Conor McGregor Withdraws from Irish Presidential Race

Thu Sep 18 2025 18:09:29 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

MMA fighter Conor McGregor announces the end of his campaign for the presidency of Ireland just days before the election.

Conor McGregor has decided to retract his candidacy for the upcoming Irish presidential election scheduled for October 24. His announcement follows his attempts to secure necessary nominations from local authorities, which he deemed were hampered by strict eligibility rules. McGregor expressed gratitude for the support he received but ultimately concluded that the decision was in his best interest at this time.

Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor has announced his withdrawal from the race for the Irish presidency just days before the election scheduled for October 24. His decision comes after he sought support from Dublin City Council and Kildare County Council but was unable to secure the necessary nominations to appear on the ballot.

In a statement shared on social media, McGregor cited a careful reflection and discussions with family as the basis for his decision to step back from the race. He expressed that this was a challenging choice, yet necessary at this point in his life.

As of now, three candidates have gained enough backing from lawmakers or local authorities to stand in the race. McGregor, aged 37, initially vowed to run for the presidency last year, embracing the encouragement he received throughout his campaign.

However, he criticized the eligibility requirements as a straitjacket that restricted true democratic participation in the election. These criteria stipulate that candidates must be Irish citizens over 35 and need an endorsement from at least 20 members of the Oireachtas or from four local authorities.

In recent news, McGregor faced legal battles, including a civil jury ruling regarding a sexual assault case, which he officially denied. Following significant media attention and public scrutiny, he was ordered to pay over £200,000 in damages for the civil claim against him.

McGregor's admissions regarding his withdrawal from the presidential race underscore a significant pivot in his trajectory, as he has yet to compete professionally since July 2021.