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Is McGregor’s UFC Return Inevitable?

Originally posted on BoxingNews.com | Last updated Sep 16, 2025 11:17 AM ET

Conor McGregor’s move into Irish politics has come to an end, as he said he will no longer pursue the Irish Presidency, making a UFC return more likely.

McGregor had declared his intention to run on an anti-immigration platform, designed to tackle illegal immigration. However, in order to do that, McGregor needed to follow the rules that required him to appear on the ballot. That meant he had to receive official endorsements from either 20 members of the national parliament or four local authorities.

While McGregor had support from the likes of Elon Musk, it was not enough for him to secure the nomination. He has now looking ahead to the future, as he will likely target a return to the UFC having re-entered the UFC’s drug testing pool with a view to fighting on the UFC White House event.

McGregor Reacts

Muintir na hÉireann, a chairde Ghaeil,

I recently announced my sincere and genuine intentions of running for the office of Uachtaráin na hÉireann.

I am a very passionate Gael and take great pride in our Country.

I have demonstrated this fighting Irish spirit on a world stage…
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) September 15, 2025

McGregor’s presidential bid was largely a non-starter. For example, a Sky News survey of 134 Irish politicians who replied found zero willing to support his bid, with some even making scathing remarks about his suitability for the role. With his political dreams stalled, the implications for his fighting career are now the focus.

Conor’s previous comeback attempt against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 was derailed by a toe injury, which prolonged his absence from the sport. Now, with a specific goal in mind—headlining the historic UFC White House event in June 2026—McGregor has a clear target. The Notorious still has two fights left on his UFC deal, meaning he will be desperate to return, especially with Dana White stating he would like McGregor to headline, putting the ball in Conor’s court.

This article first appeared on BoxingNews.com and was syndicated with permission.

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