Conor McGregor briefly sent the MMA world into a frenzy on Wednesday by posting â and then quickly deleting â a tweet confirming he had accepted a UFC fight offer. The Irish superstar posted on X:
“I have been offered an opponent and a date and I accept. Waiting on my contract.”
He deleted the post within minutes, but not before screenshots were captured and spread widely online. Notably, he did not reveal who his opponent would be or when the bout was scheduled to take place.
Conor McGregor’s Road Back to the Octagon
The tweet comes just days after UFC CEO Dana White confirmed he had been building a fight card for a historic event on the lawn of the White House this summer. White later walked back his comments slightly, clarifying: “I didn’t say it was done; I said the card was built.” McGregor has been linked to the event and has publicly suggested the White House card could be his comeback stage.
Several names have surfaced as possible opponents for McGregor’s return. Michael Chandler remains the most frequently mentioned, as the two were previously booked for June 2024 before McGregor withdrew with a broken toe. Jorge Masvidal, Colby Covington, and Nate Diaz have also been floated as potential matchups. Diaz recently told TMZ he wants the McGregor trilogy, and McGregor responded on Instagram hinting at the same.
McGregor hasn’t competed since July 2021, when he broke his leg in the first round of his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. He becomes eligible to compete again on March 20, after completing an anti-doping suspension stemming from three whereabouts failures.
Dan Hooker made headlines during UFC 325 media day in Sydney on January 27, 2026, when he revealed an alleged confrontation between Conor McGregor and Paddy Pimblett that dates back several years. The New Zealand lightweight claimed that McGregor drove to Pimblett’s Liverpool home and sat outside calling him, but the Scouse fighter refused to come out.â
Speaking during the fight week interview ahead of his co-main event bout against Benoit Saint Denis, Hooker addressed his ongoing feud with Pimblett. The comments came as Hooker criticized Pimblett’s behavior pattern of making inflammatory statements before playing the victim.
Dan Hooker Claims Conor McGregor Drove to Paddy Pimblett’s House in Confrontation
“This guy talks and then he gets caught on his shit and turns into the victim,” Hooker said during the media appearance. “He talked shit about Conor McGregor, then McGregor drove around to his house and sat outside calling the bloke, and Paddy refused to come outside.”â
The claim references an incident that allegedly occurred around 2016 or 2017, when McGregor visited Liverpool for the Grand National horse racing festival at Aintree. During that trip, McGregor was documented attending various parties around Liverpool, including ending up in a tree house during what was described as a three-day celebration.
Dan Hooker reveals that Conor McGregor went to Paddy’s house to confront him, but Paddy refused to come outside #UFC325
“This guy talks, then gets caught on his shit and turns into the victim. Is that common knowledge? He talked shit about Conor McGregor, then McGregor drove⌠pic.twitter.com/NXER0tIvzT
Pimblett himself addressed this incident years earlier in 2021, ahead of his UFC debut. During an interview, he explained that McGregor was “supposedly outside my house” but suggested the Irish star may have knocked on the wrong door. Pimblett stated that his mother had CCTV cameras installed at the time, and no footage captured McGregor at their residence. “If he was outside my house, that was getting videoed and put all over me Instagram,” Pimblett said.
The Liverpool fighter speculated that McGregor either wanted to party or confront him, but noted he wished the former champion had actually shown up. Pimblett clarified in 2022 interviews that McGregor was with “another Scouser” during the Liverpool visit and may have been misdirected to the wrong address.â
The tension between Hooker and Pimblett escalated dramatically in January 2026, ahead of Pimblett’s UFC 324 interim lightweight title fight against Justin Gaethje. Pimblett made an offensive remark about Hooker’s grappling abilities during a podcast appearance, which referenced Hooker’s recent submission loss to Arman Tsarukyan.
Hooker responded by mentioning Ricky, a close friend of Pimblett who died by suicide in 2022, sparking fierce backlash on social media. The exchange turned personal quickly, with both fighters trading insults ahead of their respective January 2026 bouts.
Pimblett went on to lose his interim title fight against Gaethje via unanimous decision at UFC 324 on January 24, 2026, suffering his first UFC defeat.
TMZ Sports
Hooker is scheduled to face Saint Denis in the co-main event at UFC 325 on February 1, 2026, at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney. The event marks Alexander Volkanovski’s featherweight title defense against Diego Lopes in a rematch.
Michael Chandler remains determined to compete at the UFC’s historic White House event on June 14, even if his long-awaited bout with Conor McGregor fails to materialize. Speaking to MMA Junkie at the UFC 324 red carpet in Las Vegas on January 25, the former Bellator lightweight champion made clear his intentions to headline the unprecedented South Lawn card regardless of opponent.
