The key questions as Conor McGregor announces his retirement for the third time
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Conor McGregor declared he was “a bit bored by the game” as he announced his retirement from fighting for the third time in the space of the last four years.
The news is another headache for the UFC, coming hot on the heels of light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones and welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal expressing their displeasure with the organisation.
Here, the PA news agency takes a look at McGregor’s decision – and whether it will stand this time.
What has McGregor said?
Following the conclusion of UFC 250, the fifth event the company has staged behind closed doors because of coronavirus, McGregor wrote on Twitter: “Hey guys I’ve decided to retire from fighting. Thank you all for the amazing memories! What a ride it’s been!” He elaborated to ESPN: “I’m a bit bored of the game. I’m just not excited about the game. I don’t know if it’s no crowd. I don’t know what it is. There’s just no buzz for me.”
Is he serious?
Given he has made similar statements of intent in 2016 and 2019, only to perform a swift u-turn on both occasions, his latest retirement should be taken with a pinch of salt. McGregor seemed to be back with a vengeance in January, explosively beating American veteran Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone in just 40 seconds after a 15-month lay-off. There seemed to be few limits for the Irishman and bouts against a number of high-profile fighters were in the offing.
What’s changed since then?
How much of a blow is this to UFC?
How has the UFC reacted?
McGregor’s decision adds to the UFC’s woes, with Jones indicating he would relinquish his light-heavyweight title and Masvidal demanding to be let go from his contract, both in an apparent dispute over pay. UFC president Dana White seems relaxed about the situation as he said after UFC 250: “If people don’t want to fight, you don’t have to fight. If these guys want to sit out and retire right now or if anybody feels uncomfortable in any way, shape
or form with what’s going on you don’t have to fight. It is all good.”
Are there any loose ends?
McGregor’s announcement is peculiar, not least because speculation was increasing about a ‘superfight’ with middleweight great Anderson Silva, who the Irishman rated as the greatest fighter of all-time but added he would “easily” make the top spot his own before retiring. A highly-anticipated return bout against fierce rival and lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, who defeated McGregor in October 2018 in a meeting that was marred by controversy, also looks set to fall by the wayside.
