From Octagon to Uachtarán? Conor McGregor's presidential ambition meets constitutional reality
MMA fighter launches petition aimed to circumvent Irish constitution in bid for presidency
Irish mixed martial arts star and former UFC champion Conor McGregor's presidential bid has stalled, as his ambitions for reform are being thwarted by the constitutional realities of the office and the country’s political system.
Despite prolific and viral online declarations, in addition to a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on St. Patrick’s Day, the 37-year-old faces a hurdle that is proving nearly insurmountable — the lack of political backing for his nomination.
Polls show his support hovering around 7%. Meanwhile, a jury has found him civilly liable for rape — a blow to a campaign rooted in an anti-immigrant populist appeal amplified by social media pledges purported to revive “peace and prosperity” for the Irish people. To override this constitutional barrier, McGregor has not shied away from putting forth a creative solution: a petition to change Ireland’s constitution.
A dramatic personality shift
The playful showmanship that once defined Conor McGregor is long gone. The shift began with a single, tense altercation between his former friend Artem Lobov and rival Khabib Nurmagomedov, and it quickly spiralled into something darker. In April 2018, McGregor and an entourage of roughly 20 people attacked a bus carrying Nurmagomedov and other fighters at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. In the chaotic assault, McGregor threw a metal dolly at the bus window, causing injuries to several fighters and escalating the rivalry.
This turning point marked the end of the comedic fighter and ushered in a new public persona defined by increasingly vehement rhetoric, often fuelled by racial and religious stereotypes—a tone he has maintained ever since.
A much-anticipated showdown with Nurmagomedov, a competitor from the Russian Muslim republic of Dagestan, would take place at UFC 229 in October 2018, ahead of which McGregor taunted the then-lightweight champion with offensive comments about his culture and religion — posting photographs of his wedding in a now-deleted tweet and calling his wife, covered under a traditional bridal veil, a "towel".
A press conference with Nurmagomedov marked the emergence of Islamophobic speech, emblematic of an anti-multicultural stance which now lies at the core of his electoral project. Nurmagomedov would go on to submit McGregor in the fourth round, before leaping out of the cage, sparking an all-out brawl with members of the Irishman’s team.
Known in the martial arts world for his brash fighting persona and striking accuracy, McGregor swiftly rose to fame after winning two UFC titles in two different weight classes in 2015 and 2016 — making him the first fighter in history to do so.
Born in the Dublin suburbs to a taxi-driver father and a laundry-worker mother, his working-class origins and athletic flair were recognised early on in boxing gyms, leading him to being picked up and signed by UFC, the most prestigious promotion in the sport.
Following a years-long, near-perfect run of successes, McGregor went on to fight boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in a widely-publicised match — from which he reportedly walked away pocketing an estimated $130 million, despite having lost the bout.
But his stardom has also been marred by a myriad of legal issues, including driving offences and bar fights, both at home and abroad. Last week, McGregor, 37, lost his appeal in a civil rape case that stemmed from a woman's accusation that he "brutally raped and battered" her in a hotel room in 2018. He was found guilty of sexual assault at Ireland's High Court in November, but filed an appeal against the ruling earlier this year. The sportsman, who has four children with a long-term partner, has consistently denied the allegations, claiming that he and the plaintiff, Nikita Hand, had "fully consensual sex". He was ordered to pay her nearly 250,000 euros ($257,000) in damages. Other similar accusations have since been made against him.
Years have passed since their notorious quarrel, and Nurmagomedov seems not to hold grudges. Commenting on the rejection of his rival's appeal last week, Nurmagomedov said on Tuesday that McGregor still had a chance at turning his life around for the better. "This is punishment, but I think he has a chance," Nurmagomedov told ESPN. "He has a chance to change how he is living."
McGregor's Presidential Bid: From Octagon to Uachtarán?
McGregor's political ambitions have since moved from the social media space to an official campaign, culminating in his announcement on St. Patrick's Day that he intends to run for Uachtarán na hÉireann (President of Ireland) — the country's Head of State. His bid, however, is met with significant political and social condemnation and faces a monumental hurdle in the form of Ireland's constitutional nomination process.
An examination of Conor McGregor's ambition to become the next President of Ireland reveals a significant disparity between his political platform and the constitutional realities of the office he seeks. With the next presidential election scheduled for on or before November 11, 2025, the former UFC star faces not only political opposition, but also the fundamental limitations of the role itself and a challenging nomination process.
