Conor McGregor Name Drops His Desired Comeback Opponent for UFC White House Card

After years of delays, Conor McGregor has finally named Michael Chandler as his desired opponent for the groundbreaking UFC event at the White House in 2026. 

During a recent appearance on Fox & Friends, McGregor finally broke his silence on his plans, explicitly naming Chandler as his intended opponent for the White House event. 

"The Mac is excited to get back for sure. I'm on [the White House card]. This is me," McGregor declared. "[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."

Watch a clip of the interview here (via HappyPunch):

McGregor’s announcement, combined with dropping out of his Ireland presidential bid, and his interview with TMZ expressing his desire to fight on the White House card, are the most definitive statements from McGregor regarding his comeback plans. This recent activity is a significant shift from the uncertainty that has surrounded his fighting future since the UFC 303 cancellation. 

While McGregor has been distracted with happenings outside of the sport, Chandler has been keeping himself busy competing in the UFC. He suffered losses to Charles Oliveira and Paddy Pimblett, however, leaving him with five defeats in his last six Octagon appearances.

Despite the setbacks, Michael Chandler believes it will all pay off with a huge payday against McGregor at the White House.

"I think we're closer now than we ever have been," Chandler told MMA Fighting just days before McGregor’s announcement. 

He expressed newfound optimism towards the prospect of finally securing that lucrative McGregor fight, saying, "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."

UFC President and CEO Dana White has not confirmed that this bout will happen, though he has told Fox News he has been in contact with McGregor regarding this booking.

Both fighters would be entering the matchup following recent setbacks. McGregor, with his prolonged inactivity and injury concerns, and Chandler, with a string of losses in his most recent outings, are fighters who are well past their competitive primes. Their draw for casual audiences, however, will turn the UFC White House event into a spectacle that is sure to appeal to viewers outside of its hardcore fanbase.