Dana White Hints at Conor McGregor's UFC Return Despite White House Snub

Following the event announcement, White addressed the status of another superstar absent from the card: Conor McGregor. 

The Irishman had publicly lobbied for a spot on the White House show, even suggesting he was willing to fight for free, but he was ultimately left off the finalized lineup. 

He made that revelation during an interview with Chael Sonnen and Ian Parker for the Undefeated and Undisputed podcast:

“Send the contract! Yes, yes, yes. Day 15 of saying I accept. Send the contract!” he said, addressing matchmakers directly. “It’s like in this current climate, we’re all cattle... I’m just waiting to be f— wheeled out.”

Dana White’s Update on McGregor

White confirmed, during the UFC 326 press conference, that discussions regarding McGregor’s highly anticipated return to the Octagon are indeed taking place (via UFC on YouTube):

“No [update] but we are definitely talking to Conor obviously,” White stated during the post-fight press conference.

However, the UFC CEO put a stop on the idea that a fight is imminent. 

When asked about a timetable for McGregor’s return, White made it clear that fans will need to be patient. 

“Not even close,” White said. “We have no date for Conor right now. Not even close.”

Conor McGregor’s Realistic Return

While McGregor remains optimistic about his return, multiple factors suggest his path back to the Octagon is far from certain. 

He has not fought since July 2021, when he suffered a horrific broken leg in his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier.

A scheduled comeback against Michael Chandler in June 2024 was scrapped after McGregor broke his toe in training.

McGregor is also currently finishing an 18-month suspension for UFC anti-doping policy violations after failing to report his whereabouts in 2024, a ban that is retroactive to September 20, 2024, and will be lifted on March 20.

McGregor has claimed he was offered multiple opponents at welterweight and accepted them all, yet no contract has materialized . His manager, Audi Attar, was scheduled for face-to-face meetings in Las Vegas, suggesting negotiations remain active. 

The fighter himself told Undefeated and Undisputed, “[The UFC said], 'We're going to offer you this opponent'. Yes, no problem. I accept day after day after day. That's a great matchup is all you ever hear about out of me, and no contract came. I'm still here in this limbo.”

Despite multiple hurdles, McGregor still believes he has much to achieve in the sport.

He told Sonnen and Parker, “I’m gonna go until 50 [years old]. I’ve got at least 10 fights left.”