Michael Chandler explains why Conor McGregor fight at the White House is a must-win for him

Michael Chandler might get his wish to face Conor McGregor at the UFC White House card in 2026 but if that fight gets made official, the pressure immediately starts to mount.

Now that’s not just because the former Bellator lightweight champion is currently suffering through a three-fight losing streak because all of those fights came against top 15 level competition. But potentially serving as the American in the main event of a card that’s meant to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States, well that ratchets up the pressure even more.

Chandler, who has obviously lobbied to face McGregor at the White House card, knows he’s in a bigger must win situation than perhaps any other time during his career.

“We would definitely have to go out there, dot our I’s, cross our T’s and go out there and not just beat Conor but dominate him and just systematically and surgically break the man down,” Chandler told MMA Fighting.

“To be able to get draped in the stars and bars and get my hand raised right there on the White House lawn. I’ve dreamt about it. I’ve visualized it ever since this announcement was made that we were doing this fight on the White House lawn and I believe it’s going to come to fruition.”

As of now, the UFC only has one American champion on the roster and that’s women’s bantamweight queen Kayla Harrison, who is also a two-time Olympic gold medalist representing the United States.

While UFC CEO Dana White has stressed that MMA is a global sport and that international representation is expected to take center stage on every card including the one at the White House, Chandler admits he would feel a certain level of responsibility heaped on his shoulders if he’s competing on that event.

A UFC card at the White House may end up as a once-in-a-lifetime event and Chandler couldn’t fathom losing a fight with those kinds of stakes on the line.

“It’s America’s birthday,” Chandler said. “250 years and I would be the guy carrying the stars and bars, red, white and blue to the octagon in what we assume would be the main event. Obviously that comes with a little bit of extra pressure, a lot of extra layers. I do feel like I love this country. I love the people of this country. I love so many things about being an American. I truly believe we are the greatest country ever assembled.

“We have our black eyes, we have our blemishes, we have our moments, we have our pain, obviously over the last week we’ve been experiencing a lot of that. But I think this is a beautiful celebration of what this country is and who we are as Americans. I would love the opportunity to be it.”

Now because neither McGregor or Chandler currently holds a title, the fight wouldn’t have any kind of championship on the line but that doesn’t negate the magnitude of the matchup.

Belt or no belt, Chandler loves the idea of beating McGregor and then having President Donald Trump walk into the octagon to raise his hand in victory.

Maybe that even comes along with a symbolic title for the fighters competing in the first and perhaps only ever UFC event at the White House.

“There is almost nothing that is impossible — first of all, this sounded impossible just six months ago, doing a fight at the White House,” Chandler said. “Now you get it set and the amount of things that are on the table, nothing is off the table. That would actually be really, really cool. Donald Trump coming in and raising my hand, raising my arm to get a win for America on its birthday. That would be cool.

“No belt on the line but maybe they’ll come out with the White House belt. Something cool for this momentous occasion that we can throw on our shelves in our offices. That would absolutely be a blast but even if that did not happen, the opportunity to fight in front of our president again, to fight at the White House, would be an absolute dream come true.”