I think he's actually retiring for real...at least he believes he does. Unlike Mayweather, his fighting purses are not his main income anymore. Mayweather's returns were flowing many more millions to Floyd than Conor would earn for fighting in the UFC.

I genuinly believe he was trying to persuade himself he still wants it by tweeting so much in the last couple of months...a week ago, he released a video where his manager was carrying Proper 12 bottles like 2 belts and conor said: "these are the real belts"...it totally struck me as it shows he really has no interest in holding those belts anymore..I think he's really retiring in his mind..and will probably come back in a year or two to fight Nate.

Let's see, he's a legend either way. I took a lot of inspiration from young hungry Conor on the rise and I don't really care about his current antics.

And you're right...brand is stronger than name. I don't think he'll manage to get "piece of the cake". UFC is absolutely rolling with the new ESPN deal, they don't need him that much. He helped them to get the deal tremendously tho..