Why no UFC stars are daring to call out Conor McGregor over Donald Trump meeting

Conor McGregor’s summit with Donald Trump was the latest example of UFC and its stars sharing a cosy relationship with the President of the United States.

McGregor, 36, visited the White House on St Patrick’s Day with the intention of voicing concerns over immigration issues in Ireland.

The former world champion and Trump took turns praising the other’s ‘inspiring’ work rate with anti-immigration comments made by the Dubliner quickly denounced by Irish political leaders.

While his comments have sparked outcry back home, McGregor’s presence in the Oval Office seems in-fitting with the close dynamic between Trump and the world of UFC.

McGregor has not fought in almost five years – losing his last fight against Dustin Poirier after breaking his leg in the first round.

Last year, a woman who accused McGregor of raping her in a Dublin hotel won a claim against him for damages in a civil case.

A jury found that he had assaulted her and was ordered him to pay more than €248,000 (£206,000).

Once the undisputed star of mixed martial arts, his star is fading with ‘Notorious’ seemingly set on rebranding himself as a political figure. Despite that, he remains synonymous with the UFC brand.

He will not be the first fighter from the promotion to praise the Trump administration. The entire fight roster is perhaps the most conservative leaning in all of sport with its most prominent names standing by Trump over the last decade.

No fighters under the UFC flagship have publicly questioned McGregor’s meeting with Tump and none are likely to either. UFC stars have gravitated towards Trump, regardless of their background with Colby Covington, Jorge Masvidal, Justin Gaethje and Henry Cejudo among his biggest supporters.

Jon Jones, perhaps the best fighter in the promotion’s history, is also among that contingent. Two weeks after his election victory over Kamala Harris, Trump, flanked by Elon Musk and Robert Kennedy Jr, attended UFC 309 to watch Jones defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic.

Jones celebrated by breaking out the Trump dance in the centre of the Octagon, handing his belt to the beaming president before thanking the 78-year-old for attending.

Trump is a regular attendee when UFC comes to the east coast with chants of ‘F**k you Biden’ heard during his ringside appearance at UFC 302 in Newark last June.

The love-in among a sizeable portion of UFC fighters and fans comes from the very top. UFC president Dana White has long been one of Trump’s most outspoken supporters in a friendship that dates back to 2001.

He is firmly part of his inner circle, appearing at the Republican National Convention three times in support. While he has often been happy to mix business with politics, the 55-year-old has since sought to distance himself from the ‘disgusting’ world of the latter, insisting he wants no role to play in political affairs going forward.

White owes plenty to Trump. MMA’s place in sport was very different 24 years ago, labelled ‘human cockfighting’ by then US Senator John McCain and shunned by the mainstream sporting establishment.

Still an illegal sport in some US states, New Jersey legalised it with Trump inviting White and his promotion to set up shop at this Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City for UFC 30 and UFC 31.

Since then, UFC has grown into the largest MMA organisation in the world, valued at over $12billion and the ties between it and Trump are stronger than ever.

‘I’m in the tough guy business, and this man is the toughest, most resilient human being that I’ve ever met in my life,’ White said last November.

Given how healthy the relationship between UFC and Trump is, McGregor’s brief presence in Washington should come as no surprise.