Conor McGregor just threw a grenade into the combat sports world, and honestly, we should have seen it coming. The former two-division UFC champion is not interested in a quiet return to fighting. He wants chaos. He wants headlines. And most importantly, he wants Floyd Mayweather inside an octagon at the UFC White House event.
On Monday, McGregor took to social media with a message that sent MMA fans into a frenzy. He challenged Mayweather to settle their rivalry once and for all, but this time under MMA rules. His prediction for how the fight would go? Ten seconds. That is the kind of confidence only Conor McGregor can deliver with a straight face.
What is the UFC White House Event?
If you have not been following this story, here is what you need to know. President Donald Trump and UFC CEO Dana White announced last year that the UFC would host an event on the White House lawn. This is not a joke. The event celebrates the United States turning 250 years old, and what better way to mark that occasion than with the world’s biggest fighting promotion throwing punches at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue?
The UFC White House event is shaping up to be one of the biggest spectacles in combat sports history. Every major name in MMA wants a spot on that card. Jon Jones, Alex Pereira, Islam Makhachev, and dozens of other fighters have expressed interest. The event would put the UFC on a global stage like never before, mixing politics, patriotism, and pure violence into one unforgettable night.
McGregor initially called for a showdown with Michael Chandler at UFC White House. The two were scheduled to fight at UFC 303 in June 2024, but McGregor pulled out with an injury. Chandler eventually moved on and fought Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 in November 2024, losing by decision. But he still wants the McGregor fight, and it seems like The Notorious has other ideas brewing too.
McGregor vs Mayweather: The Original Money Fight
To understand why this callout matters, we need to go back to 2017. McGregor and Mayweather faced off in a boxing match that broke pay-per-view records and generated over $600 million in revenue. The event was dubbed “The Money Fight,” and it lived up to its name in every way.
Mayweather stopped McGregor in the 10th round, extending his perfect professional boxing record to 50-0. But McGregor earned respect that night. He was competitive in the early rounds against one of the greatest boxers ever. Many people thought he would get embarrassed, but he held his own before eventually fading.
There was talk after the fight about a rematch happening under MMA rules. Mayweather hinted at crossing over to the UFC, and Dana White seemed interested in making it happen. However, that fight never materialized. Mayweather retired from professional boxing and started taking exhibition bouts instead.
Can Mayweather Actually Fight in MMA?
Here is where things get interesting. McGregor said it himself: “Floyd MMA? EASY. 10 seconds.” And honestly, he might not be exaggerating by much.
Mayweather is one of the greatest defensive boxers in history. His ability to avoid punches is legendary. But MMA is a completely different sport. You have to worry about kicks, knees, elbows, takedowns, and submissions. A world-class boxer with zero grappling experience stepping into the octagon would be walking into a nightmare.
McGregor would likely shoot for a takedown immediately and either submit Mayweather or pound him out on the ground. There is also the possibility he would just land a clean head kick and end things standing. Either way, the result would probably be ugly for the boxing legend.
That said, Mayweather is 48 years old now. He has never trained MMA seriously. The athletic commissions might not even sanction such a fight because of the massive skill gap on the ground. But with enough money involved, stranger things have happened in combat sports.
The Conor McGregor Next Fight Situation
McGregor has not competed since July 2021. That night at UFC 264, he snapped his leg in the first round against Dustin Poirier. It was a gruesome injury that many thought would end his career. The Notorious has been on the sidelines ever since, dealing with recovery and various other issues.
He was supposed to return at UFC 303 in June 2024 against Michael Chandler. That fight had been building for over a year through their coaching stint on The Ultimate Fighter. But McGregor withdrew just weeks before the event, citing a broken toe. Chandler eventually moved on and fought Oliveira, but he still wants the McGregor payday.
Now McGregor is talking about fighting both Chandler and Mayweather on the same night at UFC White House. “Just kidding Mike! Although… I could fight both the same night,” he wrote. Whether he is serious or just stirring the pot remains to be seen.
Where Does Michael Chandler Fit In?
Chandler deserves some sympathy here. The man waited nearly two years for McGregor before finally accepting the Oliveira rematch. He lost that fight, but he showed he still belongs at the elite level. Now he is once again hoping the McGregor fight happens.
If McGregor truly wants to fight Mayweather at UFC White House, what happens to Chandler? Does he get bumped from the card entirely? Does he face someone else while McGregor takes the main event against a boxer? These are questions that need answers soon.
The UFC White House event is scheduled for June 14, 2026. That gives everyone involved a few months to figure out the logistics. Knowing Dana White, he will try to make the craziest possible card happen regardless of how complicated it gets.
Will Mayweather Accept the Challenge?
Do not hold your breath waiting for Mayweather to step into the octagon. The man is smart with his money and his body. He takes low-risk exhibition boxing matches against smaller opponents and cashes huge checks. Why would he risk getting wrestled and submitted by a legitimate UFC fighter?
Mayweather is currently planning an exhibition bout against Mike Tyson this spring. That fight makes sense from a business perspective. Two boxing legends going at it in a controlled environment with modified rules. An MMA fight against McGregor would be the opposite of controlled.
Still, Mayweather loves money more than almost anything. If the UFC offered him $100 million or more, would he really say no? Combat sports has taught us that every fighter has a price. The question is whether Dana White and the UFC are willing to pay it.
What This Means for Combat Sports
Whether or not McGregor vs Mayweather 2 actually happens, this callout reminds us why Conor McGregor remains the biggest star in MMA. Nobody else can generate this kind of buzz with a single social media post. Nobody else can make a fight between a 37-year-old who has not competed in years and a 48-year-old retired boxer sound like must-see television.
The UFC White House event is already going to be historic. Adding McGregor versus Mayweather under MMA rules would make it the most talked-about combat sports event of all time. The ratings would be astronomical. The pay-per-view numbers would shatter records. And regardless of what happens in the cage, everyone would be talking about it for years.
For now, we wait and see how Mayweather responds. Will he accept the challenge and step into unfamiliar territory? Will he ignore McGregor and continue with his safe exhibition fights? Or will we get something even crazier that nobody saw coming? With these two involved, anything is possible.
The UFC White House awaits, and Conor McGregor wants to make sure his return to fighting is the biggest story of the year. Mission accomplished so far.