Conor McGregor Laser-Focused for UFC’s White House Event, According to Coach

Conor McGregor begins a structured comeback with John Kavanagh, preparing for a potential 2026 UFC White House return amid past setbacks.

Conor McGregor Laser-Focused for UFC’s White House Event, According to Coach

John Kavanagh confirms Conor McGregor's return (via X)

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Conor McGregor still remains one of the UFC’s biggest global stars even after not entering the Octagon in the last four years. And while his elite left hand has been the death blow for many fighters, a major factor behind that success has been longtime coach John Kavanagh, whose guidance shaped the Irishman’s technical development from the earliest stages.

McGregor has trained at Straight Blast Gym in Dublin under Kavanagh since his professional debut in 2008. Their partnership became the foundation of Ireland’s breakthrough in MMA, with McGregor often crediting Kavanagh for elevating the sport nationally.

SBG Ireland grew alongside the former double champ’s career, turning into one of Europe’s most recognized MMA academies. However, McGregor has been out of competition since UFC 264 in 2021, where he suffered a broken leg in his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier.

Despite the long layoff and a planned outing falling apart at UFC 303, McGregor has expressed confidence about returning at the UFC White House event planned for June 2026. This momentum led to Kavanagh’s recent update on The Ariel Helwani Show that McGregor has restarted structured, early-morning training for his return.

On our end, we’re 100% in. He’s asked me to basically lay out a program between now and June of how we’ll ramp up our training. He’s back in the gym most mornings early and he’s having fun with it… He’s already tasked me with putting together a team of suitable training partners. Like I said, if it’s Conor’s choice, he’s in. I don’t know how it will work with the UFC.

John Kavanagh via The Ariel Helwani Show

McGregor’s career has recently been marked by controversies and issues that have affected his public image. Allegations regarding substance use and various legal troubles contributed to periods of inactivity. Recently, he stated that he is pursuing a spiritual reset, stepping away from social media and centering his preparation around personal discipline for the White House card.

As part of that preparation, the Irishman has revealed plans to undergo a six-month training camp tailored for a mid-2026 return. No matchmaking has been finalized, but he has clearly shown interest in rekindling his rivalry with Michael Chandler for the high-profile event.

However, uncertainty still surrounds McGregor’s comeback, given his past cancellations and instances where he failed to appear for scheduled commitments. These factors fuel skepticism about whether he will make the cage walk in 2026.

Even so, he remains one of UFC CEO Dana White’s favored names for the White House event, mainly because of his drawing power, dependability, and historic influence on the UFC.

UFC veteran talks about Conor McGregor’s 18-month ban

Conor McGregor recently accepted an 18-month suspension under the UFC’s anti-doping policy after missing three scheduled biological sample collections in 2024. The violations were classified as “whereabouts failures,” meaning he did not make himself available for unannounced testing. The sanction is retroactive, spanning from September 20, 2024, to March 20, 2026.

Matt Brown talks about Conor McGregor
Matt Brown talks about Conor McGregor (via MMA Fighting)

UFC legend Matt Brown remains a respected voice in the MMA community, known for his straightforward, no-nonsense demeanor, which has endured long after he retired from full-time competition. He has often spoken on fighter accountability and integrity. Brown recently weighed in on McGregor’s 18-month anti-doping suspension, criticizing the system and its enforcement.

UFC controls the doping, Who’s to say they’re not letting certain people dope and not even saying anything? They could absolutely be doing it and just not saying anything. Do I think they’re doing that? It doesn’t matter. It’s irrelevant whether they are or not. If they have the power to do it, that’s what matters. I don’t know what it’s going to take for fighters, I don’t know if it’s possible for fighters to ever step up and be like ‘yo, this is some ********’.

Matt Brown via MMA Fighting

Brown’s remarks reflect a broader tension within MMA over testing transparency and governance, especially following the shift from USADA to CSAD. Despite the suspension, Conor McGregor remains eligible to return to competition before the sanction ends. His suspension does not entirely derail his stated goal of fighting at the UFC event planned for the White House in 2026.

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