I have decided to retire young.
Thanks for the cheese.
Catch ya's later.— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 19, 2016
It was a completely normal Tuesday afternoon until Conor McGregor decided everything needed a shakeup, and supposedly retired on Twitter. Of course, fighters retiring happens often. So often, that it’s like a Hollywood divorce – you need two or three to make it stick. But with recent tragic events surrounding McGregor, and knowing that his bank account is doing fine, this might be real.
How could this happen? He was just working out and keeping active.
Back in the land of Ice for some good training at Mjolnir!! #TheIceViking pic.twitter.com/zXKy3vN6Qv
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 18, 2016
@FrontRowBrian GSP still trains. Training and fighting are two different things.
— Adam Martin (@MMAdamMartin) April 19, 2016
Multiple sources are adamant at this time that McGregor's tweet isn't a joke, troll job or hoax of any kind. Reason(s) behind it is unclear.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 19, 2016
Donald Cerrone, top-ranked lightweight and now UFC welterweight, isn’t buying it:
I sought it. Just another stunt to get people to talk about his bitch ass https://t.co/U9Tww5KPh4
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) April 19, 2016
No jokes here. Just don't think it's true https://t.co/jwBv7tRUda
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) April 19, 2016
Rafael dos Anjos, who Conor was supposed to fight for the lightweight belt agrees with Cerrone.
Mcgregor said his not running away from the adversity and announce retirement, can someone explain me that? #frouxo
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) April 19, 2016
Most interesting is his coach’s take on this whole situation. Can this actually be real?
Well was fun while it lasted
— Coach JK (@John_Kavanagh) April 19, 2016
@TommyToeHold my current position. pic.twitter.com/3wZWkAFwgr
— Coach JK (@John_Kavanagh) April 19, 2016
The conspiracy theories are already forming, with some saying it’s another knee injury that may put Conor on the shelf for the long haul.
Either McGregor was hacked or he's holding out for more money and calling a bluff.
— 🌈🥂🍷🥃ɥɔıᴚ🥃🍹🍸🏳️🌈 (@JustRichHansen) April 19, 2016
https://twitter.com/BipolarDana/status/722527948109033473
And what’s with this screenshot, posted by Kavanagh, with some damning evidence (or supreme trolling) in the background.
https://twitter.com/fuckoffbeemo/status/722532207068389377
Who would’ve thought that the Diaz’s would still be standing after the greats dropped away…
The Diaz survived the GSP era, the Anderson era and the McGregor era too #209
— Kara Mazov (@szanpan) April 19, 2016
And so, Nate is out too?
I guess my work here is done I'm retiring too✌🏼️👊🏼
— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) April 19, 2016
But the real reason could be the recent tragic death of a fighter in Ireland, which was caused in part by his teammate.
https://twitter.com/GrabakaHitman/status/722498009192349698
Conor always said wasn't going 2b in this sport long.Close friends suffering head trauma, sees a guy die from beating in cage. #UFC #MMA
— James B. McDaniel (@peppermintfatty) April 19, 2016
Would be stunning to see a fighter as skilled and driven as Conor McGregor walk away from legacy, tens of millions. But I'd respect it.
— Jon Anik (@Jon_Anik) April 19, 2016
Of course, jokes are also coming, and coming fast.
https://twitter.com/superCalo/status/722521433109180416
https://twitter.com/onepunchmane/status/722521001599311872
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1tmkAFb_Os
