Conor McGregor Announces Retirement From MMA

The Notorious calls time on his fighting career.

By Adrian Bishop /

2016 Getty Images

Former UFC two-weight champion Conor McGregor has announced his retirement from mixed martial arts in a tweet earlier today.

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McGregor was last seen in the Octagon with a spectacular first-round finish of perennial contender Donald Cerrone at UFC 246 back in January. The Irishman had previously been pushing for a rematch with bitter rival and current UFC Lightweight Champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov, who now looks set to face interim champ Justin Gaethje.

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However, it is worth noting that this isn't the first time McGregor has announced his retirement from the sport over social media.

In 2016, he set the MMA world into a frenzy after tweeting that he had decided to call time on his fighting career following his loss to Nate Diaz at UFC 196, before reversing his decision just two days later and agreeing to face Diaz in a rematch.

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Then, in 2019, McGregor again decided to announce his retirement from MMA online, leading to countryman Finn Balor replying that he would see him at 'Mania.

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In the wake of the news, many are speculating that like the previous two times, McGregor's current retirement isn't entirely sincere and that he will likely return to the sport sometime this year.