UFC 257 News: Disrespect Fueled McGregor's Retirement; Irishman Now Wants 7 Fights

KEY POINTS

Conor McGregor says lack of respect forced him to retire from fighting last June
With renewed interest, the Irishman has no plans of walking away from the UFC
The former champ wants at least seven fights in the next 18 months

It has been a year and four days since Conor McGregor made his last appearance inside the Octagon when he knocked out Donald Cerrone inside a minute in the first round at UFC 246.

The Irishman is now preparing for his return at UFC 257 bout against Dustin Poirier on Saturday, but that comes after McGregor announced his retirement from the promotion in June of last year.

However, the former two-division UFC champion retracted his rash decision to call it quits a few months later. Before he enters the cage this weekend, he explained the reason behind it.

McGregor revealed that it was “born out of frustration” as he felt disrespected by the UFC.

"It was like, you know what, you're not gonna treat me with respect? I'm gone," McGregor told Stephen A. Smith on the ESPN+ program. "Sometimes you have to take yourself out of a situation if you're not being respected or appreciated. Just distance yourself from it."

“The Notorious” had previously stated that his failed efforts at organizing more fights in the midst of the pandemic were also one of the reasons he decided to walk away from the sport.

McGregor has come back with a steely determination to change that situation in 2021 and made it clear that he has no plans of leaving the world of mixed martial arts anytime soon.

The 32-year-old Dublin native assures that he will be around the UFC “until the day he goes out”.

McGregor failed to fulfill his desire to at least compete three times last year, but he has an even more ambitious plan for 2021. He targets seven bouts over the course of the next 18 months.

"The truth is the fight game will never get rid of me," he said. "Conor McGregor will be here until the day I go out. So that's it. If they line me up, I'll get about seven fights in the next year and a half. That's what I want."

"I've got four fights left on this contract with the UFC," the UFC superstar added. "I'd do it in the first quarter of 2021 if they give me the dates."