Conor McGregor announces White House UFC return is a 'done deal' as he gears up for long-awaited comeback

Conor McGregor claims his long-awaited UFC comeback is now a 'done deal' as he prepares to return on next year's historic fight card at the White House.

Over four years since he last stepped foot in the Octagon, McGregor, 37, says he has reached an agreement with UFC boss Dana White to compete in the astonishing event President Donald Trump plans to host on America's 250th birthday.

White, who is a close ally of Trump's, was seen entering the President's official residence last month to pitch the idea of an unprecedented MMA show out on the front lawn in early July 2026, which will mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

A number of high-profile fighters are desperate to be involved in the once-in-a-lifetime card, and McGregor has announced that he has secured the opportunity.

'Done deal, signed, delivered. It ain’t a negotiation. It’s a done deal, signed, delivered,' the former two-weight UFC champion said on Fox News this week.

'McGregor will compete in the White House alongside the President and President Trump's administration.'

McGregor, who visited the White House himself to meet Trump back in March, recently claimed that an eye watering $100million fee and 100 of the President's 'gold card visas' - an authorization costing $1m each which grants lawful permanent residence in the United States - has persuaded him to end his retirement next year.

The Irishman's last UFC bout came all the way back in July 2021, when he suffered a gruesome broken leg in a trilogy defeat to bitter rival Dustin Poirier. 

He has teased a return to the Octagon on frequent occasions over the years, with a scheduled battle against Michael Chandler falling by the wayside last year.

But now McGregor says he and White have finally agreed terms for his comeback, which could well come against Chandler at last. 

'Me and Dana are in constant communication, we’ve done incredible business together,' he added on Fox. 'I’m the highest-generating fighter of all time in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. They’ve just signed a breathtaking deal with Paramount, where we go to cable TV. $7.7billion that deal was approved for.

'Ready to rock, baby. Bring in the big dog, the Mac G.'

White recently announced that fighters competing on the White House card will make their entrances from Trump's Oval Office, before heading out the Octagon in front of an expected 5,000 fans. 

'The fight will happen on the South Lawn of the White House,' the UFC President confirmed during a recent appearance on Shannon Sharpe and Chad 'Ochocinco' Johnson's Nightcap podcast. 

'Do you know what is probably the most bada** thing about that?' he continued. 'The fighters will actually walk from the Oval Office into the Octagon.' 

White said there will be fewer than 5,000 fans in attendance, but up to 85,000 people may be able to access a viewing area.

'We'll build the greatest card of all time,' he added before saying about McGregor, 'Conor and I have been talking consistently, he wants this fight bad and when you get to a level that Conor is at you have to find things that motivate you, and the White House card has definitely motivated Conor McGregor.'