The prospect of Conor McGregor combating on the White Home has captured the imaginations of combined martial arts followers world wide, however debate has swirled over who would create essentially the most compelling spectacle at such a historic venue. Whereas Michael Chandler has emerged because the UFC’s most popular candidate for the June 2026 occasion, combined martial arts analyst Michael Bisping outlined why a rubber match with Nate Diaz may provide extra attraction to the viewers and the game itself.
Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz 3 on the White Home?
The Irish fighter married his long-time associate Dee Devlin on December 12, 2025 in a personal ceremony on the Basilica of Santo Stefano degli Abyssini in Vatican Metropolis. The couple, who’ve 4 kids, exchanged vows in an intimate setting that included fireworks and a citadel reception. The second coincided with what Bisping characterised as a broader interval of change for McGregor, who has been outspoken about private progress by means of unconventional means.
“Conor McGregor simply bought married within the Vatican. In fact he isn’t enjoying round. If he will get married, he will do it within the Vatican. He is traveled fairly a bit, speaking about mushrooms and ayahuasca and being reincarnated. Honest play to him. I would like to see him within the White Home.”
“Combined martial arts is a greater place with Conor concerned. He attracts consideration, he brings pleasure, he attracts a variety of consideration. Whitehouse vs. Nate Diaz, that struggle goes to be sensational. If he comes again and is motivated to struggle Nate or Chandler or whoever, needless to say that struggle might be at 170 kilos. A win there can solely result in massive issues for Conor McGregor.”
The historic background between McGregor and Diaz is essential. The 2 first confronted one another at UFC 196 in March 2016, when Diaz shocked the sports activities world by flattening McGregor with a rear-naked choke within the second spherical. McGregor had a rematch at UFC 202 in August 2016, successful by majority resolution. That 1-1 draw has remained within the collective consciousness of combined martial arts followers for almost a decade, with each fighters repeatedly expressing curiosity in a showdown.
Diaz presently stays outdoors the UFC Octagon. His final official look got here in September 2022 with a submission victory over Tony Ferguson at UFC 279. Diaz, now 40 years previous, tried his hand at skilled boxing, dropping to Jake Paul however scoring a victory over former UFC rival Jorge Masvidal. Current statements counsel he is open to returning to the Octagon, however questions nonetheless stay about his aggressive window at 40 years previous.
Michael Chandler, alternatively, is positioning himself as a extra enticing choice to UFC administration. The previous three-time Bellator light-weight champion publicly expressed confidence {that a} match with McGregor could be determined at a White Home occasion. Chandler claims the struggle has been “signed, sealed, and working since June 2024.” Nonetheless, UFC CEO Dana White tempered near-term expectations by clarifying that struggle preparations for the White Home card won’t be finalized till February 2026.
Bisping’s evaluation presents a convincing rebuttal to Chandler’s preferences.
“They’re one-on-one, and the rubber match must occur. Even when it would not occur within the UFC, it would in all probability occur once they go away the UFC they usually’re each of their 50s. That match must occur in some unspecified time in the future, in a car parking zone, a pub, a restaurant, or ideally on the White Home within the UFC Octagon.”
“That is the sport all of us wish to see, and I feel it must be. That is what Nate Diaz must be about and what he must be speaking about: ‘Don’t be concerned about Michael Chandler, he is misplaced the previous couple of video games. We’re 1-1, let’s go, let’s go to the Oval Workplace, the White Home garden, wherever the sport is.'”
The White Home Card represents an unprecedented alternative for the UFC, with plans underway for what may very well be the game’s greatest occasion. Chandler himself has spoken in regards to the significance of competing in a venue like this, imagining the potential of a customized White Home belt being created to commemorate this historic occasion.
However Bisping’s ultimate score raises questions on viewers preferences.
“However there’s one struggle on the market, and sure, as loopy as this sounds, Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler has been closely rumored within the White Home. Do not depend your chickens earlier than they hatch, as a result of they wish to put collectively the most important struggle card of all time within the White Home. Would you quite see Conor vs. Chandler or Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz? I feel the reply is fairly apparent.”
The industrial attraction of McGregor-Diaz 3 has historic precedent. Their rematch at UFC 202 generated 1.65 million pay-per-view buys, a file for the promotion on the time. The struggle between McGregor and Dustin Poirier has since shattered that customary, however the Diaz trilogy stays interesting to audiences who’ve witnessed the dramatic historical past between these rivals.
