For all of those who have recently lumbered out yawning from beneath a rock, you will be noticing that many people are squawking 'why did Conor McGregor quit the UFC?'
McGregor announced his retirement from the 'the company' with a solitary tweet just before the UFC had the chance to announce that they had removed McGregor from the card of UFC 200. A number of conspiracy theories circulated in the aftermath as to why McGregor would suddenly quit the biggest promotional company of the sport he has popularised to a further extent than anybody else.
One of those circulations focussed on the completely unfounded allegations that McGregor had failed a drugs test, and that this was the UFC's method of addressing a problem without the damaging media attention that would have come with it. Respected MMA journalist Jeremy Botter has dismissed these reports. Botter was sent the following speculative tweet:
Botter addressed the allegation with a bucket of cold water:
Botter appeared alongside Ariel Helwani on tonight's Off The Ball where he said that he expects that, despite McGregor's retirement tweet, that he will fight with the UFC once again, although is confident that it will not be at UFC 200:
If neither side will give in - which I don't see happening, as I don't see the UFC budging and expect McGregor to stick to his guns - I don't think we will see him at 200, but I'm certain we will see him fight at some stage this year.
That fight may be well at the UFC's debut event at Madison Square Garden, following the recent lifting of the state's ban on the sport. UFC New York is scheduled for November 12 this year, and with the UFC needing a major headline for a successful event, the Irish population of New York could leave McGregor with one hell of a bargaining chip.
The best and most rational explanation as to why Conor McGregor tweeted his retirement and why he will not compete at UFC 200 came via MMA oracle Ariel Helwani, whose nuanced summary of events can be read here.