“Obviously, as Dana and they have said, they’re going to start that matchmaking on Monday talking about the White House card,” Chandler explained. “Everybody knows that’s what my sights are set on. Best-case scenario, it’s me and Conor. Worst-case scenario, I’m still fighting at the White House and fighting someone else, and it will be an awesome badass matchup and I will steal the show and I will end up with one of those bonuses.”â
Michael Chandler Focused on UFC White House Event Despite Conor McGregor Uncertainty
Chandler’s comments come at a critical juncture. UFC president Dana White confirmed that matchmaking for the White House card would begin immediately following UFC 324, where Justin Gaethje defeated Paddy Pimblett by unanimous decision to claim the interim lightweight championship. White has repeatedly stated the goal of assembling “the greatest lineup ever” for the June event, which will take place on Trump’s 80th birthday and Flag Day.â
The McGregor situation remains complicated. White dismissed the Chandler-McGregor pairing during recent interviews, stating “that’s not the fight we’re going with” and describing the matchup as something from “a couple years ago”.
Despite White’s public dismissal, Chandler remains hopeful. “My reaction is, ‘We will see,’” Chandler told Ariel Helwani recently. “I don’t have a backup plan until Plan A is completely exhausted. That’s where we stand now. I’m preparing my training, diet, and everything else leading up to June. The goal is to fight at the White House against Conor.”â
The American veteran’s recent form presents challenges. Chandler holds a 23-10 professional record but has dropped five of his last six UFC appearances. Most recently, Paddy Pimblett stopped him via third-round TKO at UFC 314 in April 2025, marking another setback in what has been a difficult UFC tenure. However, Chandler’s aggressive fighting style and penchant for earning post-fight bonuses align perfectly with the UFC’s newly enhanced bonus structure.â
Starting with UFC 324, the promotion doubled Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses from $50,000 to $100,000, while introducing a new $25,000 bonus for any fighter who secures a finish via knockout or submission. The changes coincide with the UFC’s seven-year, $7.7 billion broadcasting deal with Paramount+, which began with UFC 324 and shifts numbered events away from traditional pay-per-view in the United States.
“It’s really cool,” Chandler said of the bonus increases. “I mean obviously you know my resume. You know I’ve had mainly every almost every single one of my fight I’ve gotten a bonus. So I should have a little bit more money in my bank account. I’m happy for that going forward.”â
The White House event represents unprecedented territory for combat sports. Approximately 5,000 spectators will watch live from the South Lawn, with an additional 85,000 viewing on screens at The Ellipse across the street. Weigh-ins are planned for the Lincoln Memorial, and fighters will walk from the Oval Office to the Octagon. White described the logistical undertaking as “insane,” citing the South Lawn’s uneven slope, strict Secret Service protocols, and intense security requirements.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” White acknowledged about the event. “It’s going to be phenomenal.”â
Ali Abdelaziz has stirred the pot once again, this time floating the idea of Conor McGregor facing Justin Gaethje at the White House.
The Dominance MMA manager’s pitch is blunt, referring to McGregor as an “Irish drunk guy” and questioning whether he could handle Gaethje ahead of the UFC’s historic event scheduled for June 14, 2026. The timing is particularly interesting given that Gaethje is set to face Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight title at UFC 324 this Saturday, January 24.
Ali Abdelaziz Calls Conor McGregor ‘Irish Drunk Guy,’ Pitches Justin Gaethje Fight at UFC White House
Speaking with Submission Radio, Abdelaziz laid out his vision with typical flair. His proposal skips the interim belt discussion entirely, instead focusing on what he describes as a long-overdue grudge match between the Irishman and “The Highlight”.
“Justin Gaethje versus Conor McGregor. What about that? Do you understand? America’s birthday â bring an Irish drunk guy to the White House, make sure he doesn’t have any drugs on him or cocaine, and fight Justin. Conor’s been running from Justin all his life.”
According to the manager, McGregor has been avoiding Gaethje throughout his career, turning down the fight “at least five times” over several years. Abdelaziz claims the UFC even advised him to stop mentioning the matchup because McGregor allegedly refuses to fight opponents who criticize him publicly.
The suggestion comes with particular bite given the White House event’s significance. Set to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary, President Trump announced the date coincides with his 80th birthday, and Dana White has indicated he’s holding back major fights to stack the card.
The McGregor-Gaethje matchup has long been discussed but never materialized. Their styles suggest an explosive clash. McGregor’s precision striking and southpaw stance theoretically create openings against Gaethje’s aggressive, face-first approach and leg-heavy attack.
However, the Irishman hasn’t won a lightweight fight since 2016, and both of his recent losses to Dustin Poirier exposed vulnerability to leg kicks, Gaethje’s specialty. The 37-year-old is coming off a broken leg sustained in 2021.
Gaethje enters UFC 324 on Saturday with everything to prove. The 37-year-old veteran has made it clear this is likely his final run at undisputed gold after previous title shot failures against Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira. His coach, Trevor Wittman, confirmed this won’t be a “retirement fight” and that Gaethje has no intention of continuing without a clear championship path.
Should he defeat Pimblett and secure the interim belt, Gaethje is expected to face Ilia Topuria later in 2026 for the undisputed lightweight championship. A McGregor fight, while lucrative, would represent a detour from that trajectory unless positioned as a White House spectacle worth the risk.
For now, Abdelaziz’s proposal remains speculation ahead of a more immediate priority. Saturday’s UFC 324 will determine whether Gaethje even has the interim belt to bargain with.
