Michael Chandler never gave up hope of eventually sharing the Octagon with Conor McGregor and he still thinks it could happen.
The two were originally scheduled to fight after coaching against each other on The Ultimate Fighter, but injuries, delays, and cancellations forced Chandler to move forward with his career.
The former lightweight title challenger went on to face Charles Oliveira and Paddy Pimblett, yet Chandler always knew that if McGregor returned, he had to be the first opponent on the list. Now that McGregor has publicly declared his desire to headline the UFC’s first-ever White House event in 2026, Chandler believes his patience may finally pay off.
“I think we’re closer now than we ever have been,” Chandler told MMA Fighting. “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.”
While nothing is finalised, Chandler sees the historic White House card as the perfect stage for his long-awaited clash with McGregor. For him, the priority is competing on that event, whether it’s McGregor across the cage or another opponent.
“First and foremost, I want the White House,” Chandler said. “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 unfinished business.”
“I never pulled out of a fight. I never missed weight,” Chandler said. “The most important thing about this White House card is reliability. It’s about putting on the best fights that are guaranteed to happen. In this crazy sport, there are no guarantees, but I’m about as close to one as you can get. If I can walk to the Octagon, I’m showing up. That door closes, and I’m putting on a show for the fans.”
It has been more than four years since McGregor last fought, when he suffered a broken leg against Dustin Poirier. A broken toe later prevented his bout with Chandler at UFC 303. Since then, McGregor has spoken often about a return, but his White House announcement marked a turning point for Chandler.
“I’ve heard the comments from [David] Feldman and other people close to him. Withdrawing from the presidential race in Ireland puts his focus back on training,” Chandler said. “If there ever was a card that Conor McGregor comes back for, it makes a lot of sense it would be this one.”
Dana White has also backed up McGregor’s comeback claims, saying on the Impaulsive podcast, “He’s dead serious, he wants this. He’s training, he’s back in the pool, he’s doing all the right things. We’ll see how it plays out.”
Chandler has been overlooked in the past for waiting on McGregor, but he insists this time it’s not just about the Irishman; it’s about cementing his place on the White House card.
“Waiting and myself are synonymous because of The Ultimate Fighter and all that stuff,” Chandler said. “But this one’s not far away. I’ve been active. I fought Oliveira in November, Pimblett in April. I threw myself into the fire, got banged up, but I showed up. Now we’re focused on being ready, and I’m definitely willing to wait because it’s not that far away when you think about the promotion this fight needs.”
In the end, Chandler is convinced that if McGregor does return, it has to be against him.
“Obviously if he wants to retire and sail off into the sunset, that’s one thing,” Chandler said. “But if he comes back, it’s got to be Chandler vs. McGregor at the White House. I think a lot of people are on board with that.”
For Chandler, competing on the White House lawn is a dream in itself and sharing that stage with McGregor would finally settle years of unfinished business and deliver the biggest fight of his career.
