After the Shocking Announcement that Conor McGregor is Seeking a Future Outside of Mixed Martial Arts, Dana White Has Reacted to the Irishman’s Retirement… And it Might Not be How You Would Expect…
Earlier today Conor McGregor got the whole world talking by apparently announcing his retirement on Twitter. Fans are split over whether or not he is serious, as he has done this once before in the past as a bargaining ploy. At the moment he is still in the USADA testing pool.
McGregor made history as the first UFC fighter to hold two titles at the same time. His rise was like nothing else the sport has ever seen, with sublime trash talk backed up by brilliant performances in the cage. However, now with businesses outside MMA performing well, the 30-year-old is financially secure.
UFC President Dana White has reacted to his biggest star’s apparent retirement and has given ‘The Notorious’ his blessing.
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
Announcement
It came completely out of the blue, but you can see the original tweet McGregor released above. The Irishman had appeared on Jimmy Fallon’s show and appeared to be looking forward to his next octagon appearance. He wrote:
“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!”
Well, do you think he is serious or is this just a power play?
Reaction
Now we’re guessing that unless the news of Urijah Faber’s potential return has terrified McGregor into hiding that this is indeed a move by McGregor to enhance his bargaining power. Dana White responded to reporters calmly, wishing the volatile Irishman nothing but the best if he is genuinely retired.
“He has the money to retire, and his whiskey is KILLIN’ it,” White said in a statement obtained by MMA Junkie. “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.”
Wait and See
Considering Georges St. Pierre called a full-on press conference to announce his official retirement, this does seem like a rather understated way for McGregor to bow out of the game. Either he’s just done dealing with the UFC because they won’t give him the main event and he doesn’t think it’s worth his while, or he’s just had enough of risking his health with two kids and successful businesses.
With McGregor you just don’t know. He did retire very briefly in 2016 when he had a fallout with the UFC. He was supposed to headline UFC 200 but refused promotional duties and was duly pulled from the card. He fought a month later though at UFC 202 against Nate Diaz. Could a fight announcement be next on the cards?
