Conor McGregor announces retirement on Twitter
For the second time in three years, former UFC two-division champion Conor McGregor retired from MMA via Twitter.
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!— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) March 26, 2019
The 30-year-old last competed in October, losing via submission to UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. It was his first MMA fight in nearly two years after his boxing match with Floyd Mayweather, also a loss.
UFC president Dana White talked to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto about the news to which White is considering official:
"I am not treating this as an official retirement quite yet from Conor McGregor, but according to Dana White, he is."
–@bokamotoESPN on McGregor tweeting that he is retiring from MMA pic.twitter.com/ew7KaOeSP5
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 26, 2019
He was rumored to return against Donald Cerrone in July, but didn’t want to be in a co-main event which Dana White insisted on. He was in the news recently for being arrested following his alleged smashing of a fan’s phone after McGregor exited a Miami nightclub.
McGregor famously retired on Twitter in April 2016, saying “I have decided to retire young. Thanks for the cheese. Catch ya’s later.” He then returned a few months later to rematch Nate Diaz in one of the UFC’s most purchased PPVs of all time.
Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He's a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.