It looks like the UFC isn’t buying Conor McGregor’s in-depth statement about his ‘retirement’ earlier this week.
McGregor took to Facebook earlier today to state that he wasn’t retired and to clear the air with his employers in a sense, but according to a report from TMZ, the promotion won’t keep him in the main event of UFC 200 against Nate Diaz.
In his statement, McGregor repeatedly stressed the rigors of the nonstop promotional whirlwind that he feels partly lead to his shocking and disappointing defeat to Diaz at March 5’s UFC 196.
McGregor wanted more time to focus on his training coming off of a loss, and went to Iceland to isolate himself. When his management was told he would have to make it to the presser, he balked and issued his now-infamous retirement tweet on Tuesday. While he’s obviously debunked what many thought was a myth in the first place, it isn’t enough to save his headlining spot on arguably the UFC’s biggest card ever.
It’s highly debatable if the event will reach that lofty status without McGregor, yet the early indications are the UFC is done with letting McGregor call the shots regardless of how their media schedule interferes with his training.
UFC President Dana White appeared on ESPN stating that they had pulled McGregor from the event because he refused to take part in a press conference, but said the UFC would listen to McGregor and possibly let him fight on the July 9 blockbuster from Las Vegas if he contacted him.
He must not have contacted him, and the UFC apparently didn’t feel that his lengthy statement on Facebook was enough of an explanation.
There are going to be multiple viewpoints on this one, as McGregor’s many legions of fans are certainly going to understand that he just wanted some time to get better to avenge his most disappointing defeat, and then the opposing side will insist that the brash Irishman should do what is required by his employers due to the many millions he makes.
Which side are you on?
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