Conor McGregor is back in the headlines, but this time, not for a knockout or a controversy. The Irishman, currently suspended by the UFC’s anti-doping body, has revealed a spiritual awakening. At a recent BKFC press conference in Rome, McGregor stood before reporters, not as the brash ‘Notorious’ fighter fans once knew, but as a man seeking redemption.

The timing of this transformation is striking. McGregor, now part-owner of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, has been pushing for a UFC comeback on the highly anticipated White House card next summer. Yet his return remains clouded by an 18-month retroactive suspension for missing multiple anti-doping tests under CSAD, the UFC’s current regulatory partner. Eligible to fight again by March 2026, the former two-division champion insists his time away hasn’t been wasted; instead, it’s been a spiritual reset.

Conor McGregor claims he’s “healed” as he confesses a newfound perspective on spirituality

In a clip from the BKFC 83 press conference, shared on X by Championship Rounds, Conor McGregor stated, “I am not here just by chance. There is a higher power, God, that dictates my journey and all of our journeys. And I live my life by God’s word. Since around the time that you mentioned at the last event, I’ve engaged in a spiritual journey. And I’m saved. I’m healed.”

Glimpses of the old McGregor, one that captivated audiences on the microphone before and after fights, shone through as he continued with, “On the back of that, the world is in for a treat. The world is in for a treat. My competitive spark that was once in my heart is now a roaring blaze. So I’m very excited. You know, I envy these men up here on this dais. They’re right about to make weight, and they’re to go in and enjoy and entertain and do what they were called to do, as am I called to do it. You know, I’m eager to get back. And right now, I’ve had to dial myself in and go inward. And that I’ve done. And I’m very, very excited to come back [as] my old self.”

The former UFC megastar’s spiritual turn isn’t coming out of nowhere. His life, both inside and outside the cage, has been a study in extremes. From claiming two UFC titles and a record-breaking boxing bout with Floyd Mayweather, to facing legal troubles and civil suits, McGregor’s career has often been a balancing act between brilliance and chaos. Now, he seems to be trying to tip that scale back toward purpose.

Still, questions remain. Is this newfound faith the real Conor McGregor, or just another chapter in his saga of reinvention? His return to the Octagon, once seen as inevitable, now hangs in limbo as UFC boss Dana White recently pushed back on his claims about being locked in for the UFC White House card.

According to White, “We’re not even looking at the White House card until February… We won’t even start until February. And then, whether he’s (Conor McGregor) available or not [for the event], talk to (Jeff) Novitzky about that.” Yet, that hasn’t stopped the Irishman from continuing to fuel conversations about his long-awaited return to the cage!

McGregor goes against Dana White as he points to “something good” about a return at the White House

If there’s one thing Conor McGregor never fails to do, it’s keep the world talking. Even with Dana White pouring cold water on claims of a confirmed bout, McGregor’s fire to return burns brighter by the day. The UFC’s White House card, set for June 14, 2026, is shaping up to be the grandest in company history. But can it really live up to that billing without ‘The Notorious’ leading the charge?

During a recent conversation with Ariel Helwani, he was asked what would be more interesting to him, a BKFC main event or the White House? The Irishman quickly responded with, “I’m coming back with the White House. I’m having fun with all this [BKFC promotion], but I’m under no illusion. I’m helping them, building up the guys. Getting the fighters raised up, getting the profile raised up, doing what I’m here for. But my comeback for mixed martial arts is paramount for me.”

And if his comments are anything to go by, McGregor already has a name in mind as he continued, “I’d love it to be Chandler, it is [verbally] signed. Something good is coming was what [the UFC] said.”

So, the long-teased matchup with Michael Chandler, originally scheduled for UFC 303 before McGregor’s toe injury derailed it, might finally get its long-awaited stage. After all, in many ways, Conor McGregor’s story has always been one of rebirth; from a plumber’s apprenticeship to world champion and now, from performance to faith. His latest chapter feels different, though — less about noise, more about meaning. Whether this spiritual awakening is permanent or just another reinvention remains to be seen!