Conor McGregor has declared his UFC contract is essentially void following the promotion’s massive media rights deal with Paramount, setting the stage for high-stakes negotiations next month.
Conor McGregor said he has to negotiate a new contract with the UFC next month đ
The former two-division champion made the revelation during a recent live stream, explaining that his existing contract was structured around pay-per-view sales â a model that no longer exists under UFC’s new broadcasting agreement.
“My contract, essentially, is void right now because there’s no more PPV, whereas my contract was based on PPV sales,” McGregor stated. “I’m the highest-generating PPV fighter of all time. The PPV system is done, I’m due a new contract.”
McGregor confirmed he will enter negotiations with the UFC in February, expressing interest in how talks will unfold given the promotion’s dramatically improved financial position.
“They’ve actually got a new deal with Paramount, it’s worth $7.7 billion. So the company has 4xed its profit,” he added. “We’re going into negotiations in February, and I’m very interested to see how it goes.”
The 36-year-old Irishman, who holds a 22-6 professional record, hasn’t competed since suffering a broken leg against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021. He reportedly has two fights remaining on his current deal.
McGregor has been vocal about returning at UFC White House on June 14, previously telling Sean Hannity the fight is a “done deal, signed, delivered.” A potential showdown with Michael Chandler remains the most likely matchup for the historic event.
The contract situation highlights broader questions about fighter compensation in the post-PPV era, with several athletes reportedly restructuring their deals for higher guaranteed payouts under the new Paramount agreement.
Conor McGregor says he’s ready to make his long-awaited UFC return — regardless of who that may be against.
In a recent interview with Complex, UFC CEO and President Dana White said he has no interest in trying to make a fight between McGregor and Michael Chandler happen. Chandler had been on CBS recently promoting a positive sign that the two could face off at UFC White House.
Now, McGregor has taken to social media, seemingly to respond to White’s remarks. And it appears that McGregor is not crying over the spilled milk that would be a fight with Chandler never coming to fruition.
Pick who ya want! The Mac sweats nothin and nobody.
“Pick who ya want!” McGregor posted. “The Mac sweats nothin [sic] and nobody. I’m tasty shots.”
Conor McGregor Open To Any Fight After Dana White Scraps Potential Fight With Michael Chandler
McGregor and Chandler had been rumored to fight for about three years now. This stretches back to when the two were opposing coaches on season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter in 2023.
Despite no rumblings of a fight in that year, the two were booked to fight in the originally planned UFC 303 main event. Less than a month before the fight, however, McGregor withdrew with a toe injury.
McGregor re-joined the UFC drug testing pool this past summer, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s first revelation of the UFC’s plans for a card at the White House.
The UFC card on the White House lawn is scheduled for Sunday, June 14.
McGregor has not been seen in the Octagon since losing to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.
Michael Chandler can hope all he wants, but UFC CEO and President Dana White claims a fight between Chandler and Conor McGregor is dead in the water.
A fight between Chandler and McGregor has been nearly three years in the making now, stretching back to when the pair faced off as opposing coaches on season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter.
Chandler recently appeared on CBS as part of the network’s New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash show to ring in 2026 and promote the UFC’s new partnership with Paramount. As part of his time there, Chandler claimed that things were looking up for a fight with McGregor to finally happen — and happen at the UFC’s card on the White House lawn in June.
In a new interview with Complex, however, White suggested that the fight is no longer possible.
Dana White Says No Shot To Conor McGregor Vs. Michael Chandler At UFC White House
“I mean, that was a couple years ago,” White said. “No.”
Despite promotion that the two would face off at the end of TUF 31, the year 2023 came and went without a hint of a matchup announcement.
Finally, at the UFC 300 post-fight press conference, White announced that the two would face off in the main event of UFC 303. The fight went up in smoke less than a month before the event, however, due to a toe injury suffered by McGregor.
Since then, no fight announcement has been made, and Chandler has gone on to lose to Charles Oliveira and Paddy Pimblett at UFC 309 and UFC 314, respectively.
Since the first announcement of the UFC White House card this past summer, McGregor has publicly advocated to make his UFC return at the event, going as far as to re-join the UFC’s drug testing pool.
McGregor has not fought in the UFC since losing his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.
MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has speculated that Conor McGregor may have intentionally avoided his planned drug tests.
As we know, Conor McGregor has accepted a backdated 18-month suspension for violating the UFC anti-doping policy. While this does mean that he’ll be eligible to return in time for the UFC White House card, which has been his plan for a while now, it certainly raised a few eyebrows.
Conor McGregor knows how to keep the mixed martial arts world on their toes, and that much is an understatement. Nobody really knows what his next move is going to be and because of that, there’s often a lot of speculation when he does do something.
In a recent video, Chael Sonnen had the following to say about McGregor’s most recent controversy.
