Michael Chandler still believes a long-delayed showdown with Conor McGregor will materialise on the historic UFC White House card, even as Dana White publicly rules it out. In a new interview, Chandler admitted some might call him “delirious,” but said he refuses to give up on the matchup until he is definitively told it is dead.
Michael Chandler won’t shut the door on Conor McGregor showdown despite UFC’s White House snub ‘Call it delirious.’
Speaking in an interview with MMA Fighting, Chandler said he views himself as a “first ballot” pick for the June 14 card on the White House lawn, citing the UFC’s need for reliable headliners for what is billed as the promotion’s biggest show to date.
UFC CEO Dana White has repeatedly said McGregor–Chandler will not happen at that event, stressing on multiple platforms that the promotion is “not going with” that fight, but has left the door open for McGregor to face someone else in Washington, D.C. Chandler countered that talks are still ongoing behind the scenes and that he will keep training as if the Irish star is still his target.
“I still think it’s happening. You can call it delirious, you can call it whatever you want, but until a door is slammed in your face and that door is locked and the key is thrown away, you never give up hope. So we’ll see. There’s talks happening right now and we’ll see how it plays out. I want it to be a big fight that is indicative of how big the White House is, man. “
If McGregor is taken off the table, Chandler wants a fight that matches the scale of the venue. He floated BMF champion Max Holloway as one dream option, depending on whether Holloway can get through a proposed title defence against former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira, a matchup that has been widely discussed for 2026 and tied to the White House card.
Chandler also mentioned Paddy Pimblett as a compelling narrative, pointing back to their first meeting, where Pimblett beat him after Chandler stepped in on short notice while coming off injury and rehab. The American said he was unhappy with that performance, describing himself as a shell of the fighter he believes he can still be, and argued that a rematch with a fully prepared camp would show his true level.
Chandler made clear that his aim is still a path to the lightweight title. He noted that Justin Gaethje’s interim championship win over Pimblett at UFC 324 keeps Gaethje near the top of the division, but acknowledged that the new interim champion is now locked in for an undisputed title shot rather than an immediate rematch of their 2021 classic.
While some veterans criticised Gaethje vs. Pimblett as messy, Chandler defended the bout, reminding fans that MMA remains “a street fight” with limited rules and that even elite contests contain untidy exchanges. He praised Gaethje as one of the top lightweights and framed Pimblett as short of that level in pure skill yet “tougher than nails” with the kind of resolve that keeps audiences invested.
For now, Chandler is leaning on activity outside the cage while he waits for a call, hosting an open workout-style event with Busting With The Boys and Phorm Energy that blends agility drills, explosive movements and community fitness around the NFL’s championship game. He said he will stay busy, keep promoting, and hold to the belief that he still has “a lot of tread left in the tires” until someone at UFC headquarters finally slams the door on McGregor for good.
