UFC superstar and former double champion Conor McGregor has once again announced his retirement from mixed martial arts.
McGregor posted his retirement announcement in the early hours of Tuesday,
The announcement came just hours after McGregor told "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" that he and the UFC were negotiating a potential return to the Octagon in July.
"We're in talks for July," McGregor said on The Tonight Show.
"We'll see what happens, a lot of politics going on. The fight game is a mad game. But like I said, to my fans, I am in shape and I am ready.
"I have done my piece for the company. I don't necessarily need to fight. I am set for life. My family is set for life," he continued.
"We are good, but I am eager to fight. So, we'll see what happens. I'm staying ready."
Of course, there is a reason to doubt his sincerity as this is the second time McGregor has announced his "retirement" from the sport. In 2016, McGregor posted a tweet that also said he was retiring, only to post a follow-up announcement on Facebook that ended with him saying "I AM NOT RETIRED." He ended up returning to fight Nate Diaz at UFC 202, a rematch in which he won.
For what it's worth, UFC president Dana White does believe McGregor is serious about retirement this time around, telling ESPN via text message that it "totally makes sense."
"He has the money to retire, and his [Proper 12] whiskey is KILLIN it," White
told ESPN.
"It totally makes sense. If I was him, I would retire too. He's retiring from fighting. Not from working. The whiskey will keep him busy, and I'm sure he has other things he's working on.
"He has been so fun to watch!!! He has accomplished incredible things in this sport. I am so happy for him, and I look forward to seeing him be as successful outside of the Octagon as he was in it."
Conor McGregor rose to superstar status in the UFC, winning the featherweight belt at UFC 189 in July 2015. In 2016, he defeated Eddie Alvarez to win the lightweight belt, becoming a double champion in the UFC. However, he was stripped of the featherweight belt shortly after he won the lightweight championship. He took a break from the UFC to fight Floyd Mayweather in a boxing match and was stripped of his lightweight belt due to inactivity.
McGregor returned to the UFC in October 2018 to fight for the lightweight belt again against longtime rival Khabib Nurmagomedov. McGregor lost via submission in the fourth round and hasn't fought since, largely due to a suspension resulting from a post-fight melee that broke out.
Controversy has followed McGregor throughout his career, especially as he became more famous. Prior to his fight against Nurmagomedov, he attacked a charter bus carrying several fighters during UFC 223 media; he threw a dolly through the bus window, injuring multiple fighters. He was charged with two felonies but ended up pleading guilty to a disorderly conduct charge. His only requirements were three days of anger management courses and five days of community service.
Earlier this month, McGregor
was involved in another incident in Miami Beach after he got in an altercation with a fan outside of his hotel in the early morning. He was charged with Strong Arm Robbery and Criminal Mischief, both felonies, after smashing the fan's phone and walking away with it.
McGregor is eligible to return to the Octagon in April. He's been vocal on social media about possible opponents, but it appears he's done with fighting, at least for now.