Conor McGregor: I don’t know what the future holds - Coach Kavanagh on Mac's retirement
JOHN KAVANAGH has admitted he’s in the dark over Conor McGregor’s future.
Early on Tuesday morning, Conor McGregor stunned the sporting world by announcing his retirement from mixed martial arts.
His shock announcement came during the heat of fight negotiations with the UFC, which has led many to believe he’s trying to leverage the promotion.
The Irishman’s apparent retirement comes nearly three years after he hung up his gloves following a dispute with the UFC over promotional duties for UFC 200.
He did, however, perform a huge U-turn 48 hours later and went on to fight in the Octagon three more times.
This time around, though, there’s a serious belief the UFC may have seen the last of their poster boy.
McGregor’s coach and mentor Kavanagh gave his thoughts on his most famous student’s retirement declaration in a Throwback Thursday Instagram post.
And in it, the SBG Ireland head coach insisted he knows as much about The Notorious’ future plans as the public do.
Alongside an Instagram picture of himself and McGregor, Kavanagh wrote: “Not that long ago but feels like a different lifetime.
I don’t know what the future holds
“2 lads (1 with a dodgy lip ring) travelling economy around the world trying to make a dream become reality.
“I don’t know what the future holds but I do know because of @thenotoriousmma I've done more in the last 5 years than I would have ever imagined I'd do in a lifetime #grateful.”
Unlike Kavanagh, UFC president Dana White believes McGregor may very well have hung up his gloves.
"He has the money to retire and his whiskey is killinn (sic) it,” White told ESPN’s Brett Okamoto. "It totally makes sense.
"If I was him, I would retire too. "He’s retiring from fighting. Not from working.
"The whiskey will keep him busy and I’m sure he has other things he’s working on. He has been so fun to watch!!
“He has accomplished incredible things in this sport.
"I am so happy for him and I look forward to seeing him be as successful outside of the Octagon as he was in it."
McGregor, 30, hasn’t fought since his UFC 229 grudge match with Khabib Nurmagomedov, his successor at the summit of the lightweight division.
Ireland’s first UFC belt holder suffered a fourth-round submission loss to ‘The Eagle’, though the fight was marred by the mass brawl which ensued moments after the contest.
He’s currently serving a six-month suspension for his actions in the melee is eligible to return to action from April 6 onwards.