Dana White Teases Conor McGregor Comeback Location As 2026 Return Rumors Heat Up

Seemingly, UFC CEO Dana White will soon 'meet' Conor McGregor. However, the locale tease does not align with any PPV/non-PPV fight schedule!

Dana White Teases Conor McGregor Comeback Location As 2026 Return Rumors Heat Up

UFC CEO Dana White responds to Conor McGregor and teases a 'date' (Source: X/IMAGO)

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This Thursday marked a little over a whopping 4 years, a fateful trilogy, a TKO leg break, a pioneer crossover boxing, some ‘notorious’ notoriety, 8 PPV lineups, and some 1,475 days threshold. But Conor McGregor and his combat return remain as elusive as ever.

With UFC finding new niche counters and target segments, there’s even a White House Concept PPV Card in the pipeline. UFC CEO Dana White has often had to weigh in on whether the Irishman will return in any of those spots or PPV offerings. However, his sureshot return ranging all through 2023-24 turned out not such a sure thing after all. But it is as they say — all hope isn’t lost yet.

On Thursday, bossman White shared an IG story clip of him handling a gift from Conor McGregor. More specifically, his own “Notorious” Cigars line — the infamous Toro size (6×50) maybe. Here is when Dana White dropped a bombshell teaser in a thank-you note to “The Notorious” for the box, even tagging him on socials:

Thank you @thenotoriousmma
See you in Italy…

Dana Whtie via IG Stories (@danawhite)

The Irishman was to return to home turf (3Arena) for the UFC 303 PPV kickoff media presser, with White as emcee. However, he pulled out of the IFW spot due to a broken pinky toe and is yet to find a valid fight booking. He was also to do some exhibition boxing, but those rumors died down fast with him still under a two-fight contract.

Away from fighting, McGregor still holds to his infamy as a PPV king and proper superstar. Along with the UFC boss, he’s one of the only few names that pushed global MMA into mainstream attention, all thanks to superstar status, presser hijinks, and hightailing it with shock KOs.

So, if a caliber like him were to return soon, a White House card would make most sense. Why Italy, then? ESPN’s seasonal schedule for 2025 doesn’t have anything. However, the equity part-owner McGregor’s (bare-knuckle fighting) BKFC homepage has BKFC ‘Rome’ in October!

Dana White has hosting duties in October, but he might be joining McGregor a day after undisputed Tom Aspinall’s first defense. Well…when in Rome, might as well enjoy some gladiatorial bare-knuckle gusto. Or it could be for nothing, and White might meet him before that as well.

Who could Conor McGregor meet in his comeback fight?

Well, the answer is pragmatically simple…Michael Chandler. ‘Iron’ was to be his IFW top-spot headliner opponent at UFC 303 and was keen on resolving “The Ultimate Fighter”. He’s 1-4 in his last few with a win coming back in 2022.

The stench of defeat and the long-lasting wait isn’t boding nice. However, the Team Kill Cliff FC fighter knows there’s no bigger bankable option for a super fight than Conor McGregor, and both are sitting ready on it.

Conor McGregor has options for comeback bout
Conor McGregor has options for comeback bout (Source: X)

Then there’s Nate Diaz, who is 1-1 with McGregor apiece in their couple of fights. Both have hinted at a return fight against each other. Diaz isn’t under contract anymore, but the free agent can work his way back in. After completing out his contract, he boxed Jake Paul and won one against Jorge Masvidal via majority decision (95-95, 97-93, 98-92) in their Fanmio-sponsored scrapper.

Chandler is a marquee option, and every fighter is keen on that itchy-ick to solve a trilogy and see who’s better. However, Chandler does make for a more interesting and active option. He’s also a staunch supporter of the 47th President, and that could work in his favor, booking a South Lawn PPV co-main super fight.

But will Dana White risk it with the titanium shin bone-riddled, unreliable McGregor? For better clarity, the Irishman isn’t a PPV-making white knight anymore. He has a Dublin civil case for assault on the ballot, recently went viral with selfies of his weighted dong, and whiled away on his boats! Only time will tell where the fighter lands from here as the fight world awaits a return.


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