Daniel Cormier Drops Truth Bomb: Why Conor McGregor Might Actually Fight This Time – White House Stakes Raise the Bar

In the ever-unpredictable world of UFC, few names spark as much hype – or skepticism – as Conor McGregor. The Notorious hasn’t graced the Octagon since his leg-snapping loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021, a three-year drought filled with endless teases, training montages, and broken promises. Fans have grown weary, but now, whispers of a blockbuster return at the UFC’s historic White House card in 2026 have reignited the flame. And who better to dissect this than Daniel Cormier, the former two-division champ and sharp-tongued analyst? On a recent episode of ESPN MMA’s Good Guy / Bad Guy, DC flipped his script, declaring a “stronger possibility” that McGregor shows up – and it’s not just the venue that’s got him convinced.

Let’s rewind: McGregor, once the king of pay-per-view gold, has name-dropped returns more times than he’s defended a title. From podcast boasts to Instagram flexes, the Irish superstar built a cottage industry on “The Mac Life” hype machine. But as UFC CEO Dana White recently affirmed, this one’s different – McGregor’s “very serious” about lacing up for the White House spectacle, a CBS-broadcast mega-event dubbed a “super show” that could etch UFC history. The opponent? None other than Michael Chandler, the explosive wrestler-turned-striker who’s been circling McGregor’s orbit since their infamous 2021 press conference face-off. McGregor even dropped a bold prediction: a first-round knockout to reclaim his throne.

Enter Cormier, who’s long been the voice of reason (and roast) in MMA commentary. Previously skeptical – calling out McGregor’s White House talk as mere publicity bait – DC now sees genuine momentum. “He’s told us time and time again that he’ll be there and he hasn’t shown up,” Cormier admitted, acknowledging the pattern of flakes. But three years on, with the dust settled from McGregor’s 1-3 lightweight skid (highlighted by that quick Cerrone guillotine in 2020), the calculus has shifted. Factor one: sheer elapsed time. “I believe that this time, there’s a stronger possibility because of all the time that’s passed,” DC noted.

Factor two: The stage. The White House card isn’t just another Apex snoozer – it’s a presidential-adjacent spectacle, potentially drawing eyes from D.C. corridors to global screens. “I believe the White House is going to be that big of a deal for him,” Cormier emphasized, painting it as an ego-stroking pinnacle McGregor can’t ghost. Yet, DC saves his sharpest scalpel for the real driver: fading glory. “But 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,” he laid bare. Ouch. Cormier, ever the psychologist, nailed McGregor’s Achilles’ heel – the addiction to adulation. “It doesn’t matter how much money you’ve got… when you’re a guy that loves the attention and the adulation and it starts to fade, then you come back and you do what you did before,” he explained to co-host Chael Sonnen.

This isn’t about legacy or gold belts, per DC. McGregor’s not chasing competition; he’s chasing clicks. “I think he’s coming back, but it’s not because he wants to compete. I think he understands now that people just aren’t in on the Conor McGregor business anymore.” And the Chandler matchup? Tailor-made for a spotlight-grab. “Michael won’t wrestle him, and he’s dangerous when he’s striking,” Cormier observed, echoing McGregor’s Cerrone blueprint – a foe too starstruck (or overzealous) to grind it out. One highlight-reel finish, and boom: Relevance restored, doubters silenced, McGregor mania reloaded.

As the White House card looms – with other stars like Sean O’Malley eyeing slots – Cormier’s take cuts deep into the soul of stardom. McGregor’s empire was built on belief; now, disbelief might just drag him back. Will The Notorious deliver, or is this another feint? Only time – and that ticking clock to 2026 – will tell.

Published: September 25, 2025 | Author: MMA Analysis Team