Conor McGregor‘s return is filled with intrigue, having spent four years on the sidelines. As his comeback talks begin to grow stronger, McGregor’s next opponent has been all but confirmed in the form of Michael Chandler.
The UFC White House has all the ingredients to be the biggest and most significant event in the sport’s history. Some of the greatest fighters in the world, both inside and outside of the UFC, are hoping to be added to the fight card, and it seems the first addition is edging closer.
Despite navigating through some serious legal issues, Conor McGregor has been hinting at his return to the octagon over the past two years. McGregor’s last outing saw him suffer a career-altering leg break that has kept him out of action since 2021.
The Irishman almost made a return last year, though his scheduled bout against Michael Chandler was canceled due to injury. The pair have continued to keep their fight talk alive since then, and it now looks to have paid off.
According to Chandler, he believes the must-win affair will finally materialize on the White House lawn when the UFC arrives in the capital on June 14.
“We would definitely have to go out there, dot our I’s, cross our T’s,” Chandler told MMAFighting. “Go out there and not just beat Conor, but dominate him and just systematically and surgically break the man down.”
“To be able to get draped in the stars and bars and get my hand raised right there on the White House lawn. I’ve dreamt about it. I’ve visualized it ever since this announcement was made that we were doing this fight on the White House lawn, and I believe it’s going to come to fruition.”
Nerves are a natural part of fight preparation for fighters, but the weight Americans will feel to perform at the White House is likely like nothing they have ever felt before.
Several US patriots are pushing to compete on the card, with Jon Jones just one who is keen to be given the green light by Dana White. Despite other proud Americans expected to make the walk to the octagon from the Oval Office, Michael Chandler is adamant that his fight will be the headlining bout, making the pressure that much bigger.
“It’s America’s birthday,” Chandler continued. “250 years and I would be the guy carrying the stars and bars, red, white and blue to the octagon in what we assume would be the main event.”
“Obviously, that comes with a little bit of extra pressure, a lot of extra layers. I do feel like I love this country. I love the people of this country. I love so many things about being an American. I truly believe we are the greatest country ever assembled.”
“We have our black eyes, we have our blemishes, we have our moments, we have our pain, obviously over the last week we’ve been experiencing a lot of that.”
“But I think this is a beautiful celebration of what this country is and who we are as Americans. I would love the opportunity to be it.”
Related: Conor McGregor confirms White House return
As expected, showcasing yourself at the White House is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that the vast majority of Americans will never have the chance to experience.
Michael Chandler understands the magnitude of such an event and insists that, even with no official UFC title on the line, a win over Conor McGregor and a subsequent celebratory hand raise with Donald Trump symbolizes much more for him.
“There is almost nothing that is impossible — first of all, this sounded impossible just six months ago, doing a fight at the White House,” claimed Chandler. “Now you get it set and the amount of things that are on the table, nothing is off the table.”
“That would actually be really, really cool. Donald Trump coming in and raising my hand, raising my arm to get a win for America on its birthday. That would be cool.”
“No belt on the line, but maybe they’ll come out with the White House belt. Something cool for this momentous occasion that we can throw on our shelves in our offices.”
“That would absolutely be a blast, but even if that did not happen, the opportunity to fight in front of our president again, to fight at the White House, would be an absolute dream come true.”
