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McGregor Says He’s Interested in Fighting at Trump’s UFC Event

Conor McGregor has publicly stated his interest in competing at the 2026 UFC event hosted by US President Donald Trump at the White House.

White House UFC Event

At a gathering in Iowa on Thursday, Trump declared his intention to host a UFC event for 25,000 spectators on the White House grounds in 2026 as part of the country's 250th anniversary celebrations.

“We’re gonna have a UFC fight, think of this, on the grounds of the White House,” Trump said. “We have a lot of land there. We’re not going to build a little, we’re not, Dana (White, UFC CEO) is going to do it, a UFC fight, championship fight, full fight. We ‘re going to have some incredible events, some professional events, some amateur events, but the UFC fight is going to be a big deal.”

McGregor's Goals in Politics

Although Variety stated that the UFC will be revealing additional information soon, there has been no official word from the organization as of yet.

Late yesterday, McGregor published this X post:

“July 4th next year is a Saturday, regarding President Trumps (sic) UFC White House event. I will be reigning President of Ireland just under 1 year when I step out on the lawns of the White House to throw down. Epic proportions! Or as I like to call it, Tuesday at the office. Vote McGregor.”

McGregor has repeatedly declared his intention to run for Irish president.

No fight in four years 

Reports here indicate that the likelihood of it occurring is low.  Additionally, keep in mind that McGregor is 36 years old and hasn't competed in the Octagon since suffering a broken leg in a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021.  A toe injury forced him to withdraw weeks prior to UFC 303, where he was scheduled to make his comeback against Michael Chandler.  In his last four UFC bouts, McGregor has suffered three defeats.

However, as excitement for the event grows, betting would skyrocket if McGregor made a significant UFC comeback.

It's difficult to gauge betting interest in an event like this because nothing like this has ever been done, BetVictor trader Mark Collier told Casino.org yesterday.

Jones Comeback?

“Hard to gauge really,” he said. “Not sure we’ve had such an unorthodox sort of venue before or even something remotely comparable. Personally, with the variables involved such as Donald Trump, outside set up and most crucially, bouts likely to be PPV level then surely we would expect above average business.”

This morning, it was also reported that heavyweight Jon Jones, who announced his retirement a few weeks ago, had joined the UFC drug testing program.  In any case, that's what he's saying.  Jones gave up the heavyweight belt, which Tom Aspinall currently holds. 

Jones, 37, is regarded as one of the all-time great UFC fighters.  He also professes to be a Trump supporter.  On the betting volume front, a heavyweight comeback bout with Jones on the White House lawn would be a huge smash.