From Fight Island to UFC Noche ’24 at the Sphere, Dana White has turned bold ideas into nights for the history books. Now, the White House itself is preparing to host a UFC event in 2026, and the race to be part of it is officially on. Conor McGregor has seemingly already claimed his place. Jon Jones has also voiced his interest, but not without the company CEO expressing some hesitation.

And now, Khamzat Chimaev has entered the mix with a post that has fans buzzing about whether ‘Borz’ could be a part of the historic event! The undefeated middleweight champion sparked attention with a post on X that showed White House artwork featuring Chimaev front and center. He didn’t add words, but he didn’t need to. The image itself was a declaration.

Is Khamzat Chimaev vying for a spot at next year’s White House card?

Visa issues tied to his association with Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov made it nearly impossible for him to fight in the United States, as per reports. That’s apparently why his career largely played out in Abu Dhabi until his U.S. return at UFC 319 in Chicago, where he dethroned Dricus Du Plessis to claim the middleweight title.

But here’s the twist: the Chechen juggernaut hasn’t always been sold on the White House idea. In a previous interview with MMA Fighting, he had confessed when asked about his involvement in the event, “Look at my face. I don’t think so,” he joked, before clarifying, “They [would deport me] to an immigrant camp or whatever. I’m an athlete, a sportsman, all my life I’ve been training. Some people put me in a position like political s– and break my visa down and I don’t know why. I’m just doing for my family — fighting, training. Athletes don’t have to be with politics. I’m not connected.”

Yet, his latest post suggests that perspective may be shifting. Whether it’s the belt on his shoulder or the prestige of fighting on America’s front lawn, Chimaev now looks eager to be part of history. As for Conor McGregor, the opportunity was too big to ignore.

During a recent appearance on Fox & Friends, ‘The Notorious’ declared his comeback would take place on the White House card, naming Michael Chandler as his opponent. “The Mac is excited to get back for sure. I’m on [the White House card]. This is me,” McGregor said, making it clear he expects the spotlight.

Jon Jones, too, has floated the idea of competing there, tying the event to his own legacy as one of the sport’s greatest, but according to Dana White, he’s not entirely convinced about ‘Bones’ coming through on an event with such significance!

‘Borz’ adds his name to the White House card list as Dana White shuts down Jon Jones’s demand

Jon Jones recently tried to settle the swirling rumors around his future. Speaking at the MTV Video Music Awards, the former heavyweight champion declared, “I am not retired. I’m training for the event. I’ll be ready for the event. That’s my goal, that’s my intention. But ultimately it’s up to the boss.” On paper, that sounds like a fighter committed to the White House stage. But White’s response tells another story.

During a media appearance on The W.A.D.E. Concept, the UFC boss explained why he’s hesitant to put Jones front and center. According to him, “He has made it very clear that this is what he wants to do, but I need people on this card that I can count on, that no matter what happens, [If] opponents get switched out, or whatever happens, I need guys that I can absolutely count on that are going to show up that night.”

For the UFC CEO, reliability is everything, and White insisted the White House card demands fighters who won’t falter under any circumstance. As such, while he acknowledged Jones’ greatness, he also pointed to recent frustrations.

Negotiations for a potential title unification clash with Tom Aspinall reportedly collapsed because of Jones. That left White skeptical about banking the most historic card in UFC history on a man whose track record includes multiple failed deals and long absences. He further confessed, “Jon Jones and I just had a deal that he pulled out of, so he’s not on the top of my list, even though I say it all the time, he’s the greatest of all time.”

As such, the UFC White House card is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious projects Dana White has ever undertaken. McGregor is already calling his shot, Khamzat Chimaev is signaling his intent, and Jones is battling doubts from the boss himself. Three very different stories, but all colliding on the same stage. The question is, who actually makes the cut? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!