Former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion Conor McGregor has announced his retirement from Mixed Martial Art (MMA).
McGregor took to his Twitter account to reveal that he had decided to call it quit with the sport.
Hey guys quick announcement, I’ve decided to retire from the sport formally known as “Mixed Martial Art” today.
I wish all my old colleagues well going forward in competition.
I now join my former partners on this venture, already in retirement.
Proper Pina Coladas on me fellas!— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) March 26, 2019
He wrote on Twitter: “Hey guys quick announcement, I’ve decided to retire from the sport formally known as “Mixed Martial Art” today. I wish all my old colleagues well going forward in competition. I now join my former partners on this venture, already in retirement. Proper Pina Coladas on me fellas!”
The Irish fighter leaves MMA with a 21-4 record, and had previously announced he was retiring in 2016 only to later return to the sport.
He first retired after in 2016 after losing to Nate Diaz but later returned to fight the same opponent and win.
He next fight since that win was against Khabib Nurmagomedov for the lightweight belt where he lost in a one sided match marred by a post-fight brawl.
McGregor, an apprentice plumber before his foray to the MMA joined the sport at the age of 19 in 2008.
After winning the featherweight and lightweight belts with the Cage Warriors organisation, McGregor signed with the UFC in 2013 and quickly become one of their biggest stars, winning performance of the night three times in succession after defeating Diego Brandao, Dustin Poirier and Chad Mendes.
Later in his career, MacGregor opted top leave the sport to take on Floyd Mayweather in what was regarded “The Money Fight”. The fight lived up to its billing with over one million pay per view buyers in the UK and 4m in the United States watch Mayweather defeat the Irish in the 10th round by TKO.
He has also been in the news recently after he was charged with robbery and criminal damage of a fan;s phone who was trying to take his picture.