Dana White issues brutal response after Conor McGregor was 'removed' from the UFC

Dana White has brutally shut down reports Conor McGregor has been 'removed' from the official UFC roster.

The 37-year-old UFC star has not fought since suffering a brutal defeat to long-time rival Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 back in 2021. He was due to make his return to the cage last year against Michael Chandler, but was forced to pull out of the contest after picking up an injury in training.

Over the last few months, McGregor has been seen ramping up training amid talks of a potential UFC comeback. The Irishman has expressed his desire to return to the cage and has recently entered the drug testing pool. It comes after US president Donald Trump announced his plan to host a UFC event at the White House.

However, fans were left fearing the worst for McGregor's possible return after UFC Roster Tracker reported that the Irishman had been REMOVED from the active roster. Usually, that would suggest a fighter was no longer in the promotion or retired. The news quickly went viral, and it did not take long for the UFC boss to have his say.

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The UFC Roster Tracker is not associated with the promotion - but it does track the organisation's roster from UFC.com. On Thursday evening, White was quick to shut down the rumours and point out that the former dual-weight UFC champion has not been removed from the roster. “Total b*******,” White wrote under a report on Instagram.

UFC journalist Ariel Helwani, reached out to McGregor and his team - who also shut down the stunning claim. In a post uploaded to X - formerly known as Twitter - Helwani wrote: "Conor McGregor HAS NOT parted ways the UFC. Both @TheNotoriousMMA and his team confirmed this to me. He also confirmed he is back in the pool, has submitted tests and all have come back clean. 'It’s all systems a go,' he said."

The Irishman is targeting a return to action next year and his potential comeback could take place on July 4, 2026, after White confirmed that the promotion's planned trip to the White House is all set for the aforementioned date. White revealed he has plans to meet with Trump and his daughter Ivanka at the end of the month to finalise the plans. It will mark the first time a UFC fight card would be hosted at the White House "It is definitely going to happen," White, a high-profile supporter of the US president, told CBS television.

"I talked to him last night -- 'him' being the president -- and I'm flying out there at the end of this month, and I'm going to sit down and walk him through all the plans and the renderings, and we're going to start deciding what he wants and doesn't want." The UFC supremo added: "When he called me and asked me to do it, he said: 'I want Ivanka in the middle of this.' So Ivanka reached out to me, and her and I started talking about the possibilities, where it would be and, you know, I put together all the renderings."

White is not ruling out an appearance from the Dubliner, but he will expect his star attraction to prove he is committed. "I mean, if you see, he’s been posting videos of himself training, he’s back in the pool now, he wants the White House fight," White told Pardon My Take. "Listen, if he starts getting in shape and starts training and stays the course, that’s the fight he wants, he keeps telling me he wants that fight so we’ll see how it plays out over the next few months."

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Following Trump's announcement, many fighters were quick to be fully onboard with the idea and express their interest in featuring on the card. It remains unknown as to whether or not McGregor will ever fight again, but it seems as if he is interested in the card. In a post uploaded to social media, the 37-year-old posted: "Happy 4th of July, USA. Excited with President Trump announcing a UFC fight event at the White House! I would be honoured! Count me in!!"

UFC boss Dana White also seems to be onboard with the idea after McGregor leaked a conversation with the 55-year-old. The Irishman sent the UFC boss a few voice notes - seemingly relating to the aforementioned event at the White House - to which White replied: "I love it!" The 37-year-old later doubled down on his comments during a recent BKFC event, saying: "It’s looking like I’m headed to the Oval Office again. That’s where I’m headed next."