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Tag: UFC White House

  • Conor McGregor Claims Fight With Michael Chandler Will Happen At UFC White House

    Conor McGregor Claims Fight With Michael Chandler Will Happen At UFC White House

    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 has long campaigned for a spot on the UFC White House card next summer to mark his return to the Octagon. Now, he’s gone as far as to name Chandler as his opponent for such a fight.

    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.

    “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.

    The fight seemed to be further dead following Chandler’s losses to Charles Oliveira and Paddy Pimblett at UFC 309 and UFC 314, respectively. But Chandler has recently expressed great belief that he and McGregor will headline the UFC’s planned White House card in June 2026.

    McGregor, who recently dropped out of the race for Ireland’s presidency, has not fought in the Octagon since his loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021.

  • New Developments As UFC White House Card Set For June 2026

    After UFC CEO and President Dana White called it a “done deal” last week, more details have started to come out for the early planning of a UFC event at the White House.

    Per a report from the Wall Street Journal, White met with U.S. President Donald Trump and members of Trump’s administration this past week to officially confirm plans for the event — one of several events in Washington, D.C. around that time to help celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States of America.

    Though originally intended to be held on July 4, which falls on a Saturday in 2026, the card will instead take place in late June. Logistical challenges reportedly were the cause of moving up the date of the event. UFC officials do say, however, that plans for the event remain on track.

    The event will reportedly include both a press conference and weigh-ins to take place on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Fighters may warm up in the White House and make their Octagon walks through different ceremonial routes, including going through the Oval Office or Rose Garden, before entering the Octagon located on the White House lawn.

    UFC White House Event Reportedly Set For June 2026

    The UFC will reportedly have various fan engagement events in the days leading up to the card. This will include autograph sessions and other interactive activities occuring at the National Mall, as well as viewing screens for broader public access.

    Fireworks and laser-light displays will reportedly be involved during the event.

    Given the spectacle nature of this event, combined with the card’s historic nature and various events, it is still unclear how this will effect plans for International Fight Week in 2026.

    The historical nature of the event has brought out several fighters to ask for placement on the card, including both Conor McGregor and Jon Jones. McGregor has not fought since UFC 264 in July 2021, while Jones announced a comeback following the first tease of such an event — coming just two weeks after he retired and surrendered the UFC heavyweight title.

    This card also comes in more historic times for the UFC — the first year of a seven-year, $7.7 billion U.S. broadcasting deal with Paramount.

  • “This Is Going To Be Awesome” – Dana White Says UFC White House Event Is A Done Deal

    “This Is Going To Be Awesome” – Dana White Says UFC White House Event Is A Done Deal

    Ever since it was first brought into the wild, the idea of a UFC White House event has been debated, discussed, derided, and defended. Now, approximately 10 months before the 250th anniversary of the United States, UFC CEO and President Dana White claims plans for an event are now official.

    White made the announcement during an Instagram Live stream on the evening of August 28, stating he had spent the day in Washington, D.C. trying to figure out details in regard to the event

    “We had the meeting at the White House; could not have gone better,” White said. “This is going to be awesome. The White House fight is on. I will have more details on that in the next couple of weeks. But we got it done today.”

    Dana White Says UFC White House Event Is A Go Following Meeting In Washington, D.C.

    U.S. President Donald Trump first teased the idea about a card at the White House during Fourth of July festivities last month. He stated such an event as part of a big series of events to celebrate the Semiquincentennial of the U.S.

    The UFC and White, in a series of interviews, would later indicate the plans were one of serious nature, with full intentions of a card to take place on the lawn of the White House on July 4, 2026.

    White has previously claimed he intends to make the one of the “baddest” cards in UFC history at such an event, though he wouldn’t name any potential names or matchups due to the distance of time between now and the White House card.

    Many fighters have expressed their desire to be selected for such an event, including Conor McGregor and Jon Jones. McGregor hasn’t fought in the UFC since 2021 but has since returned to the UFC’s testing pool. Jones’ retirement lasted only two weeks due to the announcement; however, White has expressed trepidation and a lack of desire in placing Jones on the card.

    It is believed many or all of the tickets for the White House card will be complimentary, and it is unclear if this event would be broadcast on Paramount+ exclusively or on linear CBS networks as well with the UFC’s new U.S. broadcasting deal with Paramount that begins in 2026.

  • ‘Disappointed’ Jon Jones Breaks Silence After Dana White Calls Him A ‘Risk’ For UFC White House Event

    ‘Disappointed’ Jon Jones Breaks Silence After Dana White Calls Him A ‘Risk’ For UFC White House Event

    Jon Jones isnā€™t exactly pleased with Dana Whiteā€™s dismissal of his UFC White House return plans.

    Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to celebrate Americaā€™s 250th Independence Day with a major UFC event on the White House lawn in July 2026.

    The news quickly caught the attention of Jones, who had retired just weeks earlier. The former two-division UFC champion announced his plans to make a comeback and revealed he had re-entered the promotionā€™s drug testing pool, intent on competing on the historic card.

    Image: @jonnybones/Instagram

    However, during the UFC 318 post-fight press conference on Saturday, White was asked if he would consider ā€œBonesā€ for the proposed White House event. The UFC CEO promptly shut down the idea, citing Jon Jonesā€™ troubled past as the reason he couldnā€™t be trusted to headline such a high-profile occasion.

    “Itā€™s not even about him winning the belt,” White said. “You know how I felt about him. I just canā€™t risk putting him in big positions in a big spot and have something go wrong, especially the White House card.”

    Jon Jones Reacts After Dana White Rules Him Out Of UFC White House Event

    In the wake of Dana Whiteā€™s decision to dismiss the possibility of his return for the proposed UFC White House event, Jon Jones took to social media on Sunday to respond.

    “Bones” voiced his disappointment in the UFC CEOā€™s doubts about his dependability, but affirmed that heā€™s continuing to train and preparing for any opportunity that comes his way.

    ā€œI heard the comments made at last nightā€™s press conference,ā€ Jones Jones wrote on X. ā€œWhile I was a little disappointed, Iā€™m still in the UFCā€™s drug-testing pool, staying sharp, and continuing to train like a professional. Iā€™ll be ready for whatever comes next.

    “In a recent interview, I shared that the opportunity to fight at the White House gave me something deeper to fight for, a ā€˜whyā€™ that goes beyond paychecks or belts. Fighting for my country gives me a greater purpose!

    ā€œThe silver lining in all this is knowing the fans see my heart. They see, I am ready and willing to take on anyone, to represent my country on a historic stage. For me, itā€™s never been just about the opponent. Iā€™m chasing legacy, something timeless, something bigger than the moment.

    ā€œSo for now, Iā€™ll keep grinding, stay patient, and stay faithful. Iā€™m ready to fight on July 4th.ā€

    Jon Jones last stepped into the Octagon at UFC 309 in November 2024, where he successfully defended his heavyweight title for the first time with a third-round knockout of former champion Stipe Miocic.

    ā€œBonesā€ was locked in a heated rivalry with Tom Aspinall, with fans eagerly calling for a title unification bout. However, the matchup never materialized, as Jones repeatedly questioned Aspinallā€™s legitimacy as a worthy challenger.

    Jon Jones
    Image: Jon Jones on Instagram