Former two-weight champion Conor McGregor has announced his retirement from MMA for a second time.
Many are already speculating that this is purely a negotiating tactic from the Irishman and that we will see McGregor back inside the cage.
McGregor has made good and bad headlines throughout his UFC journey, from becoming a two-weight world champion to the storming of a bus to try and get to Khabib Nurmagomedov. Few can deny his impact on the sport of MMA.
McGregor stated, “Hey guys, quick announcement. I have 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.”
It seems UFC president Dana White believes McGregor’s retirement announcement is for real.
Dana White told ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, “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.”
White added in a statement to MMA Junkie that he didn’t think the move was a negotiating tactic.
“We really have never had a bad conversation since Conor has been in the UFC,” White said.
“You know how I feel about retirement: If you are saying it… you should probably do it. I have never been upset about anyone retiring. When a fighter feels he or she should retire then I agree they should.”
Strangely, McGregor’s announcement comes the day after he appeared on the Jimmy Fallon show on U.S TV and said he aimed to be back fighting in the summer.
“We’re in talks for July. There’s a lot of politics going on, it’s a mad game, the fight game,” he said. “To my fans, I am in shape and I am ready.
“There are many opponents, in reality, I can pick who I please. 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. We will see what happens, but I am just staying ready.”
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