Dana White Teases Conor McGregor's UFC Return Despite White House Snub

UFC president says they are in talks with McGregor, but no timeline set for his next fight.

Mar. 8, 2026 at 6:34pm

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UFC President Dana White has confirmed that the promotion is in talks with Conor McGregor about a potential return to the octagon, despite recently excluding the Irish superstar from the upcoming UFC White House card in June. White cited McGregor's inconsistencies as the reason for leaving him off the high-profile event, but said they are discussing a comeback for the former two-division champion, though no timeline has been set.

Why it matters

McGregor is one of the biggest draws in MMA history, and his return would generate significant interest and attention for the UFC. However, his unreliable nature has been an ongoing issue, leading the promotion to leave him off a major event like the UFC White House card.

The details

McGregor was originally rumored to be fighting Colby Covington at the White House event, but Dana White quickly shot down those plans. A rescheduled bout between McGregor and former challenger Michael Chandler also fell through due to McGregor's inconsistencies. Despite McGregor's desire to appear on the White House card, White made the decision to leave him off the lineup, which will be headlined by Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje with Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane as the co-main event.

  • The UFC White House card is scheduled for June 14, 2026.
  • Dana White recently confirmed they are in talks with Conor McGregor about a potential return, but said they are 'not even close' to pinning down an event for him to compete at.

The players

Dana White

The president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the premier mixed martial arts organization.

Conor McGregor

A former two-division champion in the UFC and one of the biggest stars in the history of the sport, known for his brash personality and knockout power.

Ilia Topuria

A rising UFC featherweight contender who will headline the UFC White House card against Justin Gaethje.

Justin Gaethje

A former interim UFC lightweight champion and one of the most exciting fighters in the promotion, set to headline the UFC White House card against Ilia Topuria.

Alex Pereira

The current UFC middleweight champion, who will compete in the co-main event of the UFC White House card against Ciryl Gane.

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What they’re saying

“We are definitely talking to Conor.”

— Dana White, UFC President

“It get's me back in there, but you know, they veered off and I'm not gonna be too picky. I have to get back, I'm eager to get back...sorry Chandler, it is what it is.”

— Conor McGregor

What’s next

The UFC has not yet announced a specific timeline or event for Conor McGregor's return to the octagon, but Dana White has confirmed they are in active discussions with the former champion.

The takeaway

Conor McGregor's star power and drawing ability make him a valuable asset for the UFC, but his unreliable nature and inconsistent schedule have been an ongoing challenge for the promotion. The decision to leave him off the high-profile UFC White House card shows the UFC is willing to move forward without McGregor if he cannot commit to a reliable timeline, though they remain hopeful of booking his return in the near future.