Not long ago, Daniel Cormier dismissed the idea of Conor McGregor ever competing again. The former two-division UFC champion and current commentator told Club Shay Shay that McGregor’s name attached to the White House card was more about headlines than fighting.
But after weeks of speculation, “DC” seems to have changed his outlook. Speaking with Chael Sonnen on Good Guy–Bad Guy, he admitted McGregor might actually step into the cage this time.
Why the White House stage could matter
“He has told us time and time again he will be there, and he hasn’t shown up,” Cormier explained. “I believe that this time there’s a stronger possibility because of all of the time that’s passed, and I believe that the White House is going to be that big of a deal for him. But I think the biggest factor in why Conor McGregor may fight is because no one believes him anymore, and some of that shine is starting to wear off. It doesn’t matter how much money you’ve got. When you’re a guy that develops the level of stardom that he reached, when you’re a guy that loves the attention and the adulation, and it starts to fade, then you come back and you do what you did before.”
Cormier’s point was clear — McGregor thrives on being the center of attention, and the chance to headline an unprecedented event at the White House may be too enticing to pass up.
The long drought since McGregor’s last win
At 37 years old, McGregor hasn’t fought since 2021 and owns just one victory in the last eight years — his quick finish of Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone at UFC 246. That was back in 2020, and many critics point out Cerrone was already on the decline.
McGregor’s lightweight record has also suffered, sitting at 1-3 in his last four fights. Still, the Irishman has remained in the spotlight through ventures outside the cage, from whiskey sales to politics, even briefly announcing a run for president of Ireland before withdrawing.
Why Chandler is the right matchup
Cormier believes the planned fight against Michael Chandler makes sense stylistically.
“It doesn’t have to be a big win,” he continued. “It just has to be a win or a fight that propels him into the spotlight because when he came back and fought ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone, all respect to Donald, (but) Donald was scared of him, and he did not fight him. He got beat by Conor McGregor so easy, but that was a great matchup for McGregor. I believe that the Chandler matchup is a great matchup because Michael won’t wrestle him, and he’s dangerous when he’s striking. So yes, I think he’s coming back, but it’s not because he wants to compete. I think he’s coming back because he understands now that people aren’t just in on the Conor McGregor business anymore.” via MMAJunkie
For Cormier, McGregor’s motivation isn’t legacy or belts — it’s the spotlight itself.
McGregor’s aura of invincibility has dimmed over time. His absence from competition, combined with legal troubles and inconsistent performances, has made some fans skeptical of his star power. That’s why Cormier argues the comeback is more about reclaiming relevance than chasing championships.
Having re-entered the USADA testing pool and with Chandler still lined up as the likely opponent, the only question is whether McGregor follows through this time.
Whether fans see McGregor’s return as a spectacle or a true sporting comeback, the UFC’s White House card may end up being his most crucial fight in years — not for rankings, but for reputation.
