Sean O'Malley chooses confrontational match with Conor McGregor for UFC event at the White House
The UFC is planning an unprecedented event to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States on July 4, 2026. This historic occasion is set to take place on the White House Lawn, promising a highly-anticipated and stacked lineup (Bleacher Report, 2025-07-22; Dana White comments, 2025-07-10).
UFC President Dana White has expressed his dream main event to be a heavyweight fight between Tom Aspinall and Jon Jones, who has announced his unretirement specifically for this card (BJPenn, 2025-07-10). Sean O'Malley, on the other hand, has included his long-awaited fight against a top bantamweight contender as one of the key bouts (Bloody Elbow, 2025-08-02).
Speculation about other big names includes the possible return of Conor McGregor, although this is not yet confirmed (BJPenn, 2025-07-10; Bleacher Report, 2025-07-22). If McGregor does make a comeback, his fight could potentially top the UFC White House card. Initially scheduled against Michael Chandler, McGregor's comeback fight was cancelled due to an injury (BJPenn, undated).
O'Malley has mentioned a trilogy bout with Merab Dvalishvili for the UFC White House card, expected in July 2026 (Bloody Elbow, 2025-08-02). The co-main event for the UFC White House card is expected to be Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall (BJPenn, 2025-07-10). Other potential fights include Israel Adesanya vs Sean Strickland, Max Holloway as a potential opponent, and Cory Sandhagen, Petr Yan, and Dvalishvili as potential opponents for O'Malley (BJPenn; Bleacher Report).
In preparation for his return to the octagon, O'Malley has quit smoking and all forms of social media (undated). Meanwhile, McGregor has given his first drug test sample since being back in the UFC's testing pool, signaling the beginning of his return to MMA (undated). McGregor's last fight was a loss to Dustin Poirier in 2021.
If McGregor does return, the main event for the UFC White House card is expected to be McGregor vs Ilia Topuria (undated). O'Malley would prefer to face McGregor against UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria at the top of the UFC White House card (undated). Dvalishvili is expected to defend his belt against Cory Sandhagen at UFC 320 in October (undated).
Interestingly, O'Malley suggested that the UFC White House card should feature fights between Americans and Russians or Americans and other countries (undated). Depending on his next fight, O'Malley could face the winner of Dvalishvili vs. Sandhagen at UFC 320 (undated).
The UFC White House card, while not yet officially booked or finalized, is envisioned as the most stacked UFC event ever (BJPenn; Bleacher Report). Remarkably, US President Donald Trump has expressed his desire to bring Dana White's MMA promotions to the White House (undated). This upcoming event promises to be a spectacle unlike any other in UFC history.
MMA sports and UFC sports are anticipated to be featured prominently in the historic UFC White House event on July 4, 2026, with potential stacked lineups including a heavyweight fight between Tom Aspinall and Jon Jones, a bantamweight bout between Sean O'Malley and a top contender, and a possible return of Conor McGregor.
If Conor McGregor does make a comeback, the main event for the UFC White House card could potentially be McGregor vs Ilia Topuria, while Sean O'Malley would prefer to face McGregor against UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria at the top of the UFC White House card.
