UFC megastar Conor McGregor just mentioned the other day about embracing a cleaner, more disciplined side. But yesterday brought a shakeup to his much-anticipated UFC return at the White House event.

Originally slated for July 4, 2026, Donald Trump pushed the spectacle forward to his birthday on June 14, 2026, sending waves of excitement through fans eagerly awaiting the showdown. The event remains in the logistical planning phase, and Dana White and the UFC have yet to reveal the official fight card. Still, people widely expect Conor McGregor to appear. For now, negotiations remain in the talking stage, a high-stakes chess game behind the scenes. Yet McGregor’s path is anything but smooth.

Is Conor McGregor out of the UFC White House?

On October 8, 2025, ESPN MMA writer Carlos Contreras Legaspi reported that Combat Sports Anti-Doping confirmed an 18-month suspension for Conor McGregor after he violated the UFC Anti-Doping Policy (UFC ADP). The ban starts retroactively in September 2024. According to ESPN MMA, “McGregor missed three attempted biological sample collections within a 12-month period in 2024, which constitutes a violation of the UFC ADP. His period of ineligibility began on September 20, 2024 and will conclude on March 20, 2026.”

This means Conor McGregor becomes eligible to step back into the Octagon on March 20, 2026, which naturally does not affect the possibility of him appearing on the highly anticipated UFC White House card. However, questions swirl over whether ‘The Notorious’ will actually make the lineup. UFC President Dana White has hyped the event as “the baddest card of all time,” but the Irishman’s history of unpredictability—especially after the Jon Jones saga—keeps the promotion cautious.

Conor McGregor spent much of the past four years on the sidelines following a devastating leg break against Dustin Poirier in their trilogy clash at UFC 264. He tried repeatedly to claw back into the cage, including a thwarted attempt at UFC 303 last year, which a “pinky toe” injury derailed.

Now, with his eyes on the UFC White House, McGregor faces the dual pressure of proving he’s still a draw and silencing skeptics. Still, not everyone buys into the comeback. Flyweight GOAT Demetrious Johnson weighed in, stating, “I don’t like when someone’s sitting there, picking and choosing what they want to do…we don’t need Conor on the White House card.”

Dana White puts an end to Conor McGregor White House rumors

Back in late September, Conor McGregor ignited a firestorm by bypassing UFC CEO Dana White and taking his demands straight to American President Donald Trump, seeking $100 million and “golden visas.” Speaking after the BKFC event, ‘The Notorious’ clarified his bold move: “I am not negotiating with the UFC on behalf myself like. I am negotiating with the United States of America behalf of the Ireland.” While he may not be eyeing a presidential run, McGregor actively leveraged his Irish roots. “Trump and the administration have been fully supportive and backing,” he added, further fueling the spectacle.

Unsurprisingly, the statement divided the MMA community, sparking debate among fans and critics alike. Chael Sonnen dismissed McGregor’s claims as a “scripted,” stunt, calling it part of the fighter’s larger-than-life persona during the early stages of the UFC White House production. “We’re still talking about the production and how everything’s gonna work at the White House,” Sonnen explained. “We have not started negotiating any fights for the White House yet.” White moved quickly to temper the hype. “I made it clear Conor wants to fight on that card, and you can clearly see Conor is very fired up to fight on that card,” White said. “But nothing is done yet, and no fights are being negotiated with the White House.”

With anticipation mounting, all eyes now turn to Dana White and the UFC matchmakers as Conor McGregor’s comeback edges toward confirmation. His route back into the Octagon should become clearer after March 3—stay tuned for the latest developments.