Conor (photo) used social media to vent. Photo: Disclosure
After shocking the MMA world with the announcement that he would be retiring prematurely and, subsequently, being cut from the UFC 200 main event, Conor McGregor finally decided to break the silence and present his version of the events that have shaken the sport in recent days. In a long outburst published on Facebook, Conor blamed his decision on numerous promotional commitments and made a point of saying that he did not hang up his gloves – at least in terms of his contract with the UFC and the possible implications of this decision with USADA.
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“I’m just trying to do my job and fight. I get paid to fight, I don't get paid to promote. I got lost in the promotion game and forgot the art of fighting. There are 50 world tours, 200 press conferences, a million interviews, two million photos and, at the end of it all, I'm taking a left hook in front of a bunch of lenses, facing defeat head on and not thinking about anything. nothing but my incorrect preparation for the fight. Many distractions led me to this”, said the Irishman, in an excerpt of the statement.
“I'm still ready to fight at UFC 200,” he continued. “I will offer, as I have already done, to fly to New York for the big press conference that is scheduled and then return to train. No distractions. If that's not enough or if they think I don't deserve a break from this promotion for at least this one time, then I don't know what to say. For the record – for USADA and for my contractual implications with the UFC – I AM NOT RETIRED!”, concluded the Irishman, avoiding the problems that had already been mentioned by Dana White recently if he had actually stopped fighting.
In an interview on North American TV this Wednesday night (20), Dana assured that Conor McGregor is out of UFC 200 and nothing will make him go back on this decision. According to the director, an alternative for the fight will be worked on by the Ultimate organization over the next few days.
Check out the text published by McGregor in full below:
I'm just trying to do my job and fight. I get paid to fight, I don't get paid to promote. I got lost in the promotion game and forgot the art of fighting. There are 50 world tours, 200 press conferences, a million interviews, two million photos and, at the end of it all, I'm taking a left hook in front of a bunch of lenses, facing defeat head on and not thinking about anything. nothing but my incorrect preparation for the fight. Many distractions led me to this. I have nothing else on my mind.
It's time to go back and live the life that gave me this life. Sitting in a car on the way to some dump in Conneticut or wherever, talking to Tim and Suzie on a morning show that no one gives a shit about didn't give me that life. Talking to a woman who deep down doesn't give a shit about what I'm doing, but wants some headline sound bites from me so she can maybe get that fat ass of hers a raise – and I'm cool with that too . I've been giving raises to all of you. But I need to focus on myself now. I'm coming for my revenge.
I flew an entire team from Portugal and to Iceland to make adjustments to my preparation and correct my mistakes. I adjusted my weight and prepared my cardio. With the right adjustments and the right focus, I will finish what I started in the last fight. I'm not going to do that if I go back on the road and hand out flyers again. I will always play the game and I play better than anyone, but just this once, when I came from a defeat, I asked for a margin so I could train and focus. I didn't deny all media requests, I simply wanted to make small adjustments. But they denied me that.
There were 10 million dollars allocated to promote this event, that's what I was told. So, in a gesture of goodwill, I went there and not only saved the 10 million dollars in promotion but tripled the value for it. And all this with a simple tweet. Save those 10 million to promote other useless people who need it. My shows are good.
I need to isolate myself now. I'm facing a bigger, longer and heavier guy. I need to prepare the right way this time. I can't dance this time. It's time for the other little monkeys to dance. I danced for all of us here. Messy-headed Nate looked cool on stage these days. Impale him on camera for this. He came with nothing to do with it last time. I had already done press conferences, interviews and recorded commercials before Dos Anjos came out. Maybe I'll go to Cabo (San Lucas) this time and shoot some pre-fight commercials with no obligation. I'm doing what I need to do now. It's time to be selfish with my training again. It's the only way. I think that the 400 million that I generated for the company in the last three events, all in eight months, entitled me to this small perk.
I'm still ready to fight at UFC 200. I'll offer, as I already did, to fly to New York for the big press conference that's scheduled and then come back to train. No distractions. If that's not enough or if they think I don't deserve a break from this promotion for at least this one time, then I don't know what to say. For the record – for USADA and my contractual implications with the UFC – I AM NOT RETIRED!
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