Chael Sonnenâs view on Conor McGregorâs ban
âOnce he gets three, the way thatâs going to be handled is before that is made public to any of you, they are going to reach resolution. And this is the part where I must tell you I am stuck: the conversation of Conor being booked for next yearâs White House event would not have been a conversation if this information was known.â
âI believe he was likely where they went. I believe he was on the other side of the door. I believe he willfully didnât answer that door. I donât have evidence of any of that, but if somebodyâs asking me the questionâ is this an elaborate way to avoid a fight?âwhile I lean towards no, there are only a few possibilities.â
âWho knew that Conor had this coming? Once thereâs three hits, there isnât a defense to that. You will have a hearing and you could raise your excuse, your reason, but in the history of drug testing, thereâs never been somebody thatâs attempted to defend that, thatâs attempted to come in and say, âI was there. They didnât knock loud enough.ââ
Conor McGregor is serving a suspension, but it wonât stop his planned UFC return.
The former two-division UFC champion has emphatically pledged to make his highly anticipated return to the Octagon after a hiatus of more than four years, setting his sights on the MMA promotionâs special White House event on June 14, 2026, celebrating the United Statesâ 250th anniversary.
âThe Notoriousâ has disclosed that he has already rejoined the drug testing pool and is seriously weighing a showdown with his Ultimate Fighter Season 33 rival coach, Michael Chandler, a fight that was originally slated for UFC 303 in June 2024 but fell through due to a toe injury.
McGregor has received an 18-month suspension for breaching the UFC anti-doping policy, but it wonât stand in the way of his anticipated comeback.
Image: ESPN.com
Conor McGregor Receives 18-Month Ineligibility After Failing To Submit Samples Three Times In 2024
The reported whereabouts failures occurred on June 13, September 19, and September 20, 2024. UFC-contracted fighters are obligated to keep their locations updated to allow testing agents to conduct random, unannounced drug tests. According to CSAD, McGregor failed to meet this requirement.
CSAD also noted that âThe Notoriousâ actively cooperated with the investigation and acknowledged his responsibility for the violations. As a result, the agency reduced the standard 24-month sanction by six months. McGregorâs suspension officially began on September 20, 2024, the date of his third missed test, and ends on March 20, 2026.
“McGregor missed three attempted biological sample collections within a 12-month period in 2024, which constitutes a violation of the UFC,” the statement read. “McGregor fully cooperated with CSADâs investigation, accepted responsibility, and provided detailed information that CSAD determined contributed to the missed tests… Taking McGregorâs cooperation and circumstances into account, CSAD reduced the standard 24-month sanction for three whereabouts failures by six months.”
Conor McGregor was last seen in the Octagon at UFC 264 in July 2021, where he endured a broken leg early in his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier. The Irish star boasts a UFC record of 10-4, with eight of his wins coming by way of knockout.
UFC star Conor McGregor has discussed his future fighting possibilities, whether it be with the Ultimate Fighting Championship or BKFC.
As we know, Conor McGregor is very interested in getting back in the ring or cage sooner rather than later. He has singled out next year’s UFC White House event as a possible return for him, and if that does come to fruition, you’d have to imagine he’ll square off with Michael Chandler given the history that the two share together. At the same time, he’s also heavily teased a showdown with BKFC sensation Mike Perry.
For Conor McGregor, his window for competing at the elite level obviously isn’t as big as it once was. He has plenty of options on the table, but given his commitment to the UFC, it doesn’t feel like a BKFC venture is particularly likely just yet – despite how involved he is with the promotion. Still, the Irishman is known for being a bit unpredictable, and at this point, there isn’t a whole lot that could surprise either his fans or his critics.
During a recent media scrum, Conor McGregor spoke openly about what the future holds for him in the world of fighting.
Conor McGregor discusses BKFC and UFC
“I know Dave wants me in the bare knuckle. The UFC are concocting a new contract deal or whatever’s going to happen. I don’t know. We’ll see. We’ll take it day by day. But God is great and I thank him every day.”
Conor McGregor has vowed to make intense preparations for his anticipated UFC comeback.
McGregor has reiterated his strong commitment to make his long-awaited return to active competition, targeting the UFCâs scheduled White House event in June 2026, which is planned to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States.
âThe Notoriousâ has previously revealed that he has already re-entered the drug testing pool and is seriously considering a clash with his Ultimate Fighter Season 33 rival coach, Michael Chandler.
Conor McGregor says heâs officially back in the UFCâs testing pool đ
âI gave my first blood test, thatâs what the plaster is on my shoulder. I am ECSTATIC! Iâm in SHAPE!â
The former two-division UFC champion was set to face Chandler at UFC 303 in June 2024, but was forced to pull out of the bout after suffering a broken pinky toe.
Image: UFC/Zuffa LLC
Conor McGregor Announces Six-Month Focus Period To Prepare For Octagon Return
During a pre-fight media interaction for BKFC 82 last Wednesday, Conor McGregor shared his thoughts on a potential return to the Octagon at the UFC White House event, emphasizing that heâs fully committed and laser-focused on putting in the work needed to make it a reality.
“I have eight months and change out to the White House event,” McGregor said. “It’s a six-month operation. I consider it a six-month operation to get ready for this bout, and that’s my focus right now. I’m just eager to climb the steps into being ready for my return. There’s a lot at stake, and I’m very excited at the opportunity.
