Dana White has dismissed rumors of a fight between Conor McGregor and Colby Covington as “complete nonsense,” following news that the fight could headline this summer’s UFC White House event.
The UFC is producing an unprecedented event, currently scheduled to take place on the South Lawn on June 14, and there’s been a lot of speculation about the upcoming event.
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U.S. President Donald Trump, a close friend of UFC president White, claimed in December that there would be “eight or nine title fights, the biggest fights they’ve ever had” and that “every one of them will be a title fight.” But last week, Ari Emanuel, CEO of UFC ownership group TKO, said “six to seven” fights were a more realistic prospect.
UFC president White said McGregor vs. Covington won’t be one of them no matter what.
On Monday, the Instagram account @menacemmahq posted a photo of models of former champion McGregor and American star Covington as the boxers faced off in front of the White House. The headline read: “The UFC has yet to confirm, but the main event of the UFC White House card will likely be Conor McGregor vs. Colby Covington.
“The fight has been rumored over the past few weeks after Dana stated that Conor would not fight Michael Chandler. Both fighters have been drug tested this year, in fact McGregor has been tested twice this year.
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“The press conference for this game will be crazy. The shouting matches will be hilarious. If this game happened, who do you think would win?”
Conor McGregor (left) suffered a broken leg in his most recent fight against Dustin Poirier in 2021 (Getty Images)
However, White quickly took to the comments section below the post, writing: “Total bullshit…
“The White House matchmaking meeting will be held tomorrow. [UFC matchmaker] Mick Maynard will be flying in tomorrow to take part.
“We will fight until the end of the week.”
Mr. Trump claimed in December that “[White] is actually suppressing the fight now, for six months, so he can do that [14] June,” and while there’s no clear evidence of this, the idea may be supported by the UFC Open schedule.
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No champion can defend the title at any of the upcoming events other than Max Holloway, who will put the “Baddest Motherf*****” belt on the line on March 7 against Charles Oliveira. However, this is not a regular partition title.
Colby Covington is the former UFC interim welterweight champion (Getty Images)
Additionally, only two title fights have taken place so far in 2026: the interim lightweight title fight between Paddy Pimblett and winner Justin Gaethje and Alexander Volkanovski’s successful featherweight defense against Diego Lopes. The women’s bantamweight title fight was originally scheduled for January, but an injury to champion Kayla Harrison derailed the match against Amanda Nunes.
McGregor and Jon Jones are among the high-profile fighters calling for a spot on the White House card, but White has been coy about their involvement. The UFC president said he may not be able to trust Jones because of his legal issues and history of failed drug tests, while he was noncommittal about McGregor’s inclusion.
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McGregor is a former UFC two-weight champion, the first in UFC history, but has not competed since suffering a broken leg in 2021. The 37-year-old Irishman was due to return against Chandler in 2024 but withdrew from the fight on two weeks’ notice citing a broken toe.
McGregor has faced numerous legal issues over the past decade and has competed sparingly, having competed in the UFC just four times since late 2016 with a 1-3 record. He has also had one boxing match, losing to Floyd Mayweather in 2018.
UFC president Dana White (left) with friend and U.S. President Donald Trump (Reuters)
Covington, meanwhile, is a former interim UFC welterweight champion but his form has declined in recent years, with the 37-year-old now 2-4 since the end of 2019.
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The American’s last fight was a loss to Joaquin Barkley in December 2024, while McGregor’s most recent fight was his second consecutive loss to old rival Dustin Poirier.
While the fight card for the UFC White House event has yet to be confirmed, other details have emerged, with TKO boss Emanuel saying last week: “I think it’s 3,000-4,000 [attendees]and then there will be other areas [to watch the fights]. It’s going to be CBS, Paramount+. I mean, I don’t know who didn’t watch that fight [card]”.
Mr Trump has previously said: “I think the stadium will have 5,000 or 6,000 seats, right in front of the front door of the White House, with 100,000 people in the back, and they’ll have eight to 10 very large screens in there.”