'Ireland is for Ireland'
McGregor, whose political views have been branded as far-right and populist, has made opposition to immigration a central pillar of his platform. This stance was amplified in November 2023 when, following a stabbing incident in Dublin, he made several anti-immigration statements on social media, tweeting "Ireland, we are at war". While McGregor condemned the riots that followed the stabbings, his comments led to a criminal probe into incitement to hatred. The investigation concluded in March 2025 with no charges filed.
In a two-hour interview in April with Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson, who is also a Trump supporter, the retired athlete staunchly rejected the labels his diatribes against migrants have earned him. "Far left, far right — all of these terminologies mean nothing to me," he told Carlson. "I am a family man. I am a supporter of many people. And I care about my land. And the safety of its citizens." Then, in what resembled an analogy to his days in the octagonal ring, he added, "I am not right, left. I feel I am centered. Grounded. And that is what I feel. In fact, I ground myself every day. I walk out and I ground myself every day, barefoot on the grass."
In addition to his anti-immigration posture, McGregor is also a strong supporter of Israel. On 26 November 2023, he criticised Ireland’s then Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar for his views on immigration and for failing to mention the Palestinian militant group Hamas when discussing an Irish hostage released by the group. In one of his frequent online arguments, McGregor clashed with Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham, replying to his post slamming Israel's capture in June of a Gaza-bound activist boat carrying aid.
The former fighter’s presidential aspirations gained attention in December 2023, when he first stated he was considering a run. As to why he would run, McGregor said, "Among many other things, the allocation of our nation's funds has been nothing short of criminal, and without an iota of consideration for the public's thinking. ... Our people feel ignored. Unheard. Until of course election time. Then the waffle begins."
This announcement was even met with a supportive post from Elon Musk on X, who wrote "Not a bad idea". He also received an endorsement from influencer Andrew Tate, who is facing rape and human trafficking charges in Britain.
Similarly, in another harangue in September 2023, he described lawmakers as “charlatans” and “thieves of the working man, these disrupters of the family unit, these destructors of small businesses” writing, “Ireland needs an active President employed wholly by the people of Ireland. It is me. I am the only logical choice”. But a poll two months later indicated McGregor had 8% support among the electorate, while 89% said they would not vote for him.
His official announcement came during a controversial visit to the White House on St. Patrick's Day, where he met with U.S. President Donald Trump. During the visit, McGregor claimed Ireland was "on the cusp of losing its Irishness" due to an "illegal immigration racket".
The comments were widely condemned by Irish political leaders, including Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who called McGregor’s remarks “wrong”, and Tánaiste (deputy prime minister), Simon Harris, who stated that McGregor represents “the very worst of toxic masculinity”. Northern Irish MP Colum Eastwood of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), after the Oval Office meeting, said “we’re all pretty embarrassed by him”.
Referring to McGregor’s legal history, the chief executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Rachel Morrogh, wrote a letter of complaint to the U.S. administration, noting that the meeting "effectively normalises sexual violence". Lawmaker Ruth Coppinger, speaking in Ireland’s national parliament, Dáil Éireann, went so far as to say "two rapists met each other in the White House", referencing both McGregor and Trump. Despite the controversy, McGregor praised Trump, calling his work ethic “inspiring”.
Subsequent polls have shown his support remains low. An April 2025 poll found that only 7% of respondents would vote for him — mostly young or middle-aged men and members of the working-class — while 89% would not. A significant 69% of respondents said they would be less likely to vote for a political figure who nominated him. This public sentiment reflects a major obstacle — under Ireland's constitution, a presidential candidate must be nominated by at least 20 members of the Oireachtas (parliament) or four local authorities.
McGregor may have garnered more than 46 million followers on Instagram and another 11 million on X — but with no political backing, his path to the ballot box appears to be blocked.
The petition: A democratic or anti-democratic move?
In an effort to circumvent these rules, McGregor launched an online petition on August 4, 2025, to generate public support and pressure a change in the electoral system. The petition, which has been signed by nearly 14,000 people, aims to allow for a direct popular vote on who can appear on the presidential ballot, bypassing the need for political nominations.
