Michael Chandler teases Conor McGregor receiving ‘red, white and blue butt whooping’ at UFC White House event

Michael Chandler is putting all his chips on the table to finally fight Conor McGregor in 2026.

During the New Year’s Eve celebration on Wednesday, the one-time UFC lightweight title challenger was asked about what’s next for him during the broadcast that aired on CBS and Paramount+. Chandler wasted no time teasing his showdown with McGregor, which has long been rumored as a potential headliner for the UFC’s upcoming event at the White House, which is expected to take place in June.

While nothing is finalized yet, Chandler seems to think his plans to beat McGregor at the historic event could be a done deal soon.

“I will say it’s going to be a big year,” Chandler said during the broadcast. “No. 1, like you said, the UFC is now on Paramount+ for the next multitude of years and also there’s a rumor going around — we can’t confirm or deny — 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. Let’s go.”

Of course, Chandler has been scheduled to face McGregor in the past after they were coaches against each other on The Ultimate Fighter reality series but an injury to the Irish superstar prevented the fight from happening.

Now two years later, McGregor has returned to the UFC’s anti-doping program specifically to set up a potential fight at the White House. McGregor hasn’t fought since 2021 when he suffered a gruesome broken leg in a trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier.

The enticing possibility of performing at the White House got McGregor back into full-time training and he’s been posting regular updates on social media as he plots his return to action in 2026.

Meanwhile, Chandler is looking to get back on track after disappointing outcomes in his past two fights after falling to Charles Oliveira in 2024 and then suffering a TKO loss to Paddy Pimblett this past April.

UFC CEO Dana White has repeatedly teased that planning for the White House card won’t start until February but it sure seems like McGregor and Chandler are preparing for a fight in June.