Conor McGregor has openly acknowledged that lucrative boxing matches against YouTube stars like Logan and Jake Paul are on his horizon, but for now, the Irish fighter's primary focus is a dramatic return to the UFC octagon in 2026.
The Lure of Influencer Boxing
The former two-weight UFC champion, who hasn't fought since a 2021 defeat to Dustin Poirier, has a history of verbal sparring with the Paul brothers. Talks for a crossover bout have surfaced multiple times. In 2024, reports suggested McGregor had agreed to an exhibition boxing match with Logan Paul in India, but UFC president Dana White firmly shut down the idea.
Later that same year, McGregor encountered the Paul family in Washington during Donald Trump's inauguration, where their war of words continued. Furthermore, last year, McGregor was in advanced talks for a boxing showdown with KSI. According to Misfits chief Mams Taylor, a fight agreement was signed, but it was the 37-year-old McGregor who pulled out at the last minute.
McGregor does possess boxing experience, having faced Floyd Mayweather in a high-profile 2017 bout. Reflecting on the influencer boxing scene, McGregor told Bloody Elbow: "I had a sweet deal there," and "Look, them YouTuber fights will come. I'm coming back for glory, for the gold belt, for the triple crown. That's what I'm after."
White House Showdown: The Immediate Goal
Despite the future allure of influencer boxing, McGregor's immediate ambition is firmly rooted in the UFC. He is desperate to compete at the UFC's planned White House event in June 2026. Speculation is mounting that his opponent will be long-time rival Michael Chandler, a fight originally scheduled for 2024 before McGregor withdrew due to injury.
Chandler himself fuelled these rumours recently. During a New Year's Eve broadcast, the American fighter said: "...it does sound like I might be handing Conor McGregor a good ol' passionate, 'red, white and blue' butt whooping in the South Lawn of the White House sometime this summer. And that's the plan, let's go."
Road to a 2026 Comeback
McGregor's veteran coach, John Kavanagh, confirmed late last year that the fighter is fully committed to a return. "We're 100 per cent in," Kavanagh disclosed, adding that McGregor has asked for a detailed training programme leading up to June. The coach noted that McGregor is already clocking in regular gym sessions and assembling a team of training partners.
McGregor's own comments align with this focused mindset. He cited Mike Tyson as an inspiration, praising how fresh the boxing legend looks, but reiterated that his own path first leads back to UFC glory. For now, the lucrative world of YouTuber boxing remains a future prospect, while the immediate goal is a spectacular UFC comeback on one of the sport's most unique stages.
