'Thanks for the cheese': Has Conor McGregor retired?

Martial arts fans aren't sure whether to believe McGregor has retired Credit: PA

Conor McGregor has left UFC fans in shock after announcing on Twitter he is "retiring young".

On Tuesday, the Irish featherweight champion tweeted: "I have decided to retire young. Thanks for the cheese. Catch ya's later".

Within minutes, thousands of mixed martial arts had re-tweeted the post, with many left wondering whether the announcement was serious.

The 27-year-old was due to fight Nate Diaz at UFC 200 on July 9 in Las Vegas after Diaz previously defeated McGregor in March.

In response, Diaz tweeted that he was "retiring too".

McGregor had been grieving the death of Portuguese fighter Joao Carvalho, who died in Dublin on March 13 following a UFC match.

McGregor described the loss as a "bitter pill to swallow", adding "we have lost one of us".

Now fans have been posting their concern McGregor may actually have retired.