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Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) two-division champion, Conor McGregor, retired from mixed martial arts (MMA) last weekend, an ill-timed announcement that felt less like a show of solidarity and more like an attempt to steal some of the shine from the UFC 250 pay-per-view (PPV) event.
Either way, nobody seemed to give a rat’s ass.
Probably because McGregor has already (cough) “retired” twice before and found himself right back inside the cage once he locked down a more favorable contract. And I think the combat sports fanbase has grown weary of fighters using retirement (and social media) as a means for negotiating.
“Thankfully all of the elderly are still hiding in their homes,” top lightweight contender, Justin Gaethje, wrote on Twitter. “This guy is on another bender.”
Gaethje has been trying to finagle a McGregor showdown for the last year but “Notorious” was more interested in battling Donald Cerrone. The “elderly” jab references the Irishman’s bar fight back home, one that landed him in serious trouble.
“If I’m not mistaken, didn’t you tell Mike Tyson you could beat me if we fought a second time? Now you’re quitting!” former opponent, Floyd Mayweather, posted on Instagram. “I thought you wanted to beat the best? Well, if you decide to come back, I will be waiting to punish you again.”
Mayweather whooped McGregor when they boxed in summer 2017.
No telling if McGregor is actually done or just making some noise to get UFC back to the negotiating table. If in fact “Notorious” does walk away, it will be a disappointing (but profitable) end to a career that could have went down as the greatest of all time.
But probably won’t.