The UFC plans to make history in 2026 with a once-in-a-lifetime card at the White House on America’s 250th Independence Day. Dana White hails it as “the greatest card of all time,” and Conor McGregor‘s return has been promoted as the comeback that will jolt the sport back to life, making him the presumed headliner of the night. But that’s exactly the assumption Chael Sonnen wants to challenge.
Conor McGregor shook the MMA world with his appearance on Fox & Friends, where he declared not only that he would compete on the UFC’s White House card in 2026, but also that Michael Chandler would be his opponent. “I’m on it. I am. This is me,” he stated, confirming the long-rumored fight with Chandler following their heated stint as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter.
Dana White added fuel later on Special Report with Bret Baier, complimenting the Irishman’s hunger and suggesting that the White House stage had “definitely motivated Conor McGregor.” But even with the hype machine in full force, there’s one important factor that’s being overlooked: ‘The Notorious’ may not be the man who closes the show.
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On his YouTube channel, UFC analyst Chael Sonnen quickly dismissed the idea that the Irishman will lead the event. “I don’t buy it. I can’t buy it,” Sonnen stated, asking why the UFC would anchor its most ambitious card in history on a non-title bout. ‘The American Gangster’ believes it is less about McGregor’s fame and more about the symbolic significance of what a White House main event is supposed to represent.
‘The American Gangster’ didn’t downplay Conor McGregor‘s significance, saying that “That will trump any idea that you have. That will trump any realistic pairing that you can do. One Conor trumps whatever idea you have from now until then, which is almost a year.” In his opinion, just putting McGregor’s name on a poster overshadows questions about who he is fighting and what they are fighting for. That’s the undeniable force of the ‘Notorious’ brand.
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Still, Sonnen pressed the greater question: will the UFC really admit in advance that its “biggest card ever” will not include a title fight, not even a number-one contender bout, but rather Conor versus “anybody that can fog a mirror”? Instead, Chael Sonnen suggested that Dana White might consider booking something unconventional or “outside the box” for the top slot.
He proposed a champion vs. champion superfight, perhaps Islam Makhachev versus Ilia Topuria, or perhaps the unexpected return of a retired legend like Jon Jones for the historic occasion. In his opinion, those kinds of battles have the weight of a White House main event, whereas McGregor vs. Chandler, however entertaining, feels light for such a historic platform. In fact, it may not even be ‘Iron’ who faced the returning Irishman.
Chael Sonnen reveals an unexpected name for the Conor McGregor fight
Following his reservations about Conor McGregor vs. Chandler headlining such a historic card, Chael Sonnen went a step further by proposing an unexpected alternative. If the UFC chooses to position McGregor’s return as a one-night spectacle rather than a bout with lasting implications for rankings or titles, it opens the door for a different type of opponent, one chosen only for name value and nostalgia.
That’s when Tony Ferguson joins the conversation. Sonnen stated that because ‘The Notorious’ is unranked, unlicensed, and not fighting for gold, the UFC has the option to match him with “an older name, a name that you know.” ‘The American Gangster’ stated that “Tony Ferguson would not be off the table.”
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Such a matchup, he argued, wouldn’t affect the division’s future but may provide the drama and excitement that fans expect from a White House showdown. The mention of Ferguson heightens the curiosity. ‘El Cucuy’ left the UFC on an eight-fight losing streak, but he just won a TKO boxing match against Salt Papi, reminding fans that he still has fire in him.
While Michael Chandler remains the most likely candidate given his extended wait and unfinished business with McGregor, Sonnen’s Ferguson pitch underlines how unpredictable the UFC can be when putting together the 250th Independence Day card.