The big news in the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) world today is the shocking news that former two-division world champion “The Notorious” Conor McGregor announced his UFC retirement in a tweet posted late Monday evening / early Tuesday morning.
Commenting on the news today on ESPN, the official broadcast partner of the UFC, was a former UFC World Champion and current WWE World Champion.
During her appearance on ESPN SportsCenter on Tuesday morning, Ronda Rousey promoted the fact that for the first-time in the 34-show history of WrestleMania, a women’s match will be the main event closing the show at WrestleMania 35 when RAW Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey defends her title against Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair in a Triple-Threat Match that will serve as the headline bout for the biggest WWE show of the year.
Rousey was also asked about McGregor’s UFC retirement announcement.
The Irish mega-star announced the news via Twitter early Tuesday morning with a tweet that read, “Hey guys quick announcement, I’ve decided to retire from the sport formally known as “Mixed Martial Art” today. I wish all my old colleagues well going forward in competition. I now join my former partners on this venture, already in retirement.”
McGregor wrapped up his tweet with the line, “Proper Pina Coladas on me fellas,” which led to Rousey’s initial tweet reacting to the news including the line, “Second round is on me,” with a “Winking face” emoji.
On SportsCenter on Tuesday morning, Rousey spoke a little more about the McGregor retirement news.
“Well, it’s a creative way to retire and it was a cryptic way to retire,” said Rousey. “So, we’ll see how permanent it is. If he wants to retire forever he’s more than earned it.”
Rousey concluded, once again offering to buy the second round of Proper Pina Colodas, a line referencing McGregor’s closing comment about his new “Proper Whiskey” business.
“And like I said, I’m ready to buy that second round,” said Rousey.
In addition to Rousey, a fellow Irish mega-star, Finn Balor, took to social media to comment on the big news. The Demon King simply wrote, “See you at ‘mania brother,” in a reply to McGregor’s retirement tweet.
Check out video footage of Ronda Rousey’s appearance on ESPN SportsCenter on Tuesday morning, as well as the aforementioned tweets below.
WrestleMania 35, featuring the first-ever women’s main event with Ronda Rousey vs. Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair for the RAW Women’s Championship headlining the event, goes down on Sunday, April 7th from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The show will stream live on the WWE Network, and will also be available via traditional pay-per-view.
Hey guys quick announcement, I’ve decided to retire from the sport formally known as “Mixed Martial Art” today.
I wish all my old colleagues well going forward in competition.
I now join my former partners on this venture, already in retirement.
Proper Pina Coladas on me fellas!— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) March 26, 2019
Second round is on me😉 https://t.co/1liGxXhVTG
— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) March 26, 2019
Following his "creative" and "cryptic" retirement, @RondaRousey tells @TheNotoriousMMA the next round's on her (via @SportsCenter) pic.twitter.com/2i8akIKlWz
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) March 26, 2019
See you at ‘mania brother
— Finn Bálor (@FinnBalor) March 26, 2019