Reigning UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor admits that he actually wanted to stay retired, after being removed from the headliner spot at UFC 200.
"The Notorious" was originally slated to headline the July 9th event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in a rematch against Nate Diaz, but his refusal to partake in the required media obligations left the UFC brass no choice but to pull him off the card.
Because of the said developments, McGregor decided to act upon it through a single tweet, with the aim of getting himself back in the card. According to Bloody Elbow, the 28-year-old Irish fighter announced his "retirement" after being pulled off the card.
"I have decided to retire young. Thanks for the cheese. Catch ya's later," McGregor's tweet reads.
The said social media post instantly became viral, suprassing Kobe Bryant's retirement tweet in 2015. Unfortunately for him, the UFC decided to uphold their decision and keep McGregor off the card.
But as far as his retirement declaration, McGregor first said he was still overwhelmed by the reactions he got.
"I was in Iceland chilling ... I was just using my phone like everyone else, I'm outta here, thanks for the cheese, catch yas alls later, see ya. And then off I went to the gym and then all of a sudden the thing is f-ing everywhere and I was like 'Ahhh s-t," New York Post quoted McGregor as saying.
McGregor obviously opted not to go through with his retirement plans, and is now slated to face Diaz in a non-title welterweight rematch to headline UFC 202 on August 20th in Las Vegas.
But at the same time, he admits that he actually enjoyed the idea of being retired, even for just one day, have a drink and not worry too much about fighting.
"For a day maybe I was like, 'You know what, f-k it, I am retired.' I put my feet up that night, had a f-ing drink, went out. I was like: 'F-k everybody, I'm outta here," McGregor said.
