Overview

• McGregor announced on Sept. 15 that he was withdrawing from the 2025 Irish presidential contest, saying he reached the decision after consulting his family.
• Sonnen responded in a video posted this week, contending there was no campaign to suspend because McGregor had not completed the administrative steps to be on the ballot.
• He said Ireland’s parliament never recognized McGregor as a candidate and pointed to the absence of any vote, ballot placement, or filed paperwork.
• Sonnen also attacked McGregor’s personal conduct in his critique, framing the fighter’s controversies as incompatible with a credible political effort.
• Irish rules require either 20 Oireachtas members or four local authorities to nominate a presidential hopeful, and McGregor has since refocused on fighting, saying he aims to face Michael Chandler and referencing a 2026 UFC White House event.