It wasn’t that long ago that all signs pointed towards Conor McGregor taking on Donald Cerrone this July in Las Vegas.

However, after negotiations with the promotion stalled, McGregor shocked many by announcing his retirement from MMA last night.

Donald Cerrone discussed Conor McGregor’s “alleged retirement” on SportsCenter and suggested that it is likely just a ploy to stay relevant.

“We saw it last night, actually, we were up. Just landed in Canada we were up here reading it. I don’t believe it, I don’t think it is happening,” Cerrone said on SportsCenter. “I really don’t. I think it is a ploy to stay relevant. I don’t think he is going anywhere.”

If he does indeed leave MMA for good, ‘Cowboy’ thinks McGregor could possibly be heading to WWE.

“No, I don’t buy it at all. It will look a lot like what he did but I don’t think that is true,” Cerrone later added. “I just think he put that out to stir up the media. I read something he may go to the WWE. I don’t know. He may have to get out of his UFC contract to do that. Retiring is one way out, but I doubt it. He’s not going anywhere.”

Ultimately, many people are still left wondering why Cerrone is not fighting McGregor. Well, according to ‘Cowboy’ it is because McGregor didn’t want to fight.

“I was just done waiting, done playing the game. He is radio silent, so I wasn’t going to sit and wait, sit and wait, and sit and wait, and then all of the sudden something like this happens where he retires,” Cerrone said. “I would have just been out. So I said I am not going to sit and wait for you Conor. I am going to take another fight. If you want to fight me in July, I will fight now and I’ll fight you again.”

Do you think Conor McGregor will remain retired? Sound off in the comment section, PENN Nation!

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 3/26/2019