Michael Chandler continues to believe his long pursuit of a fight with Conor McGregor is not finished. After years of near misses, canceled bookings, and public speculation, Chandler now thinks the path could reopen in an unexpected place.
The two fighters built momentum toward a meeting after coaching Season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter in 2023. That buildup appeared ready to pay off when they were scheduled to compete at UFC 303 in June 2024. The matchup collapsed when McGregor withdrew after suffering a broken pinky toe. Since then, no official rebooking has taken place.
Despite the silence, Chandler remains confident the story is not over.
White House Event Brings New Life to Old Rivalry
Momentum returned when reports surfaced about a possible UFC event tied to the White House in June. McGregor quickly reacted, publicly inserting himself into the discussion and once again mentioning Chandler as a potential opponent. The Irish star has also spoken about undergoing a personal and spiritual reset as part of his attempt to return to competition.
Chandler believes those words carry meaning.
“I will say it’s going to be a big year,” Chandler told CBS. “No. 1, the UFC is now on Paramount+ for the next multitude of years, and also, there’s a rumor going around, we can’t confirm nor deny, but it does sound like I might be handing Conor McGregor a good old fashioned, passionate, red, white, and blue butt whooping on the south lawn of the White House some time this summer. That’s the plan.”
🚨 Michael Chandler teases a fight against Conor McGregor at the White House live on the CBS NYE broadcast 👀
“It does sound like I’ll be handing Conor McGregor a good ol’ fashioned butt whooping on the south lawn of the White House some time this summer. That’s the plan.”
(via… pic.twitter.com/yD2ypcAivg
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) January 1, 2026
McGregor, now 37, has not competed since July 2021 when he suffered a leg injury during his bout with Dustin Poirier. Since then, talk of a return has surfaced repeatedly without materializing inside the Octagon.
Chandler’s recent run has been difficult as well. He enters 2026 after being stopped by Paddy Pimblett at UFC 314, marking his third straight defeat. Even so, Chandler insists the McGregor matchup remains the right fight for his career and for the sport.
No contracts have been signed, and no date has been confirmed. Still, Chandler continues to speak as though the opportunity is alive, believing McGregor’s renewed visibility and the rumored special event could finally align.
For now, the matchup exists only in words. Chandler, however, sounds convinced that this chapter has not closed yet.
