Daniel Cormier Bills Conor McGregor 2026 White House Dream Is More About Losing His ‘Shine’ Than UFC return

The state of next year’s “America 250” White House UFC lineup is anything but slated yet, and bossman Dana White has said there’d be more news in the upcoming weeks. The state of Conor McGregor and his combat comeback, in any shape or form, is even more frivolous. He was hoping to star in the White House showdown, but it seems uncertain. UFC Legend and current play-by-play head Daniel Cormier thinks this time, the stakes are different for the Irishman.

Other ‘big’ stars have campaigned and even somewhat failed for the White House card, and McGregor recently named long-time expectant Michael Chandler as a sure bet for it. Chandler is a pro-GOP Donald Trump supporter and even backed the POTUS during his 34-count falsification debacle. So, there’d be a chance the American fighter vs. McGregor becomes a reality as both are widely popular as well.

During his appearance on ‘The Herd with Colin Cowherd’ for HardRock Bet (@hardrockbet‬), White informed the swanky “America 250” White House PPV lineup will be a high-priced and limited spectacle for VIP attendance of 5000 only. With a lack of bigger stars for such a spectacle, McGregor is more than a palpable option and still a big PPV draw, boasting the 5 biggest PPV output numbers for many years.

But for McGregor, the stakes could be amped, per Daniel Cormier. ‘The Notorious’ recently stated how serious he is in fighting at the South Lawn, and White backed it up. ‘DC’ addressed a big factor amid all this drive for a comeback.

He’s told us time and time again that he’ll be there and he hasn’t shown up. [But] I believe that this time, there’s a stronger possibility because of all the time that’s passed…[and] the White House is going to be a big deal;  I think the biggest factor in why Conor McGregor may fight is because no one believes him anymore and some of that shine is starting to wear off. It doesn’t matter how much money you’ve got Chael, when you’re a guy that develops the level of stardom that he reached, …and it starts to fade, then you come back and you do what you did before.

Daniel Cormier on ESPN MMA’s Good Guy / Bad Guy (@ESPNMMA)

Cormier has lambasted McGregor’s intentions before for promising big splashes but not returning; it’s been some four years since his UFC 264 TKO injury to Dustin Poirier, and he is yet to rebound. McGregor kept the bargain up and running, saying he has had talks with the UFC boss, or going on tweet-sprees promising such.

The fighter’s news of a return for the UFC 303 PPV kickoff at the 3Arena last year even sold out the venue in mere hours! But he pulled out due to a sudden pinky toe injury and has yet to substantiate a return. But there’s only so much Mac can do to hog the spotlight away from fighting.

MCGREGOR’S RETURN! https://t.co/nbF9ItG1Md

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) September 5, 2025

His long-running bid for the Irish presidency has taken a major hit and his fighting status is dwindling. McGregor never completed his “The Ultimate Fighter” saga with Chandler, and Cormier and Chael Sonnen even had to step in for an unlikely season this year. Coupled with contentious behavior and nose-blows, it’s a bad mojo altogether. Hence, Cormier thinks a major chunk of McGregor’s motivation for this once-in-a-lifetime event is to get some of that glory back.

Daniel Cormier wasn’t in support of Conor McGregor’s political bid in lieu of fight return

Daniel Cormier is one who, despite rivalry, would upvote the MMA/UFC legacy of fighters; even rival Jon Jones. So it’s no surprise DC would await the return of ex-UFC champ and superstar Conor McGregor, like many others.

The Irishman has been many things: a prime fighter, speedy boxer and KO phenom, whiskey connoisseur, partyman, life of the party, a BKFC equity owner and sponsor, and so much more. But his voracious turn to politics and whatnot, away from fighting, has been odd.

McGregor has always been vocal about Irish politics and wanted to dissolve the Dáil Éireann (House of Representatives of the Oireachtas) for not aligning with the local, working class of men. During the early onset of summer at the BKFC 70 Hollywood: Palomino vs. Davis Florida media presser, McGregor had informed his UFC return was looking gloomy, but he’s keen on an Irish presidency and his first act with power would be a return to the octagon.

Cormier found it odd, given Irish tabloids had sternly shunted his west-like attitude and his very recent visit to Trump and White House, discussing the Irish state of the union.

[The] McGregor of ’15, ’17, and even ’16, …[Now] that one that went eight rounds with Floyd Mayweather, that Conor McGregor was in a rush to greatness, and if that’s gone. That’s gone now, it’s over…But to be a politician – he wants to be a politician. Hell, I think people in Ireland don’t even like him. Everybody I speak to are like, Hey – ‘I can’t stand this dude.’ It’s a bit ridiculous [to turn]…

Daniel Cormier on ESPN MMA’s Good Guy / Bad Guy (@ESPNMMA)

McGregor’s zeal for aligning with a vote bank of the local working class saw him construct a 21-home affordable housing project for his Large-Scale Residential Development (LRD) and expand it to hundreds. His brand of philanthropy with NYC Cops & Kids and Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P, in NYC saw him travel to the states and mingle with some political biggies like JD Vance and 42nd ex-Prez Bill Clinton.

But at home, his contentious behavior far from hit the mark. Top politicians from the ruling (Fine Gael) party assailed and slumped out of McGregor’s ideas, calling him a partyman. Many said he does not represent the voice of Ireland and is unlikely to run for an independent candidacy.

His insensitive remarks about the Northern Irish divide also sparked widespread outrage. Therefore, Cormier stated that outside of fighting, McGregor was not that popular among his Irish folks in a day-to-day sense. So, it was a bit odd to not return to fighting but dabble in politics in the first place.

ALSO READ: UFC Legend Slams Conor McGregor Comeback Talks Before 2026 As Only Way To ‘Stay Relevant’