Former UFC champion Conor McGregor announces retirement from Mixed Martial Arts
Former UFC champion Conor McGregor has announced on social media that he is retiring from Mixed Martial Arts.
McGregor is a former featherweight and lightweight UFC champion, and most recently fought Khabib Nurmagomedov in an event which smashed the company's pay-per-view records.
"I wish all my old colleagues well going forward in competition," McGregor said on Twitter. "I now join my former partners on this venture, already in retirement."
The Irishman's announcement comes after what was a turbulent past 12 months.
McGregor was defeated by arch-rival Khabib Nurmagomedov in an explosive UFC 229 bout which resulted in a brawl breaking out between the two camps.
The 30-year-old's decision comes as a major shock after he had recently discussed a July return to the UFC, potentially at UFC 239 in Las Vegas.
“My next fight, we’re in talks for July,” McGregor revealed on The Tonight Show.
McGregor was defeated by Russia's Khabib Nurmagomedov in a fiery UFC 229 bout AAP
“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 as I said again, to my fans I am in shape and I am ready.”
According to reports, McGregor's negotiations with the UFC hit a snag after the organisation wanted the Irishman's return bout to serve as a co-main event.
“There are many opponents. In reality, I can pick who I please,” McGregor said.
“I’ve done a lot, I’ve fought a lot, I never pull out of contests, I’ve gone through some crazy injuries and crazy external situations that many a man would sprint for the hills if it happened to them.
McGregor's retirement from MMA curiously left the door open for him to pursue boxing as a career AP Photo/John Locher
"I stood firm and done my piece for the company so I am in a position now like this whiskey is my baby, I’ve got 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’ll see what happens. I’m just staying ready as I like to say.”
However, despite McGregor's shock announcement, there are doubts as to whether his retirement is legitimate after he previously announced a similar retirement in 2016.
If McGregor does indeed leave the MMA world, it will be with an overall career record of 22-4 with 17 of the wins coming via TKO, while his four losses have all come via submission.
