Conor McGregor isn’t done. The former two-division UFC champion has confirmed he’s working toward a comeback, and he wants it to happen at the most historic venue MMA has ever seen, the White House.
After more than four years away from the Octagon, McGregor has reignited the conversation surrounding his return. The buzz picked up after U.S. President Donald Trump revealed plans to host a UFC card on the White House lawn in 2026 as part of America’s 250th independence celebration. That announcement has lit a fire under some of the biggest names in the sport, and McGregor has made it clear he wants in.
“I’m going home, going to get the head down, going to rest. They’re testing me, I’m in the pool,” McGregor told The Schmo. “So get ready! And stay ready, because damage will be done! Oval office, White House garden!”
McGregor hasn’t fought since his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021, when he broke his leg in the final moments of the opening round. Since then, he’s teased multiple returns, including a scheduled matchup with Michael Chandler at UFC 303. That fight fell apart when McGregor pulled out due to a toe injury, and speculation surrounding his future took over once again.
Even with the uncertainty, McGregor’s presence continues to loom large. He holds seven of the top 10 UFC pay-per-view records and remains the most bankable name in the game. Bare Knuckle FC president David Feldman recently claimed McGregor privately told him he’s working toward a UFC return, and McGregor’s latest interview confirms it.
“I’m in the pool!” he said again, doubling down on the news that he’s re-entered the UFC’s drug-testing protocol.
UFC CEO Dana White has promised the White House event will top anything the promotion has done before, including last year’s spectacle at the Las Vegas Sphere. A headliner featuring Conor McGregor would instantly make it one of the biggest nights in MMA history.
While Jon Jones ended his brief retirement and joined the list of potential fighters for the card, McGregor brings a different kind of energy. He’s the master of the moment, and a return at the White House would be the kind of spectacle only McGregor can pull off.
