Former two-weight UFC champion Conor McGregor has announced on Twitter that he is retiring from the sport for the third time.
"Hey guys, I've decided to retire from fighting," the Irishman said, adding a picture of him and his mother, and promising to buy her a dream home.
"Thank you all for the amazing memories! What a ride it's been!"
The 31-year-old former UFC featherweight and lightweight champ first quit the sport in April 2016 and again in March 2019, but on both occasions the retirements were short-lived.
He later told ESPN that he has lost his excitement for the sport.
"The game just does not excite me and that's that," he says. "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."
UFC boss Dana White says he was not given advance warning of McGregor's announcement.
"One of my people grabbed me and showed it to me on social media," says White. "That's Conor, that's how Conor works and does things.
"Conor McGregor's not going to need some money any time soon. He loves the fight, he's passionate about it and he has an incredible fighter IQ, but whatever his reason is, when you say you want to retire, don't worry about it... do your thing, man."
Reuters
