As anticipation builds around the UFC’s historic White House card, Alex Volkanovski has weighed in on one of the biggest questions of all — where do you put Conor McGregor?
The once-in-a-lifetime event, confirmed by Dana White earlier this year, is being touted as the most ambitious show in company history, with the promotion set to announce the full card this week.
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Speculation is rampant over who will headline, and no name generates more buzz than McGregor.
The Irish superstar hasn’t fought since suffering a broken leg against Dustin Poirier in 2021, but remains the biggest draw in the sport.
His long-teased return against Michael Chandler never took shape in 2025, leaving many fans believing that they won’t see him in the Octagon ever again.
McGregor has been lobbying for a spot on the blockbuster ever since President Donald Trump first floated plans for the event last year, and while White has offered little encouragement publicly, there remains hope McGregor will feature.
Speaking this week, Volkanovski admitted McGregor would simply have to headline the card if he is to fight.
“I mean, you can’t have Conor McGregor not headline. It wouldn’t make sense,” Volkanovski said on his YouTube channel.
“I think they’ll have a title. [But] it’s a White House card. I think a few of your standard things go out the window for this type of event, so I think they would [have McGregor headline].”
McGregor saw the clip and responded via social media.
“Thanks, lil bro,” he posted.
Volkanovski added that if McGregor isn’t included, Justin Gaethje vs Ilia Topuria would likely take the top slot.
“If Conor’s not on there, you’ve probably got them [Gaethje and Topuria] headlining,” he said.
“…Ilia, Gaethje I think is going to be the guys. I think they will be headlining. Even if you’ve got heavier divisions fighting.”
Topuria has not fought since cementing his status as one of the sport’s pound-for-pound elite, and he has made no secret of his desire to fight on the White House card.
Gaethje, meanwhile, remains one of the most violent fighters on the roster, coming off his brutal victory of Paddy Pimblett.
“That’s what makes the most sense because the timing works,” says Volkanovski.
“Everything is pretty clear.
“I believe that Ilia-Gaethje will be the main event.”
Meanwhile, MMA journalist Ariel Helwani believes it is unlikely that McGregor will fight at the White House, suggesting ‘Notorious’ is more likely to return during International Fight Week.
“It doesn’t look like it’s gonna be Conor on the White House card,” Helwani said on his YouTube channel.
“They have an International Fight Week card scheduled for July 11 in Las Vegas at the T-Mobile Arena.
“There’s a greater chance of him fighting on that card than on the White House card because there is no money to be made.
“In fact, they keep touting the fact that there is money to be lost from the White House event.
“It’s more likely that will happen on July 11 as opposed to June 14.”
Whatever the case, McGregor is clearly preparing for something. Last month he was sparring unbeaten welterweight Eoin Sheridan, who stands 6’5.
“Sparring the 7-foot sheriff of Ireland,” McGregor posted.
Earlier, McGregor wrote: “Camp 100%, this is. We are going in 100%. I am going into this fight 100% Conor McGregor. Not 92%. 100% Conor McGregor.”
If anyone needed more evidence that the former UFC double champ is gearing up for a return to the Octagon, the promotion’s 2026 drug-testing results offer a big hint.
According to the UFC’s testing database, McGregor is the most-tested fighter on the roster so far this year.
He has already been tested three times, despite not having competed since 2021.
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The 35-year-old is still serving an 18-month suspension handed down last year after missing multiple drug tests dating back to 2024.
Most fighters have only been tested once this year, with a few, including Volkanovski, tested twice.