“I was right there with my last one. I was in incredible condition, incredibly well-prepared. Just a slight lapse in concentration led to an injury. I wish to correct that and show what I’m about, and that’s it. I’m eager to get back, and we’ll see what the future holds after that.”
âThe Notoriousâ further reiterated that for his anticipated comeback to be successful, he plans to undergo a six-month period of isolation from the public eye, dedicating himself entirely to training and preparation.
“There will be a period of isolation for sure where the phone will not be answered,” Conor McGregor said. “All my people involved with me understand it is coming. As I said, it’s a six-month operation. I’m under no illusion of what lies ahead of me in my preparation efforts. So, the phone will be switched off, and the work will be executed.”
Conor McGregor hasnât stepped into the Octagon in over four years, with his last fight taking place at UFC 264 in July 2021, where he suffered a broken leg early in his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier. The Irishman holds a UFC record of 10-4, with eight of those victories coming by knockout.
UFC CEO and President Dana White is telling the world to hold their horses in regards to Conor McGregor’s claims that he is locked in for the UFC White House event in June.
At the UFC 320 post-fight press conference, White was asked about recent claims made by McGregor, who has gone around various media outlets to promote the UFC White House event and seemingly confirming his participation in it.
While White has previously teased McGregor fighting at the event, he says that nothing is set in stone. In fact, he isn’t even thinking about laying out a full card with participants just yet.
“We’re still talking about the production and how everything is going to work at the White House,” White said. “We have not started negotiating any fights for the White House yet. That won’t even start till February.
“I made it clear: Conor wants to fight on that card, and you can clearly see Conor is fired up to fight on that card, but nothing is done yet.”
Dana White Says Conor McGregor Isn’t Signed For UFC White House Yet
Though not everyone believes in what he says, McGregor has appeared on various mainstream programs over the last week or so, claiming that a deal for him to return to the Octagon in Washington, D.C. is “signed and delivered.”
UFC star Conor McGregor has spoken about his desire to make up for the loss he suffered due to a leg injury against Dustin Poirier back in 2021.
According to Conor McGregor, he is signed to return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship next year as part of the UFC White House card. Whether or not that’s actually going to happen, of course, is entirely up for debate, especially considering how inconsistent the messaging has been from Conor over the years.
Nonetheless, the return of Conor McGregor would serve as a huge moment for the promotion – and the sport of mixed martial arts as a whole. It’s not clear as to who exactly he would face off with, but a good guess would be that he finally steps in there to battle Michael Chandler after teasing the idea for a good few years now.
In a recent interview, McGregor spoke openly about what happened when he suffered a leg break against Dustin Poirier four years ago.
Conor McGregor wants to make up for 2021 loss
“I have eight months and change out to the White House event. It’s a six-month operation. You know, I consider it a six-month operation to get ready for this belt. And that’s my focus right now. I’m just eager to, you know, climb the steps into being ready for my return. There’s a lot at stake and I’m very excited at the opportunity.
“I was right there with my last one. I was in incredible condition, incredibly well prepared and just a slight lapse in concentration led to an injury. I wish to correct that and show what I’m about and that’s it. I’m eager to get back and we’ll see what the future holds after that.”
UFC star Conor McGregor has claimed that a deal has been struck for him to make his return to the promotion at next summer’s White House event.
For the longest time now, Conor McGregor has been teasing the idea of a return to professional mixed martial arts. While he still has plenty of fans around the world, his reputation has certainly taken a blow as a result of his many controversies outside of the cage. Alas, Dana White seems to be interested in getting him back, and the Irishman has his eyes set on next year’s blockbuster White House event.
For Conor McGregor, it’s seemingly all about proving that he has what it takes to continue competing at an elite level. Even if he doesn’t, he has the kind of star power that is always going to bring in some casual fans, especially for when the UFC hits up the White House.
In a recent interview, McGregor had the following to say about his return.
đ¨ Conor McGregor says his fight at the White House fight is SIGNED and a DONE DEAL đ
"Done deal, signed, delivered. McGregor will compete in the White House for America's 250th birthday."
Conor McGregor claims UFC White House is a done deal
âDone deal, signed, delivered. It ainât a negotiation, itâs a done deal, signed, delivered. McGregor will compete in the White House for Americaâs 250th birthday.â
âMe and Dana are in constant communication, weâve done incredible business together, Iâm the highest generating fighter of all time in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Theyâve just signed a breathtaking deal with Paramount where we go to cable TV, $7.7 billion that deal. Ready to rokc, baby. Bring in the big dog, the Mac, the Mac G.â
MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has rejected the notion that Conor McGregor is negotiating directly with the US government regarding his return to the cage.
Right now, UFC sensation Conor McGregor is making it clear that he is interested in a comeback fight – at the White House next summer. Alas, given the many controversies that he’s been involved in, there isn’t quite as much intrigue from the MMA fanbase as there once was when it comes to his mixed martial arts future.
Still, this is Conor McGregor we’re talking about here. He is a global superstar and nobody can deny that, even though he may not be at the level that he once was. In a recent interview, the Irishman claimed that instead of communicating with the UFC, he was speaking directly with the US government ahead of the promotion’s first ever event at the White House next year.