"As it stands now, there are many prominent people with support, and with correct stances and policies for the betterment of Ireland, that are fully blocked from a chance to enter the race. That is UNDEMOCRATIC!", he wrote on X.
"The grip of power the government elite have over Ireland MUST BE CHANGED!" he said in a separate post. The success of this petition, however, remains to be seen -- with some online users comparing his venture to an equally ridiculed move by Kanye West in the United States.
Amongst those whom McGregor's outbursts have angered, are Irish Muslims. The vocal chair of the Irish Muslim Peace & Integration Council and a former European elections contender, Umar Al-Qadri, called the sportsman "Ireland's shame" and "delusional", accusing him of trying to manipulate the country's electoral process.
"He genuinely seems to believe that Americans and fans abroad signing an online form will somehow override Ireland's democratic process," Al-Qadri wrote on X, adding that McGregor's views undermined Irish values of "decency, integrity, respect for all, especially for women and personal autonomy".
Attacking Al-Qadri's Pakistani heritage, McGregor responded with a pledge: "As President, I remove all imported criminals and mentally deranged lunatics from Ireland. As well as put a rapid end to the funding/teachings of radical ideologies in Irish society."
Al-Qadri, who describes himself as “Irish by heart, Dutch by upbringing, Pakistani by birth” and “Ireland's first migrant MEP candidate”, then called McGregor a "repeat offender who’s been protected more by celebrity status than by innocence", citing examples of his misconduct and adding: "If we’re deporting 'criminals and lunatics' as you suggest, you might want to start packing your own bags first".
At odds with the electoral process
In Ireland, the presidential role is a largely ceremonial one, with formal powers and functions outlined in Article 13 of the Constitution, Bunreacht na hÉireann. These include representing the Irish people, appointing members of the government and judiciary on the advice of the Taoiseach, and signing legislation into law. The President also acts as the Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces.
Crucially, however, the President does not have any decision-making or policy-making functions for the State, meaning that even if his petition were to succeed, McGregor's hunger for reform would be largely fruitless.
Regardless of whether or not it is taken seriously, the change requested by McGregor would require a national referendum in order to pass. The petition, which is not legally binding, to some seemed more like a public relations tool rather than a real political strategy.
The next presidential election will see voters, who must be Irish citizens aged 18 or over and registered to vote, casting their ballots using a preferential system. The newly elected President will take up office on November 12, 2025, succeeding Michael D. Higgins.
McGregor’s background contrasts greatly with that of the incumbent, who is steeped in Irish mysticism. Higgins, 84, is a former member of the Irish parliament, poet, and fervent defender of social justice.
The UFC champion is not the only celebrity throwing his hat into the race, with other names of newcomers like businessman Declan Ganley, choreographer Michael Flatley, and Dr Mike Ryan of the World Health Organisation also being touted.
The path forward
McGregor’s path to the ballot is fraught with obstacles. To be eligible for election, a candidate must be an Irish citizen aged 35 or older. While McGregor meets these criteria, the most significant hurdle lies in the nomination process.
Under the Constitution, a candidate must be nominated by either at least 20 members of the Oireachtas (TDs or Senators) or at least four local authorities (county or city councils). With no established political party or significant political support, this requirement presents a formidable challenge for a celebrity independent candidate. His launch of an online petition to change the electoral rules and allow for a direct popular vote for ballot access highlights his recognition of this barrier.
If they were to give him their vote, the MPs would face significant public backlash, providing a clearer picture as to why McGregor has moved to file a petition, signalling an attempt to curb the scepticism in parliament and get the people’s backing rather than the lawmakers’, an arena where he is effectively bound to fail.
Whatever the outcome of his efforts, the constitutional reality stands in stark contrast to McGregor's stated reasons for seeking office. He has previously criticised the "criminal" allocation of the nation's funds and argued that the government ignores its people. His opposition to immigration has been the raison d'être of his campaign.
However, in Ireland, the President has no authority over national budget allocation, immigration policy, or other core government functions. Their power is largely confined to formal constitutional duties, such as referring a bill to the Supreme Court for review or refusing to dissolve the parliament in specific circumstances — thus making McGregor’s promises moot.
While McGregor has a significant online following, his campaign is confronted with the practical requirements of the Irish presidency, which appear to contradict many of his stated ambitions. The upcoming election will test whether a high-profile personality can navigate a constitutional process designed for political consensus.
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