Conor McGregor has announced his return to the UFC, confirming he will fight on the proposed White House card in 2026. The event, backed by US President Donald Trump and UFC CEO Dana White, is planned to celebrate Independence Day and the 250th anniversary of the United States.
Speaking to Fox News, McGregor stated, “The Mac is excited to be back. I'm on it, this is me.” He also revealed his opponent: Michael Chandler, reigniting their rivalry after a scheduled 2024 fight fell through due to McGregor breaking his toe. “Michael Chandler and myself. We've done The Ultimate Fighter. We've had a good back and forth. He's a good, tough guy,” McGregor added.
Dana White confirmed ongoing discussions with McGregor, saying, “We'll build the greatest card of all time for the White House card. Conor and I have been talking consistently. Conor wants this fight bad and when you get to a level Conor is at, you have to find things that motivate you and the White House card definitely motivates him.”
McGregor has not fought since 2021, suffering back-to-back losses to Dustin Poirier. His return follows a brief foray into politics, having dropped out of Ireland's presidential race last week. The former two-division champion has faced legal issues, including a civil court finding him liable for sexual assault in 2018, which he continues to deny.
