McGregor: 'I am not retired'

Conor McGregor issued a lengthy statement on his Facebook account Thursday dispelling rumors of his retirement and reiterating that he is prepared to fight if the UFC meets his terms.

McGregor made it clear he believes he can only fight at UFC 200 if permitted to focus on training and avoid the distractions that come with fight promotion.

In McGregor's words:

I am just trying to do my job and fight here.
I am paid to fight. I am not yet paid to promote.
I have become lost in the game of promotion and forgot about the art of fighting.

...

I must isolate myself now.
I am facing a taller, longer and heavier man. I need to prepare correctly this time.
I can not dance for you this time.
It is time for the other monkeys to dance.

...

It is time to be selfish with my training again. It is the only way.
I feel the $400million I have generated for the company in my last three events, all inside 8 months, is enough to get me this slight leeway.
I am still ready to go for UFC 200.

...

For the record also -
For USADA and for the UFC and my contract stipulations -
I AM NOT RETIRED.

McGregor posted a cryptic message on Twitter earlier this week saying he has decided "to retire young." UFC president Dana White promptly pulled McGregor from UFC 200, where he was scheduled for a rematch with Nate Diaz.

White refuted rumors that McGregor was unhappy with his pay, saying the dispute was about the featherweight champion's refusal to fulfill media obligations.