Chael Sonnen, however, doesn’t believe a word that Conor McGregor is saying.
Chael Sonnenâs view on Conor McGregor
âItâs not a matter of, okay, hereâs the information that we got from Conor. If it was, I would just tell you not one word of that is true, and I would get up and walk out of the room. But thatâs not a very fun conversation.
âHowever, thereâs not one word of that thatâs true. Conor is not negotiating with the United States government. And thereâs people that you can pull into your routine. Thereâs people that are willful participants, and when youâre doing a ruse with the media, that person becomes your tag team partner. Theyâve got to be willing.â
Conor McGregor has revealed that he is negotiating directly with the US government regarding his potential appearance at next year’s UFC White House card.
As we know, the Ultimate Fighting Championship is set to host a blockbuster event at the White House in summer 2026. We also know that Conor McGregor is very interested in being part of that card, to the point where he is continually posting training videos implying that he’s going to make a comeback after almost five years away from the cage.
For the longest time, Conor McGregor has been known as a pretty controversial figure in mixed martial arts. While some would argue that was also the case during his prime, things are different now. His popularity is nowhere near what it once was and given some of the things he’s been dealing with outside of MMA, it’s surprising that he’s still got such a big platform, in many ways.
Despite that, Dana White wants him on the UFC White House card – with Conor McGregor providing the following update on how it’s all going during a brief interview.
đłConor McGregor says he negotiates directly with White House administration instead of the UFC about his appereance on UFC White House cardđď¸đŽđŞ
âYou know, Iâm not negotiating with the UFC on behalf of myself for this fight like usual. Iâm negotiating with the United States of America on behalf of Ireland for this fight. So itâs a peculiar one. But Trump and the administration have been fully supportive and backing, and I cannot wait to put on a show.â
Conor McGregor is seemingly in preparations to compete at the UFC White House card next summer, but did he just post a demand he needs to see for that to be met?
It appeared that McGregor would never compete in the Octagon ever again given the amount of money and brand he’s made over the years. But since U.S. President Donald Trump and the UFC first started teasing the idea of a UFC card on the White House lawn — in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the United States — there arguably has been no fighter who has done more advocating to compete on the card than McGregor.
In a post on social media, however, McGregor appeared to state that he was looking for a $100 million payday to compete on the special UFC card in Washington D.C. He would also be looking for 100 “Golden Visas” in the U.S. for his family and friends.
$100million to fight at the White House along with 100 U.S âGolden Visasâ for myself and family and friends
I look very forward to entertaining the fighting world once again.
“I look very forward to entertaining the fighting world once again,” McGregor added in his social media post. “A pleasure I never take for granted!”
Conor McGregor Wants $100 Million And 100 Golden Visas To Compete At UFC White House?
The “Golden Visa” McGregor may be referring to is a newly announced “Gold Card” plan by U.S. President Trump that would see residency and citizenship given to those who gift $1 million ($2 million for corporations) to the U.S. government’s Department of Commerce.
This would mark a departure from the country’s EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, which saw foreign investors qualify to become lawful U.S. residents by making “the necessary investment in a commercial enterprise in the United States” and planning “to create or preserve 10 permanent full-time jobs for qualified U.S. workers.”
McGregor teased a bid for the Ireland presidency earlier this year before withdrawing. McGregor is no strange to controversy over his UFC career; however, he’s come under fire in particular over the last year, thanks to being found civilly liable of the rape of Nikita Hand in a hotel room in December 2018.
McGregor has not competed in the Octagon since his UFC 264 loss to Dustin Poirier. He was scheduled to face Michael Chandler, his opposing coach on season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter, at UFC 303 last year before pulling out of the fight less than one month prior to the card.
UFC commentator Daniel Cormier has given his thoughts on the latest rumors regarding a potential return to the cage for Conor McGregor.
At this point in his career, Conor McGregor is a pretty controversial figure. He’s been involved in many controversies and along the way, he seems to have lost a fair amount of his fans. With that being said, many would still be intrigued to see him step back inside the octagon, and it definitely feels like UFC’s White House event is when he wants to do that.
Daniel Cormier, who has followed Conor McGregor’s career closely for many years, has the following to say on the matter.
Daniel Cormierâs view on Conor McGregor
âHeâs told us time and time again that heâll be there and he hasnât shown up. I believe that this time, thereâs a stronger possibility because of all the time thatâs passed and I believe the White House is going be that big of a deal to him.â
âBut, I think the biggest factor in why Conor McGregor may fight is because no one believes him anymore and some of that shine is starting to wear off.
âIt doesnât matter how much money youâve got Chael, when youâre a guy that develops the level of stardom that he reached, when youâre a guy that loves the attention and the adulation and it starts to fade, then you come back and you do what you did before.
âI think heâs coming back, but itâs not because he wants to compete,â Cormier said. âI think he understands now that people just arenât in on the Conor McGregor business anymore.â
Is Conor McGregor really going to fight at the White House next year?
