Conor McGregor retires from UFC

Conor McGregor, the flamboyant Irishman, has announced his retirement from competing in UFC.

The 31-year-old made the announcement on Twitter after the conclusion of the UFC 250 event.

He is a former featherweight and lightweight champion and is one of the sports more charismatic and flamboyant performers.

This has extended the Dubliner’s celebrity far beyond what is usual for UFC fighters, and he is famous across the globe.

“Hey guys I’ve decided to retire from fighting,” McGregor tweeted.

“Thank you all for the amazing memories! What a ride it’s been! Here is a picture of myself and my mother in Las Vegas post one of my world title wins!

“Pick the home of your dreams Mags I love you! Whatever you desire it’s yours.”

This is not the first time that McGregor has ‘retired’, however. He has previously made similar announcements in 2016 and 2019.

Previously retired in 2016 and 2019

In both of those cases, the Irishman soon made his way back into the Octagon to do battle again.

His impressive career record consists of 22 victories and four defeats. He was just one fight into his latest comeback from retirement, however.

In January, McGregor beat Donald Cerrone in a welterweight contest at UFC 246. He won via TKO in just under 40 seconds, a pretty impressive outing.

But it was his first win in just over three years, which is perhaps a sign that the fighter’s best days are now indeed behind him.

The Covid-19 pandemic appears to have influenced McGregor’s decision to call it a day.

“I had my goals, my plans, the season. I had everything laid out,” he told ESPN.

“Obviously the world has gone bleeding bonkers at the minute. There’s f-all happening at the minute. They want to throw me up and down weights and offer me stupid fights. I don’t really give a f***. I’m over it.”

Anderson Silva was set to face McGregor

McGregor has expressed frustration that he doesn’t know whether there will be a crowd at his bouts, and also that there is a serious lack of options when it comes to potential opponents.

A tangle with Anderson Silva had been touted for later in 2026, and Silva had spoken about the possible bout over the weekend.

Other possible opponents that had been discussed as options were Khabib Nurmagomedov and Jorge Masvidal.

In recent times, McGregor diversified into conventional boxing, getting beaten in 10 rounds by Floyd Mayweather in 2017 in Las Vegas.

Dana White, the UFC president whom McGregor has criticised in the past, has no problems with the Irishman retiring.

“Nobody is pressuring anybody to fight,” White said. “And if Conor McGregor feels he wants to retire, you know my feelings about retirement: you should absolutely do it.

“And I love Conor. There’s a handful of people that have made this really fun for me. And he’s one of them.”