Conor McGregor Reacts to Dana White Ruling Out Opponent for UFC White House

Dana Shuts Down Michael Chandler vs. Conor McGregor Fight

In a conversation with Complex, White dismissed the long-rumored comeback fight between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler.

Watch the full interview here:

"No, I mean, that was a couple of years ago," White stated simply, adding, "No". 

This matchup, born from the two serving as opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter in 2023, has been stalled for years and was most recently scrapped from UFC 303 in 2024 after McGregor withdrew due to a toe injury. 

White's comments reveal a significant shift, indicating the promotion has moved on from this particular booking.

Unfortunately for Chandler, who has waited patiently for this fight to be booked against McGregor for years, it seems like this lucrative fight is no longer in his cards, despite his belief that this fight was in the works behind the scenes. 

Furthermore, White expressed general uncertainty about the Irish superstar's fighting future, telling Complex, "We’ll see if Conor’s going to come back or not. We’ve been talking about it for a while. We’ll see. We’ll see how it plays out. I don’t know, though".

Conor McGregor's Response

McGregor, a former two-division champion who has not fought since his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier in July 2021, responded to White's remarks with characteristic bravado on social media. 

Seemingly unbothered by the collapsed Chandler fight, he issued a bold challenge to the UFC brass. "Pick who ya want!" McGregor posted on X. "The Mac sweats nothin and nobody. I'm tasty shots."

Before White’s announcement, McGregor seemed confident that Michael Chandler was his next opponent for his UFC comeback.

Though his hopes to fight against a beatable opponent in Chandler have been slashed, he is clearly ready to face any opponent the promotion selects, reinforcing his previous public statements that he is committed to fighting on the historic White House card.

While McGregor's opponent remains a mystery and the door is firmly closed on Chandler, the UFC matchmakers are now tasked with finding a suitable and compelling opponent for McGregor's return. 

McGregor’s comeback is one of the most marketable stories in MMA and sports as a whole, and with White confirming that serious work on the White House card will begin in February, fans are anticipating which fighter gets the call to face him on the White House South Lawn this summer. Whether it’s a new rivalry or maybe a storied rematch, McGregor’s return will be the centerpiece of an event that Dana White has promised will be fireworks.