STWF Sports | Jan. 1, 2026 – Michael Chandler has never lacked confidence, and as the UFC’s most ambitious event in years begins to take shape, the veteran lightweight remains convinced his long-running pursuit of Conor McGregor will finally culminate in 2026.

Chatter surrounding McGregor’s return to competition is expected to intensify as the promotion moves closer to its unprecedented fight card at the White House, an event teased publicly in 2025 by U.S. President Donald Trump and later confirmed by UFC CEO Dana White. McGregor has not fought since suffering a broken leg against Dustin Poirier in July 2021, but the former two-division champion has repeatedly stated his intention to end his five-year MMA hiatus on the sport’s most political stage.

Few fighters have leaned into that possibility more than Chandler. The 39-year-old American has been vocal about his desire to appear on the White House card, and his long-simmering rivalry with McGregor has placed him firmly in the conversation. The pair were previously booked to headline UFC 303 in June 2024 before McGregor withdrew after injuring his toe in sparring, shelving a matchup that had already been years in the making following their stint as opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter.

Despite the setback, Chandler insists the fight remains very much alive.

“I will say, it’s going to be a big year,” Chandler said during an appearance with comedian Bert Kreischer at New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash. He went on to reference the UFC’s new seven-year broadcast agreement with Paramount+, which begins in January 2026, hinting that the timing could align perfectly.

“There’s a rumor going around that we can’t confirm or deny,” Chandler added. “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 sometime this summer. That’s the plan.”

Chandler’s unwavering pursuit has drawn mixed reactions from the MMA community, with some critics mocking his persistence. Still, the business case is undeniable. A bout with McGregor would represent a career-high payday for Chandler and place him at the center of one of the most watched events in UFC history, reinforcing his image as a blue-collar American star on the sport’s grandest stage.

Since joining the UFC in 2021, Chandler has gone 2–3, but those losses came against elite competition in a lightweight division stacked with talent. His willingness to face the best available opponents has earned respect within the organization, even as victories have been harder to come by.

If the McGregor fight materializes, it is widely expected to take place at welterweight. At this stage of his career, McGregor would likely struggle to make the lightweight limit of 155 pounds, making a 170-pound bout the most practical option for both fighters.

McGregor, for his part, has made it clear that his ambitions extend beyond a single comeback fight. Speaking last month at his Black Forge Inn in Dublin, the Irishman suggested that capturing the welterweight title could serve as the final chapter of his storied career.

“I’m motivated, self-motivated,” McGregor told Bloody Elbow. “I for sure want a crack at that 170lbs belt to go for the triple crown. I hope it’s Michael Chandler, but I won’t say no to anyone—the UFC will decide it.”

That title picture, however, is crowded. Islam Makhachev currently sits atop the welterweight division after dethroning Jack Della Maddalena, with contenders such as Ian Machado Garry and Kamaru Usman looming as potential challengers.

White has said fight announcements for the White House card will begin in February, noting the logistical scale of the event—including a reported $700,000 bill to restore the South Lawn after hosting the Octagon. Trump has even floated the possibility of eight or nine title fights on the night, fueling speculation that a special United States-themed championship belt could be created.

Whether Chandler ultimately gets his long-awaited date with McGregor remains uncertain. But as the UFC prepares for an event unlike any in its history, Chandler’s confidence suggests he believes the final act of this rivalry is no longer a matter of “if,” but “when.”