Conor McGregor insists his long-discussed return to the Octagon will finally happen, and he expects it to come on one of the UFC’s most historic stages. Speaking on FOX & Friends, McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) confirmed his intention to headline the UFC White House event in June 2026, with Michael Chandler (23-10 MMA, 2-5 UFC) as his opponent.
“I’m on it,” McGregor said. “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.”
Years in the Making
The McGregor-Chandler fight has been in the works for nearly three years. The two first squared off as rival coaches on The Ultimate Fighter 31 in 2023, with the expectation of fighting afterward. They were officially booked to meet at UFC 303 in June 2024, but McGregor withdrew just weeks before the event due to a toe injury.
Since then, doubts have swirled about McGregor’s future, as he dabbled in Irish politics, faced legal controversies, and battled long layoffs from competition. Yet both McGregor and UFC CEO Dana White have consistently pushed the idea of his return, with the one-of-a-kind White House card providing the perfect stage.
The Stakes
If finalized, the matchup would mark McGregor’s first fight since UFC 264 in July 2021. When he suffered a broken leg in his trilogy loss to Dustin Poirier. He has not recorded a win since his 40-second TKO of Donald Cerrone in January 2020.
Chandler, a former Bellator champion and UFC title challenger. Has also endured ups and downs inside the Octagon but remains one of the sport’s most entertaining fighters. He has long lobbied for the McGregor matchup and recently expressed optimism about sharing the cage with “The Notorious” on U.S. soil’s most symbolic stage.
A White House Spectacle
The UFC White House event is expected to be a centerpiece of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations. With the Octagon set to be staged on the South Lawn of the White House and ceremonial weigh-ins planned at the Lincoln Memorial.
For McGregor, whose career has been built on transcending sports into spectacle. The historic event represents both a comeback and a chance to cement his legacy with one more marquee moment.
