Conor McGregor has issued a public ultimatum regarding his return to the UFC, signaling that he intends to bypass President Dana White and negotiate directly with the ownership’s top brass.
The Irish superstar, who has been sidelined since suffering a gruesome leg injury against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021, took to social media to demand a sit-down with Ari Emanuel, the CEO of TKO Group Holdings. McGregor’s leverage play comes as he eyes a spot on the historic card set to take place at the White House later this year.
The catalyst for McGregor’s demand appears to be the upcoming release of Emanuel’s memoir, Roll the Calls. In a now-deleted post on X, McGregor responded to the book announcement with a mix of praise and business hardball, writing, “That’s a must-read! I won’t come back until me and Ari chat.”
At the heart of the dispute is the UFC’s new broadcast partnership with Paramount, a staggering $7.7 billion deal that has altered the promotion’s revenue structure. McGregor argues that this shift has rendered his existing agreement to nothing.
“My contract, essentially, is void right now because there’s no more PPV, whereas my contract was based on PPV sales,” McGregor explained during a live stream. McGregor contends that the elimination of the traditional pay-per-view model calls for a completely new financial framework.
Despite the contractual standoff, McGregor remains fixated on a specific date and venue for his comeback: June 14 at the White House. “I’m warming up now for the White House fight,” he stated. “I’m gonna be at it, for sure. It’s gonna be insane.” He indicated that negotiations are set to begin in February, giving the parties a tight window to resolve the compensation issues before the summer.
With the company’s profits reportedly quadrupling under the new media rights agreement, McGregor is clearly positioning himself to secure a slice of the guaranteed revenue that now flows into TKO’s coffers. While McGregor postures for a new deal, the timeline for his return aligns perfectly with his regulatory status.
McGregor is currently serving an 18-month suspension for anti-doping violations, a ban that is set to expire on March 20, 2026. This clearance date leaves him time to complete a full training camp for the targeted June 14 event on the South Lawn. As for his dance partner, rumors continue to swirl that Michael Chandler, who coached opposite McGregor on The Ultimate Fighter, remains the frontrunner to face him.
