Conor McGregor has appeared to announce his opponent for the much-anticipated UFC White House event as he prepares to make a comeback following a four-year hiatus.
The UFC will hold a live event at the White House on July 4 next year – an idea that was mentioned by President Donald Trump at a rally in Iowa.
Weigh-ins will reportedly take place at the Lincoln Memorial, with fighters warming up for their fights inside the White House itself. The Octagon, meanwhile, will be set up on the South Lawn.
Earlier this month, UFC president Dana White confirmed that he wanted former two-division champion Conor McGregor to headline the event in 2026.
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Speaking about that prospect during a recent interview with The W.A.D.E. Concept, he said: "Say what you will about Conor McGregor because people like to talk sh*t about that too, but he is that guy, and he's always been that guy."
White added: "I've been in the room. I've been on the phone. Lots of people like to talk tough publicly, but behind the scenes, it's a whole other ballgame. When the sh*t hits the fan, who's really willing to go out, and Conor McGregor has always been that guy."
Asked who was at the top of his list to headline the event, White responded: "Conor McGregor."
Conor McGregor confirms who he will fight at the White House
A week after White's comments and McGregor has claimed he will face Michael Chandler on the UFC White House card.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Fox & Friends on Friday night, as seen below, the Irishman said: “The Mac is excited to get back for sure. "I’m on [the White House card]. This is me."
He added: “[I’m fighting] 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.”
Dana White also spoke to the TV channel and promised to build "the greatest card of all time" as he spoke about McGregor's impending return.
McGregor was scheduled to face Chandler at UFC 303, but the bout was cancelled just two weeks beforehand after the former two-weight champion suffered a broken toe in training.
Earlier this week, Chandler opened up on potentially facing McGregor at the White House.
“I think we’re closer now than we ever have been,” Chandler told MMA Fighting. “I’ve always said if you’re a betting man, don’t put money on him necessarily coming back but now this changes things a lot.
“In my heart of hearts, I think I’m fighting Conor McGregor at the White House and that sure does make a ton of sense for a multitude of reasons.”
He continued: “First and foremost, I want the White House. Ideally, if it becomes Conor, that would be awesome. We have some unfinished business. I’ve got respect for him, he’s got respect for me, but we do have [some] unfinished business.
"He has expressed interest. When he put out that meme of me and him, I guess could call it a meme, it was A.I., it was me and him. He’s called me out on Twitter and said we have unfinished business and we do."
Chandler added: “We have unfinished business. We would be the only fighters not to fight after The Ultimate Fighter, who were in the same weight class. Conor and I, it makes sense.”
Who will come out on top? Let us know in the comments.
Topics: Conor McGregor, UFC, Dana White
Jack Kenmare