‘Mystic Mac’ sent the MMA world into a frenzy when he revealed on an episode of Fox & Friends that he was already booked for the UFC’s highly anticipated fight card at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in 2026. However, not everyone is buying it.
“The story that Conor McGregor is being talked to headline the White House card. I don’t buy it,” Chael Sonnen said via a video on his YouTube channel. “I can’t buy it. Why or would we be turning to Conor McGregor? And the answer is also out there because he is the sport’s biggest star. That is true.
“So, is that what you need? If you’ve got the open checkbook and you’ve got the magic wand, without saying names, do you say I’m going to put as my main event the sport’s biggest star? Is that your answer? Doesn’t matter who he’s fighting.”
Conor McGregor Says He’ll Fight Michael Chandler in the Nation’s Capital
McGregor went on to claim that he already has an opponent lined up for the history-making event, and it’s none other than the man he’s been linked two for the last three yearsâMichael Chandler.
After an underwhelming stint as opposing coaches on season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter, McGregor and Chandler were rumored to fight in December 2023. When that didn’t happen, the focus shifted to UFC 303 where the bout was officially booked for the main event. Unfortunately, that card came and went with McGregor once again sitting on the sidelines, this time due to a broken pinky toe he suffered whilst training for the clash.
Despite having been more than four years since his last Octagon appearance, McGregor has continued to dominate headlines, albeit for all the wrong reasons.
So, what say you? Is McGregor’s “greatest comeback in combat sports history” finally happening, or is ‘The Notorious’ just pulling our leg again?
BKFC president David Feldman is confident that Conor McGregor will step inside the squared circle before long.
In April 2024, McGregor announced that he’d officially become part-owner of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, a fast-rising promotion featuring a slew of former UFC stars, including ‘Platinum’ Mike Perry, Luke Rockhold, Eddie Alvarez, Paige VanZant, and Yoel Romero. Almost immediately, speculation ran rampant as to whether or not ‘Mystic Mac’ would ever toe the line in BKFC despite still being firmly under contract with the UFC.
“I think it depends on the outcome of the White House card, right?” Feldman told MMA Fighting of McGregor’s potential move from MMA to bare-knuckle. “If he wins the White House card, which I have every reason to believe no matter who he fights, he’s going to win because they’re going to match him… If he wins and looks good, he’s going to fight another fight.
“And if that happens, then I would bet 100% he’ll fight for BKFC. Why wouldn’t he? What will he do for the valuation of the company? He’ll double or triple it, and then he just doubled or tripled his interest in this. That’s way more than he’s going to get fighting anywhere else.”
Conor McGregor Claims He Will Fight Michael Chandler at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
No official announcements have been made regarding who will compete in the nation’s capital next year, but McGregor seems confident that the event will host a long-awaited clash between himself and former Bellator champion ‘Iron’ Michael Chandler.
The two were rumored to fight in December 2023 following their stint as opposing coaches on TUF 31 before the bout was officially booked for UFC 303. Unfortunately, the contest was scrapped after McGregor broke his pinky toe whilst training.
To those who have completely wiped away the idea that Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler would ever happen, McGregor is here to say you wrote the demise of that fight too early (supposedly).
McGregor announced his intentions for the previously-scrapped fight to take place at the White House while making an appearance on the Fox & Friends television program.
đ¨ Conor McGrgeor just confirmed Michael Chandler will be his opponent at the UFC White House event
“I’m on it,” McGregor said. “I am, this is me. Michael Chandler. Michael Chandler and myself have done the show, The Ultimate Fighter. We’ve had a good back-and-forth. He’s a good, tough guy. And ‘The Mac’ is excited to be back, for sure.”
Conor McGregor Says He Will Fight Michael Chandler At UFC White House Card
McGregor and Chandler both coached season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter in 2023. But as the year came and went, there was no news on a potential coaches’ fight for these two, despite it being announced at the end of the season.
Finally, at the UFC 300 post-fight press conference, UFC CEO and President Dana White confirmed that McGregor and Chandler would serve as the main event for UFC 303 in June 2024. But just weeks before the fight, a planned press conference in Dublin was canceled at the 11th hour, and the fight never came to fruition.
MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has ripped into Conor McGregor after he dropped out of the Irish presidential race.
As we know, Conor McGregor is a pretty controversial figure both in and outside of combat sports. He has been involved in a lot of controversies over the years, and now, his public image isn’t great – especially in his home country of Ireland.
Recently, Conor McGregor decided to withdraw his bid to become the next President of Ireland. In response, Chael Sonnen had a few things to say to ‘Notorious’ in a recent video.
