Could Conor McGregor and Jon Jones spearhead UFC at the White House?
There’s a short list of UFC stars who could main event a card on the White House lawn. The idea, which President Donald Trump spoke into existence in July, is taking shape for the USA’s 250th birthday celebration on July 4, 2026.
Conor McGregor, the biggest star the sport has ever seen, and Jon Jones, arguably the greatest fighter of all time, have both thrown their names in the hat to fight at the historical event a year out from it.
Of course, Jones recently retired in June, only to return to the drug testing pool weeks after. Meanwhile, McGregor hasn’t fought in over four years and is coming off his first fight withdrawal against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 due to a toe injury.
UFC boss Dana White was recently asked about the former two-division champions potentially fighting at the White House.
Dana White admits he’s a ‘little more skeptical’ about Jon Jones than Conor McGregor
On Thursday, White reiterated that Jones was back in the drug testing pool, but said they’re not talking about fights for him ‘right now’.
Would White trust either of them to headline the White House card a year from now?
“I trust Conor,” White answered Jim Rome.
“Conor McGregor has never, ever [pulled out of a fight] unless he is seriously injured,” White continued.
“This guy has always delivered.
“Jon, I’m a little more skeptical about,” White said of Jones.
Jones went for nearly 600 days without unifying the heavyweight titles against Tom Aspinall. Instead of unifying the title against the interim champion, Jones fought a 42-year-old Stipe Miocic in his retirement fight at UFC 309 in November, opting not to retire himself until seven months later.
There’s only one American champion in the UFC right now
Jon Jones was the final American man to hold a UFC title.
That’s not to say he’ll be the last, but for the first time in a while, the UFC is down to only one American champion.
Ohio’s Kayla Harrison reigns over the women’s bantamweight division as champion after defeating Julianna Pena in the co-main event of UFC 316 in June.
Post-fight, Harrison wrapped the UFC belt around President Donald Trump cageside.
The two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and PFL lightweight champion could have her spot reserved on the White House card in a potential super-fight with Amanda Nunes.
