Looks like Conor McGregor is using social media to negotiate again.
Former two-division UFC champ Conor McGregor took to social media to make an announcement that he is retiring from mixed martial arts competition.
“Hey guys quick announcement, I’ve decided to retire from the sport formally known as “Mixed Martial Art” today,” McGregor wrote. “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!”
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
It would be a shocking announcement if it was true, but it’s hard to believe this is anything but a negotiating tactic.
On an appearance on the Tonight Show that dropped on the same day as this tweet, McGregor sort of revealed his hand about difficult negotiations with the UFC.
“My next fight, we’re in talks for July. We’ll see what happens, a lot of politics going on,” McGregor told Jimmy Fallon. “The fight game is a mad game. Again, like I said, I am in shape, and I am ready.
“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’ll see what happens, I’m just staying ready.”
McGregor recently went public by saying he again wants his “rightful shares in the UFC company” before he accepts a bout with the promotion.
This also wouldn’t be the first time McGregor claimed he was retiring as a negotiation ploy. In 2016, he went to twitter and “decided to retire young” as a way to negotiate having less press obligations and be on the UFC 200 card. He also repeated a similar line about already being set for life, telling the UFC it’s “your move” as he didn’t really need to fight anymore.