Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
NOTORIOUSLY BORED
Mcgregor retires again and angers UFC chiefs because he’s fed up with fight game
CONOR MCGREGOR says he has retired from MMA again because he is “bored” of the fight game.
The UFC’S first simultaneous two-weight champion stunned fight fans on Twitter by calling time on his career.
“I’ve decided to retire from fighting,” said Mcgregor. “Thank you all for the amazing memories! What a ride it’s been!”
The Irishman’s third retirement in four years came completely out of the blue and has sparked talk of a fresh rift with the UFC brass. ‘The Notorious’, however, insists a lack of interesting fights has prompted him to once again bring the curtain down on his career.
“The game just does not excite me and that’s that,” Mcgregor told ESPN. “All this waiting around. There’s nothing happening.
“I’m going through opponent options and there’s nothing really there at the minute. There’s nothing that’s exciting me.”
After spectacularly winning his comeback fight against Donald Cerrone in January, Mcgregor set his sights on making a further two appearances this year.
But his plans have been scuppered by the coronavirus pandemic and the UFC’S refusal to book a summer showdown with interim lightweight champion Justin
Gaethje.
Mcgregor,
31, said: “I laid out a plan and a method that was the right move, the right methods to go with.
“And they want to baulk at that and not make it happen or just drag it on.
“Whatever I say, they want to go against it to show some kind of power.
“They should have done the fight – me and Justin for the interim title – and just kept the ball rolling.”
Mcgregor has been angered by the UFC’S recent proposals, adding: “They want to throw me up and down weights and offer me stupid fights. I don’t really give a f**k. I’m over it.”
UFC president Dana White was left blindsided by Mcgregor’s latest retirement but insists he won’t beg the Dubliner to perform another U-turn.
“If Conor Mcgregor feels he wants to retire, you know my feelings about retirement – you should do it,” said White.
“I love Conor. A handful of people have made this fun for me and he’s one of them. If these guys want to retire or anybody feels uncomfortable with what’s going on, you don’t have to fight. It is all good.”