Conor McGregor appeared to announce his retirement for the fourth time in as six years on Thursday night - but fans were left unconvinced.
The former two-weight UFC champion has not fought since he broke his leg in the first round of his trilogy clash with Dustin Poirier last summer. The Irishman has resumed training but was not expected to return to the cage until the new year.
But he took to social media to tweet: "MMA, I’ll never forget you! Easy work", a message which left some fans convinced he was hanging up his gloves. "Happy retirement," said one while another user added: "Goodbye Conor". But on the whole, few people believed the Dubliner, with one saying: "Yes, this means he's coming back soon. Fake retirement McGregor season coming" while another said: "The boy who cried retirement".
And indeed, McGregor later tweeted: "I’ll never let go, Jack!", seemingly a reference from Titanic when Rose DeWitt Bukater, played by Kate Winslett, says the same thing to Leonardo DiCaprio's Jack Dawson.
McGregor first 'retired' in 2016 after his rematch with Nate Diaz was scrapped from the UFC 200 card after the Dubliner refused to comply with his media commitments. He tweeted: "I have decided to retire young. Thanks for the cheese. Catch ya's later." McGregor soon returned, however, and defeated Diaz in their rearranged second fight in August.
Three years later, and after losing to Khabib Nurmagomedov the previous autumn, McGregor took to social media again to announce he was quitting: "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!"
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Once again McGregor went back on his word, and knocked out Donald Cerrone inside 40 seconds in January 2020 before a prolonged spell on the sidelines due to the coronavirus outbreak. And his third 'retirement' came in the summer of 2020 when he tweeted: "Hey guys I’ve decided to retire from fighting. Thank you all for the amazing memories! What a ride it’s been! Here is a picture of myself and my mother in Las Vegas post one of my world title wins! Pick the home of your dreams Mags I love you! Whatever you desire it’s yours."
But again McGregor reversed his decision only to lose to Poirier in January 2021 and then again six months later. His recovery from his broken leg has taken longer than expected with McGregor only recently returning to full MMA training. He has also been cast in a remake of Road House and will begin filming later this year.
