UFC Superstar Conor McGregor Shocks With 3.30 AM Zinger, Pulling Out of Irish Presidential Race

Former UFC dual-weight champion Conor McGregor remains a larger-than-life character, out of the scope of fighting. Circumstances necessitated that he maintain his hedonistic, ‘Notorious’ ways, since he’s out of touch and hasn’t been in active competition in 4 years.

A part of his usual charm, inclusive of brawls, nose-blows, BKFC part equity MMA promotional ownership, voicenotes and tweet-sprees, also had the added flavor of Irish politics. Mac was to be back and was hoping to make a splash on next year’s supposed “America 250” White House PPV lineup from a place of power, after dabbling in Irish politics.

But that seems to be officially over now, as Conor McGregor announced in a bilingual late-spree statement that he’s pulling out of the Presidential race.

Muintir na hÉireann, a chairde Ghaeil [People of Ireland, My Irish friends], ….I recently announced my sincere and genuine intentions of running for the office of Uachtaráin na hÉireann [President]…I am [still] very passionate Gael and take great pride in our Country. I have demonstrated this fighting Irish spirit on a world stage and placed us rightly at the top table; I have been truly humbled by the support and encouragement I have received canvassing the length and breadth of our great Island.

Conor McGregor via X (@TheNotoriousMMA)

He continued:

I travelled to New York last Wednesday, a home to many Irish…to rightfully commemorate the tragic terror attacks of 9/11 and discuss my aspirations for Ireland with the US Administration…Ireland has drastically changed in recent years, however, is constraint by the straitjacket of an outdated Constitution that is selectively upheld by the main Oireachtas parties, and exploited to prevent a true democratic Presidential election being contested…Following careful reflection, and after consulting with my family, I am withdrawing my candidacy from this presidential race. This was not an easy decision, but it is the right one at this moment in time. While I will not contest this election, my commitment to Ireland does not end here.

Conor McGregor further said via X

🚨 BREAKING: Conor McGregor has announced that he is no longer running for President of Ireland 🇮🇪

"Following careful reflection, and after consulting with my family, I am withdrawing my candidacy from this presidential race. This was not an easy decision, but it is the right… pic.twitter.com/IAFZwG4R1g

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) September 15, 2025

The UFC superstar already ran into a recent roadblock, with the ruling party Fine Gael requesting, practically mandating a nationwide statement to 246 local councils to not propel local, independent candidacies.

Before this, McGregor also encountered another obstacle as he had to secure 20 parliamentary (Oireachtas) nominations to initiate such a candidacy. Given his rep as MMA’s ‘notorious’ bad boy, it was tough, and yet again, the fighter promoted a true democratic free-flow of power. As he does yet again, dissing at the Oireachtas parties and the elites, in favor of Irish working men.

However, the super contentious McGregor was also on the black side of the Irish tabloids. Per RTE (›rte.ie/news) in Ireland, even many locals had billed his stern takes to represent the Irish working men as more Donald Trump-like, GOP-aligned. While not a proper armed revolution rally, he even went viral, reposting MAGA figure Valentina Gomez and her anti-LBGTQ+ rhetoric, as well as Trump/JD Vance.

In hindsight, his West-ish takes and stiff anti-immigrant thoughts on Irish talents, along with his viral and infectious way of living, might have been a doomfall.

Conor McGregor had quite the backing for his Irish political bid

Conor McGregor hasn’t been back since his TKO injury at UFC 264 to Dustin Poirier back when. Ex-UFC Lafayette lightweight Poirier even had a provoking and emotional end to his storied career at the UFC 318: Holloway vs. Poirier 3 PPV card, earlier this July. But the Irishman is yet to step back into the fray after his 2021 slump.

While Conor McGregor has catalysed and achieved global fandom, some find his contentious behavior, unlawful run-ins, noseblows, Party PDAs, and such as pure distasteful. Even so, his far-right radical campaign for his own country had gained gravitas in the West among those like Vance, some extreme congressional candidacies, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and Elon Musk.

The SpaceX/Tesla fame tech mogul was among the first names to globally support McGregor’s wish for a political bid. The camaraderie doesn’t stop – per McGregor, Musk was ready to back his political bid before he (not so) subtly moved out of it. The fighter told as much in a recent media interview (🎥:
@adamglyn) while at Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P, NYC, for the 9/11 memorial.

I think you could take them all single-handed. Not even fair 😂

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 5, 2023

😳💰Conor Mcgregor says Elon Musk offered him financial support in his pursuit for Ireland politics:

"Elon is an actual superhero. Gave me a lot of his time. Pledged his support. You know, he even offered financial help, but I say, I'm not here. I'm not after that. He is a… pic.twitter.com/0ZfQGvtIIU

— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) September 13, 2025

In 2020, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation received a generous $1 Mil donation from Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey windfalls, owned by McGregor. Frank Siller, whose brother Stephen Siller was a hero of the FDNY who tragically passed in the 9/11 WTC attacks, thanked McGregor for the donation. Much of the 9/11 Responders Org also took notice. McGregor is a proper force, stateside and was on the NYSE trading floors not that long back.

Flanked by Oscar-winner Matthew McConaughey and the 42nd ex-POTUS Bill Clinton, he made waves for the NYC Cops & Kids Boxing post-9/11 efforts, last September. The media proceeds from the SBG star, his Crumlin Boxing, and other collabs with the former Prez went to the NYC Cops & Kids Boxing and Harlem Free Fight Academy Nonprofit.

McGregor was stateside yet again for much the same, and while his efforts resonate much, and people like Musk have also taken into it, some of it shoots blank, back home in Ireland.

ALSO READ: Conor McGregor Subtly Removed From UFC Ranks After $7.7B Deal? Dissecting The Rumors