Posted on: September 27, 2025, 07:43h.
Last updated on: September 27, 2025, 07:52h.
For a guy who hasn’t stepped into the Octagon in four years, Conor McGregor’s $100 million ask to participate in next year’s White House UFC card will no doubt raise an eyebrow or two.
McGregor Looking for the Big Bucks
$100 million to fight at the White House along with 100 U.S. “Golden Visas” for myself and family and friends. I look very forward to entertaining the fighting world once again. A pleasure I never take for granted!
That’s what McGregor wrote on X. The UFC is currently working with the U.S. administration to build a temporary stadium to house 5,000 people and host a UFC event on the White House lawn to watch next summer as part of America’s 250th birthday celebrations.
As soon as U.S. President Donald Trump made the announcement in July, McGregor was front and centre expressing his interest in taking part. Tens of thousands will also watch in an adjacent park, equipped with larger screen televisions, and a stage with live music.
White House Lawn Event
UFC President and CEO Dana White went on Fox News last week to reveal renderings for the live event.
“My vision for this thing is we have this big arch, with the lighting grid, because what I want is the White House on the back, and when the fight goes around to the other side, you’ll see the Washington Monument,” said White.
Immigration Gold Card
The “Golden Visas” McGregor refers to are likely part of the Trump Gold Card immigration program. Trump just slashed the price of these from $5 million to $1 million. Those who pay that will have their residency fast tracked.
McGregor has expressed an interest in fighting Michael Chandler. Chandler went on Fox News last week and said he’d be interested in fighting McGregor.
McGregor hasn’t fought in the UFC Octagon since breaking his leg in a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021. He was supposed to make his comeback against Chandler at UFC 303 in June 2024 but had to pull out weeks before because of an injured toe. McGregor has lost three of his last four UFC fights.
In the end, who knows with McGregor, who has spent the past four years selling a Prime Video TV movie appearance with Jake Gyllenhaal, whisky, cigars, and a run for Ireland’s Presidency. White did say last week that he and McGregor have been talking a lot of late, so maybe there’s a decent chance this all comes together.
UFC 320: Sandhagen Addresses O’Malley Challenge
Cory Sandhagen, the No. 4 ranked bantamweight fighter, has more important things on his mind these days – prepping for a title fight against belt-holder Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 320 for one (Sandhagen +300, Dvalishvili -440 at FanDuel).
No. 1 ranked bantamweight Sean O’Malley went on his “BrO’Malley Show” podcast this week to talk about the UFC 320 fight but also talk about what’s next for he and Sandhagen, including finally getting together to fight. And he has his eyes on the White House UFC celebratory event.
“The White House card, Cory out there and wins [at UFC 320], I beat whoever’s next, that’s interesting,” he said. “But regardless, I want to fight within the next four or five months, whatever it is, and then I’ll also be ready for that. Being on the Sphere card, being on the White House card, these are just legendary moments. They’re once in a lifetime f—ing moments.”
Bantamweight Title Fight
Sandhagen though doesn’t sound as enthused, in an interview with CBS Sports.
“I think that Umar and Yan are the more deserving guys right now,” Sandhagen told CBS Sports. “I definitely want to be an active champ. This fight is in October. I’d like to fight in the first quarter of next year against [Petr] Yan or Umar [Nurmagomedov]. Once I get one of those back, we’ll see what happens for the summer card, whether it’s O’Malley or Yan or Umar.
“I think that O’Malley and I at the White House would be sweet. Hopefully, he gets a couple of wins so we can do that. He needs to get some wins because he’s fallen a little bit behind.”
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