Chael Sonnen rips into Conor McGregor
âBut when youâre blowing coke, getting blown by strippers, running in and out of court dates for this very thing, oh by the way, tying a dumbbell to your hoo-ha, (laughs) itâs a little hard to act like youâre the guy that consults with family. Youâre very clearly the guy that does whatever he feels like. So, you know, this whole âtalk to my family routineââŚwas so incredibly absurd.â
âThe most absurd thing was thinking that he owed an explanation. An explanation to who? The parliament never recognized you. There was no vote. There was no ballot. There was no visit to their version of the Secretary of Stateâs office. There was nothing about thisâŚ
âIf I was to ask Conor in fairness, three very simple questionsâa fifth grader if he paid attention in civics class would know the answersâabout what it takes to run, not about winning, just about what paperwork or administrative steps need to be done for you to actually be a candidate, I donât think he would have the answers.â
âConor McGregor has withdrawn his pending plans to be the president of Ireland. Well, thereâs one problem with that, Conor. You were never running for president of Ireland. You did not suspend a campaign. I would love to help you with that. You donât have a campaign. You are not returning your raised fund and telling your supporters maybe next time…There werenât any supporters.
âYouâre not coming over to take those yard signs down. There were no signs in the yard. This wasnât real. It wasnât real.â
Artem Lobov has explained why he believes it’s a good thing that Conor McGregor has decided to withdraw from the Irish presidential race.
Conor McGregor is known for being something of a wildcard, especially across the last few years of his career. Nobody really knows what he’s going to do next, and that’s the kind of energy he seems to enjoy. As we look ahead to the future, it’s unclear as to whether or not he’ll return to the UFC – but one thing he does seem fairly certain is that he’ll continue to pursue his political dreams.
For now, though, Conor McGregor will not be running for President of Ireland after withdrawing from the race, which is something that a lot of experts had anticipated would happen. In a recent interview, the aforementioned Artem Lobov gave his thoughts on the whole situation.
Artem Lobov on Conor McGregor withdrawing from presidential race
âRunning for president is something that we have spoken [about] all the way back [in the past],â Lobov told MMA Fighting. âOne of the reasons for even for me to arrange a meeting with [Russian president] Vladimir Putin for Conor, that all had those kind of future aspirations. Running for president, you want to establish some contacts in the political world and obviously Vladimir Putin is one of the main figures in politics worldwide. We always spoke about that.â
âThis time around, I support the decision to withdraw because I donât think Conor is in the right space right now,â Lobov explained. âNot in the right mindset to run for president. He has to get his ducks in a row first. We saw he pulled out of a press conference. Thatâs not Conor. I know Conor that showed up to fight for the interim belt with no legs. Both of his ligaments were torn in both of the knees, he was completely unable to walk and still showed up.
âThatâs the Conor I know. Thatâs the Conor that people believe would make a good president. I agree. That Conor for sure would make a great president and would address all the issues that need to be addressed right now in Ireland.â
UFC veteran Michael Chandler has said that he still believes he will fight Conor McGregor, potentially at next year’s UFC White House event.
For the longest time, Michael Chandler has been pursuing a showdown with Conor McGregor. While it’s been close to happening on a number of occasions, it’s never quite come to fruition. Now, however, with Dana White suggesting that Conor is serious about returning, it could be back on the table.
Next summer, the UFC plans on heading to the White House for a major event. For Michael Chandler, there’s no better moment for him and the Irishman to finally lock horns.
Michael Chandler wants Conor McGregor at White House
âI think weâre closer now than we ever have been,â Chandler told MMA Fighting about McGregor actually fighting again. âIâve always said if youâre a betting man, donât put money on him necessarily coming back but now this changes things a lot.
âIn my heart of hearts, I think Iâm fighting Conor McGregor at the White House and that sure does make a ton of sense for a multitude of reasons.â
âFirst and foremost, I want the White House,â Chandler said. âIdeally, if it becomes Conor, that would be awesome. We have some unfinished business. Iâve got respect for him, heâs got respect for me, but we do have [some] unfinished business. He has expressed interest.
âWhen he put out that meme of me and him, I guess could call it a meme, it was A.I., it was me and him. Heâs called me out on Twitter and said we have unfinished business and we do.â
These days, Conor McGregor is a pretty big fan of US president Donald Trump – but as it turns out, that wasn’t always the case.
In recent years, Conor McGregor has taken a pretty keen interest in the world of politics. He’s also been involved in a fair few scandals along the way outside of his fighting career, but he still has some support out there. Some of that support stems from the White House, with Donald Trump being a notable fan of the Irishman after they met earlier this year.
In fact, Conor McGregor has even expressed his interest in competing on the UFC White House card which is currently set to take place next summer. Whether or not that comes to fruition remains to be seen, but the plans are certainly in place.
In a video uncovered from almost a decade ago, though, Conor McGregor hit out at Donald Trump for criticizing Ronda Rousey following her loss to Holly Holm.
Conor McGregorâs old comments about Donald Trump
âWhy is that Donald Trump talking trash? I didnât know Donald Trump was talking trashâŚitâs easy for someone thatâs not in there to comment, but itâs different when youâre in there. The emotions are highâŚso it is what it is. You want to touch gloves, then donât. That means nothing. Donald can shut his big fat mouth. I donât give a f**k about Donald Trump.â
âIt was a very tough fight. Holly fought a great fight. And much respect. This is the fight business, these things happen. So Ronda will be back. True champions come back. And congratulations to Holly, the new championâŚdefeat is the secret ingredient to success, so true champions can conquer that, overcome it, and come back. So I wish her all the best and thatâs it.â
