Conor McGregor flags off umpteenth retirement in style

 

Ultimate Fighting Championship star Conor McGregor kickstarted his latest shock retirement with a jet skiing trip off the coast of his native Ireland on Monday.

McGregor was pictured cruising across the waves on a powerful yellow jet ski, surrounded by a number of other luxurious boats.

Nicknamed the ‘Nototious’McGregor sent shockwaves through the sport in the early hours of Sunday morning when he ended his UFC career for the third time.

Posting on Twitter, McGregor wrote: ‘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.’

McGregor has since cited ‘boredom’ and frustration at the UFC’s future plans for career as motivation to step away from the Octagon but the 31-year-old has already made the most his retirement.

Many are unsure how serious they should take McGregor’s last retirement, given he has already stepped away from the sport twice before.

It was even more confusing given McGregor had been expected to fight again later this year with UFC legend Anderson Silva, Jorge Masvidal and a rematch with arch-rival Khabib Nurmagomedov touted as likely options.

McGregor, who is estimated to have earned in the region of $100million (£80m) from his UFC fights in the past, admitted his excitement for the sport has drained away.

He told ESPN: ‘The game just doesn’t excite me, and that’s that. All this waiting around. There’s nothing happening.

‘I’m going through opponent options, and there’s nothing really there at the minute. There’s nothing that’s exciting me.

‘They should have just kept the ball rolling. I mean, why are they pushing [Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Justin Gaethje] back to September?

‘You know what’s going to happen in September, something else is going to happen in September, and that’s not going to happen.

‘I laid out a plan and a method that was the right move, the right methods to go with. And they always want to balk at that and not make it happen and just drag it on,” said the Irishman

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McGregor made his comeback from his most recent retirement in January, demolishing Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone in just 40 seconds in their welterweight clash at UFC 246.