Conor McGregor retirement is barefaced tactics - Why he will fight this year in the UFC
CONOR MCGREGOR’s retirement announcement is nothing more than a negotiation tactic.
The UFC’s first simultaneous two-weight world champion appeared to call time on his hall-of-fame career early on Tuesday morning.
But those wondering if we’ve seen the last of ‘The Notorious’ need not worry as he will be back in the Octagon this year.
McGregor pulled this stunt three years ago during negotiations over his rematch with Nate Diaz as he didn’t want to fulfil his media obligations.
That retirement lasted a mere 48 hours and ended up with the former lightweight king getting his way, as he always does.
The UFC would be foolish not to appease their biggest star
Conor McGregor is now angling for shares in the UFC and has threatened the promotion the only way he knows how - by walking away.
This time around, however, UFC president Dana White has publicly called the 30-year-old's bluff.
By declaring he’s ‘happy’ the Irishman has walked away from the sport a multimillionaire, White has told him he’s not willing to bow down to his demands.
But given the massive pay-per-view slump the UFC suffered during McGregor’s two-year hiatus, the promotion would be foolish not to appease their biggest star.
The appeasement will likely come in the form of a bigger slice of the pay-per-view pie as giving him shares in the company will create a conflict of interest.
Only time will tell if McGregor will accept such a proposal. But what we know for sure is he won't walk from MMA after suffering the most emphatic defeat of his career last October.
The Dubliner's fourth-round submission loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 is still eating away at him, so much so he's still talking about the errors he made in the grudge match.
And the only way he'll able to avenge that defeat is by getting back in the Octagon as soon as possible and defeating one of the lightweight division's standout fighters.
It's no secret that McGregor's return has been tentatively earmarked to headline UFC 239 on July 6, with a trilogy fight with Diaz currently in the offing for 'The Champ Champ'.
A win over his bitter rival will almost certainly catapult McGregor back into the title picture.
So make no mistake about it, he will fight this year.
All that remains is for him to end this farcical 'retirement' and to get back in the gym.