Conor McGregor all-but confirms retirement U-turn as he teases plan for next fight ahead of UFC 314
CONOR MCGREGOR has all-but confirmed he WON’T be retiring from the fight game.
The Irishman hinted late last month that his days as a fighter could soon come to an end by admitting he was content with what he’s achieved in his Hall-of-Fame career.
But a little less than two weeks after hinting the end is nigh, the former two-weight UFC champ has changed his tune.
On Thursday afternoon, he shared a video of himself hitting the pads with his trainer for his 46.7million Instagram followers to see.
And his accompanying caption included a message for lightweight contenders Michael Chandler and Paddy Pimblett.
He wrote: “I’m interested in the Chandler/Pimblett fight this weekend.”
Chandler and Pimblett, 38 and 30 respectively, will collide early on Sunday morning in the co-main event of UFC 314 in Miami.
Chandler was set to welcome McGregor back to the octagon last June but saw the biggest fight of his career slip through his hands when his rival suffered a broken left pinky toe.
The fan favourite, however, hasn’t given up hope of sharing the octagon with ‘The Notorious’ – something Pimblett is very much open to doing.
The Liverpudlian said during the UFC 314 pre-fight press conference: “Yeah, I seen it, obviously. I got sent it by a good few people.
Inside McGregor's Notorious lifestyle
With more sides to his personality than an Octagon, Conor McGregor's rise has been an enthralling watch.
Going from UFC icon to entrepreneur and Hollywood star, the Irishman has transcended the sport he helped bring to the masses.
He has four children with fiancee Dee Devlin and the family enjoy a lavish lifestyle.
McGregor has not fought in UFC since breaking his leg in a trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in 2021.
That has not stopped him amassing a net worth of over £150m thanks to his Proper No Twelve whiskey and fashion line.
And he is due to return to the Octagon at UFC 303 in an eagerly-awaited headline clash with Michael Chandler.
McGregor also starred alongside Jake Gyllenhaal in the Amazon Prime remake of classic movie Road House, although he is dreading his mum seeing one X-rated scene.
Notorious turned up to the premiere in a £60,000 suit that was outdone by his £460k watch.
The only thing sharper than his fashion sense is his tongue and the Dubliner has several bitter spats under his belt, including with UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov.
That row led to one of his biggest controversies in 2018 as he travelled 3,000 miles to confront Khabib in a vicious attack on his bus.
He pleaded guilty to assault after punching a man in a pub in 2018 and had his £150k Bentley seized by police for driving offences four years later.
Joe Rogan lashed out at McGregor in a four-letter outburst and the Irishman has also fired shots at Jake Paul, KSI and Tommy Fury.
Boxing great Floyd Mayweather also has McGregor on his enemy list after the pair clashed in a cross-sport bout in 2017.
Read all of our latest Conor McGregor stories.
“You know, I’d welcome that fight, that’s where the money’s at.
“But, I can’t look past Michael.
“I’ve got to fight Michael on Saturday night and get the win here, that’s all that matters.”
Chandler said of McGregor’s post: “I don’t know. I’m sure he’s watching.
“He watches and he’s very interested in coming back.
“But can he put together a training camp? That’s the real question. We don’t know.
“All I know is you can see by my actions, fighting Charles Oliveira in November and now fighting five months later, Paddy Pimblett.
“Putting my ranking on the line, going out to brave the unknown, I’m going to stay active.”
McGregor hasn’t set foot inside the octagon since breaking his left leg in his trilogy fight wth Dustin Poirier nearly four years ago.
Should he fight again, his next outing will be his first since being found civilly liable for assaulting Nikita Hand at a Dublin Hotel in December 2018.
The former two-division champion has appealed the verdict returned at Dublin’s High Court.
He’s hoping the introduction of new evidence will overturn the result of the civil trial.