, as I like to say.”
Many people think that McGregor’s announcement is simply a negotiating tactic. He tweeted a similar announcement in 2016 when he was pulled from UFC 200 for failing to attend a press conference. McGregor would go on to fight twice that year, taking a majority decision against Nate Diaz in a rematch at UFC 202. Moreover, he bested Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 to become a simultaneous two-division champion.
Soon after Conor McGregor’s tweet, UFC President Dana White issued a statement as well,
“He has the money to retire, and his whiskey is KILLIN’ it, it totally makes sense. If I was him, I would retire too. He’s retiring from fighting, not from working. The whiskey will keep him busy, and I’m sure he has other things he’s working on. He has been so fun to watch. He has accomplished incredible things in this sport. I am so happy for him, and I look forward to seeing him be as successful outside of the octagon as he was in it.”
