Conor McGregor has solidified his name at the top of combat sports with the UFC and has become one of the most successful athletes financially, embarking on plenty of business ventures outside the cage. His success put him on the radar in 2008, and since his first fight, he has gone on to see a world of success in plenty of assets aside from fighting for Dana White’s company.
After a hiatus from the Octagon due to a serious leg injury suffered in his 2021 fight with Dustin Poirier, the former two-weight champion made his movie debut as a part of Amazon’s remake of the 1989 classic Road House. However, this past weekend, the Irishman seemingly dropped a big hint that he is officially retired from combat. However, that’s not the first time we’ve said those words, so let’s take it with a pinch of salt…
As stated, this is not the first time that the 36-year-old has announced his “retirement”, but when urged by a fan to put his health first and stay away from the UFC for good, he simply replied: “Ya know what, you’re right, good bye.”
Somewhat unsurprisingly, the Notorious has since deleted said tweet, something he does make a habit of doing, especially on big weekends for the UFC. He even deleted his immediate two-word reaction to Ilia Topuria’s victory over Max Holloway at UFC 308 this past weekend.
The History of Conor McGregor Retirements
This isn’t the first time he’s “retired” and it won’t be the last
His first retirement came in 2016, ahead of his scheduled fight with Nate Diaz, when he announced his intention to retire young. Dana White later stated that the promotion had pulled the Irishman from the card due to his unwillingness to participate in promotional activity for the company.
This recent episode on social media is actually the fourth time he has announced his retirement, the second coming after the controversial encounter with Khabib Nurmagomedov, which ended in a post-fight brawl between the two fighters and their teams. The third then came after the COVID-19 pandemic, when he declared he had lost his love for the world of cage fighting.
Could Conor McGregor Actually Retire
Is it finally time to say goodbye to Notorious’ UFC career
It is no secret that the Irishman is not getting any younger, and his last appearance came in 2021, when he suffered a double leg break, putting him on the shelf for some time. Another factor is that it is clear he does not need the world of combat sports anymore after so much success outside the UFC. McGregor has gone on to achieve a net worth of $200 million through endorsements and his business ventures.
Conor McGregor’s professional MMA record (as of 29/10/24) | ||
|---|---|---|
28 fights | 22 wins | 6 losses |
By knockout | 19 | 2 |
By submission | 1 | 4 |
By decision | 2 | 0 |
There is not much left for him to achieve in the promotion either. He was the first fighter to become a titleholder in two different weight classes in the UFC simultaneously. That success has seen him earn endorsements with some of the biggest companies in the world, such as Beats By Dre, Monster Energy, Reebok, and Bud Light, to name just a few. The 38-year-old also has several of his own business ventures, such as Black Forge Inn, Forged Irish Stout, and Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. The BKFC promotion was one of his most recent acquisitions, and when fans discussed character models for the Irishman in EA’s UFC video game, McGregor stated that he was working on his own game for his BKFC promotion.
While he has seemingly announced his retirement now, McGregor previously declared his intention to return to the UFC in 2025, stating his return fight would be in the early part of the year. The 38-year-old is coming to the end of his contract with the promotion and has two fights remaining, leaving retirement as a real possibility for him.