Conor McGregor learns date for potential UFC comeback at White House event

Irish Daily Mirror

14 hours ago

Conor McGregor's potential UFC return could unfold on July 4, 2026, following boss Dana White's confirmation that the promotion's planned White House visit is locked in for that very date.
Last month, US president Donald Trump made a string of major declarations during a rally in Iowa ahead of Independence Day. The 79-year-old outlined his intention to stage a UFC event on the White House grounds before up to 25,000 spectators.
"And I even think we're going to have a UFC fight... Does anybody watch UFC and the great Dana White?" Trump asked the crowd of MAGA faithful. "We're going to have a UFC fight. We're going to have a UFC fight," Trump continued.
"Think of this - on the grounds of the White House."
Trump added: "We have a lot of land there. We're going to build a little - we're not, Dana's going to do it, Dana's great, one of a kind - we're going to have a UFC fight, championship fight, full fight, like 20-25,000 people."
The occasion will form part of the 4 July festivities in the US to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the nation's establishment, reports the Mirror.
White disclosed he has arrangements to meet with Trump and his daughter Ivanka at the end of the month to cement the proposals. It will represent the first occasion a UFC fight card would be staged at the White House.
"It is definitely going to happen," White, a high-profile supporter of the US president, told CBS television.
"I talked to him last night -- 'him' being the president -- and I'm flying out there at the end of this month, and I'm going to sit down and walk him through all the plans and the renderings, and we're going to start deciding what he wants and doesn't want."
The UFC chief continued: "When he called me and asked me to do it, he said: 'I want Ivanka in the middle of this.' So Ivanka reached out to me, and her and I started talking about the possibilities, where it would be and, you know, I put together all the renderings." Donald Trump with Dana White (Image: AP)
After Trump's declaration, numerous fighters were swift to volunteer their services for the event, including McGregor. In a social media post, the 37-year-old wrote: "Happy 4th of July, USA. Excited with President Trump announcing a UFC fight event at the White House! I would be honoured! Count me in! !".
White appears enthusiastic about the prospect after McGregor revealed a conversation with the 55-year-old. The Irishman sent the UFC chief several voice messages - apparently concerning the proposed White House event - to which White responded: "I love it!" McGregor subsequently reinforced his stance during a recent BKFC event, declaring: "It's looking like I'm headed to the Oval Office again. That's where I'm headed next." When did Conor McGregor last fight?
The former two-weight UFC champion hasn't stepped into the octagon since his loss to long-standing adversary Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in 2021. He was set to make a remarkable comeback last year against ex-Bellator titleholder Michael Chandler, but was compelled to withdraw from the bout after sustaining a training injury.
During a recent appearance on Pardon My Take, White was questioned about McGregor's possible comeback. "He's been posting videos of himself training. He's back in the [testing] pool now," the UFC chief revealed.
"He wants the White House fight."
He continued: "If he starts training and getting in shape... that is the fight he wants. He keeps telling me he wants that fight, so we will see how it plays out over the next several months."