UFC chief Dana White launches X-rated rant after Conor McGregor announces shock retirement from fighting
DANA WHITE threw his full support behind Conor McGregor after his retirement from fighting again - labelling the Irishman as one of all-time stars of UFC in an X-rated speech.
The UFC president spoke in a press conference after UFC 250 in Las Vegas and was asked on his reaction to McGregor's tweet declaring he is calling it a day.
It is not the first time the Irishman has claimed he is hanging up his gloves, and it is not known whether this will be his final farewell.
The Notorious, 31, said: "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."
But White was quick to point out the circumstances of the shock announcement and insisted no one, including McGregor, is being forced to fight.
He said: "I'll remind everybody that we're in a pandemic. The world is a crazy place right now with all these things going on.
"I think that everybody feels this right now. No fans, you can't travel to fights around.
"I think everybody is p***ed off, confused, been locked up in their houses for three-and-a-half months. People are wearing masks, there's protests, there's riots. The list goes on and on.
"Listen, if you don't think what I'm doing now is probably the hardest thing I've ever done and if you don't think I don't throw my f***ing hands up and I'm ready to say, 'You know what? F*** this s***.' Believe me [I do].
"The amount of people I have gunning at me right now is insane. But here we are. This our fifth fight. We pulled off our fifth fight.
"No other sports are going right now but us. And one of the beautiful things about this sport is you don't have to fight.
"So if that's what Conor's feeling right now, Jon Jones, Jorge Masvidal, I feel you. On a certain level, I understand it.
"Nobody is pressuring anybody to fight. And if Conor McGregor feels he wants to retire, you know my feelings about retirement - you should absolutely do it.
"And I love Conor... there's a handful of people that have made this really fun for me. And he's one of them.
"It's not like I'm going, 'Holy s***, this is crazy, this is nuts.' Nothing is crazy and nuts right now, because everything is crazy and nuts right now, on a certain level. I totally understand it and get it."
White added that he had no prior knowledge to McGregor's decision, the third time the two-weight champ has tweeted his career is over.
He started out as a plumber's apprentice but has gone on to become a global star - albeit not without his controversies - with a pro MMA record of 22-4.
But the UFC chief was quick to pay tribute to the Irishman if that is the end - and has no qualms with the 31-year-old but added McGregor was hoping to step back into the Octagon again soon.
He added: "No, one of my people grabbed me and showed me on social media. But that's Conor, you know how he works, that's how he does things.
"Listen, there's been a handful of people that have made this thing really fun for me and Conor is one of those guys.
"When you look at the star that he became, he introduced this thing globally to people who had never been interested in it. Every star we've had has contributed a piece to building the sport and this brand. Conor has been awesome.
"I heard today that Proper 12 Whiskey has sold an obscene amount of liquor. I don't know his financial situation but I would imagine he owns a good piece of it, he's not going to need any money any time soon.
"He loves the fight, he is passionate about it, he's got an incredible fighter IQ.
"You know my feelings on retirement. You say you want to retire, don't worry about it, do your thing man and it's all good.
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"Conor's been wanting to fight, he frustrated because he wants to fight.
"It's not that we can't have him fight but who do we fight right now? Ferguson? Masvidal? Where do we fight him? Fight Island isn't up and running util July.
"If you look at all the problems to run a business right now and multiply it by a f***ing million, that's where we are right now."
