Conor McGregor wants back on UFC 200 card
— -- UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor broke his silence Thursday, saying he isn't retired and still wants to fight at UFC 200 in July.
McGregor released a statement Thursday through Facebook, trying to explain why he was skipping promotional obligations in Las Vegas that led to UFC president Dana White removing him from the UFC 200 main event.
"I am just trying to do my job and fight here," McGregor wrote. "I am paid to fight. I am not yet paid to promote."
McGregor surprised the fighting world by tweeting Tuesday that he had " decided to retire young." The fighter had not commented since his tweet until Thursday's statement.
McGregor (19-3) took the MMA world by storm in 2015, with knockout wins against Dennis Siver, Chad Mendes and Jose Aldo. The Dublin native set a UFC record for quickest finish in a title fight by knocking Aldo out cold in 13 seconds at UFC 194 in December.
He suffered the first loss of his UFC career March 5, in a 170-pound nontitle fight against Nate Diaz at UFC 196 in Las Vegas. McGregor was originally supposed to fight Rafael dos Anjos for the lightweight championship, but dos Anjos withdrew due to injury. Diaz stepped up on 11 days' notice and submitted McGregor in the second round.
Information from ESPN staff writer Brett Okamoto was used in this report.
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