UPDATED: Conor McGregor Says He’s Retiring – Pulled From UFC 200

UPDATE: We now have an apparent explanation for Conor McGregor’s message that he was “retiring young.” The UFC has announced that McGregor has been pulled from UFC 200 because he refused to participate in promotional activities surrounding the event.

Dana White announced today that McGregor told officials he wouldn’t be involved in promoting the show, including a commercial shoot and press conferences.

The announcement notes, “The UFC is currently working on a new main event for the card, which will take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Other bouts currently set for the event include two title fights, with Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar battling for the interim featherweight title, and Miesha Tate defending her UFC women’s bantamweight crown against Amanda Nunes.”

As for McGregor’s retirement, he still hasn’t said anything beyond that initial post to Twitter.

ORIGINAL: Conor McGregor has set the internet on fire by saying he’s decided to “retire young.” McGregor, who is set to face Nate Diaz in a rematch at UFC 200, took to Twitter to make the announcement today:

I have decided to retire young.
Thanks for the cheese.
Catch ya's later.

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 19, 2016

Speculation is rampant that McGregor, who has been no stranger to saying outlandish things, is just trolling for a reaction. However, MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani reports on Twitter that according to multiple sources, McGregor’s message isn’t a “joke, troll job or hoax of any kind. Reason(s) behind it is unclear.”

To complicate matters, Nate Diaz (also known for saying things to get a reaction) reacted by announcing his own retirement and McGregor’s coach John Kavanaugh is either confirming McGregor’s retirement or playing along:

I guess my work here is done I'm retiring too✌?️??

— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) April 19, 2016

Well was fun while it lasted

— Coach Kavanagh (@John_Kavanagh) April 19, 2016

Dana White and the UFC have yet to comment on the story and McGregor’s reps have not responded to requests for comment either.

There is no known reason behind the decision, although ESPN points out that McGregor was ringside for Joao Carvalo’s fight earlier this month in Dublin, Ireland that resulted in the latter’s death from injuries suffered in the contest. McGregor had posted to Facebook last week that “To see a young man doing what he loves, competing for a chance at a better life, and then to have it taken away is truly heartbreaking.”

More on this story as it develops, one way or another.