Conor McGregor running for president of Ireland was once just a meme, a punchline fans would just love to toss around. But now the joke has become kind of serious. As of March 2025, ‘The Notorious’ has gone all in, declaring his intention to run for president as an independent candidate. The Irish people have expressed skepticism, and the politicians? With mockery. Surprisingly, support came from an unexpected corner—his UFC rival, Michael Chandler.

During the UFC 314 pre-fight media scrum, Chandler, who will face Paddy Pimblett in the co-main event, was asked about McGregor’s sudden political ambitions. And ‘Iron’ surely didn’t dodge the question, as he said, “I think you should vote. I think you should vote for Conor McGregor for President of Ireland if you’re a resident of Ireland,” Chandler replied with a grin. However, he then followed it up with the admission that he had no idea what McGregor was up to, saying that the man is “in a thousand different things, for better or worse.”

Was this a political stunt? A publicity ploy? Chandler did not know. But, in classic McGregor flair, he recognized that it wasn’t a poor decision. ‘The Notorious’ too loved this little endorsement, as he shared the clip of him asking the Irish to vote for McGregor on his Instagram story and added the caption, “Vote McGregor.” Despite years of public teasing and expectation, Chandler and ‘The Notorious’ have never fought. The two coached against each other on The Ultimate Fighter 31 and were almost set to headline UFC 303 before McGregor backed out due to a broken toe. Still, there has always been an odd undertone of mutual respect between them, which exists even now as Conor McGregor trades left hooks for left- or right-leaning policies.

The odds are stacked heavily against Conor McGregor. According to a Sky News study, all 134 Irish politicians who were asked about the former UFC double champion’s plans said they would oppose his candidacy. Not a single “maybe.” Not a single “let’s see.” However, the Irishman remains undeterred. Days after meeting Donald Trump in the Oval Office, he announced his candidacy on an anti-immigrant platform. But before he can begin campaigning, he needs the endorsement of 20 legislators or four local authorities just to get on the ballot. Currently, he has none. However, if Chandler’s grin is any indication, the circus is only getting started. But what about the dream fight? Well, according to ‘Iron,’ the idea of the presidency has now taken over the fight dream.

Michael Chandler fears The Conor McGregor fight may never happen

For a long time, Michael Chandler thought his bout with Conor McGregor was just around the corner. It wasn’t simply hype; it felt unavoidable. After all, they coached opposite each other on The Ultimate Fighter, there was plenty of trash talk, and the UFC clearly wanted it to happen. What about now? ‘Iron’ begins to sound like a man who is aware that the ship may have sailed. With ‘The Notorious’ exchanging gloves for political talk and pursuing the Irish presidency, Chandler wonders whether his dream fight has already passed.

“We might get President McGregor before we get Chandler versus McGregor,” he admitted, and this time it didn’t sound like he was joking at all. The fight was meant to take place at UFC 303. Fans had waited more than a year for it, only to be disappointed again when McGregor pulled out. Chandler has remained busy since then. He faced Charles Oliveira and is now training to fight against Paddy Pimblett at UFC 314. But there’s no denying it: his heart was set on facing ‘The Notorious.’ And, unlike most fighters, he still talks about the matchup with optimism. The issue is that the Irishman is no longer playing the fight game. At least not the one in the cage.

“Conor would love that position of power,” ‘Iron’ stated during an interview with Covers.com. “It’s a new mountain that he can climb.” When he speaks about McGregor, you can sense respect in his voice, even if there is a hint of frustration behind it. He understands the influence the Irishman has had not only on Ireland but also on the sport itself. But if this presidential campaign gets off, Chandler might be right. We could witness Conor McGregor shaking hands in a suit before he throws another blow. But what do you think? Will ‘The Notorious’ find success in the political world? Let us know in the comments.