Jon Jones

CONOR MCGREGOR has drawn the ire of UFC fans with his latest training footage.

The promotion’s former poster boy is slowly but surely ramping up training ahead of his long-proposed return to the octagon.

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McGregor, 37, has been putting in the work on the Thai pads during his recent stay in Italy and has since started sparring.

Footage of the former two-division champion trading heavy leather with two young sparring partners started doing the rounds on social media last weekend.

McGregor didn’t take it lightly on his training partners for the day, throwing some full-pelt shots their way.

The Dubliner’s apparent refusal to take it easy on the youngsters annoyed several MMA fans, one of whom wrote on X: “Hmmm. Not a good look for McGregor.”

Another said: “Still an embarrassing show. He is such a shell of his former self.”

And another said: “Bullying young fighters.”

One remarked: “Embarrassing, TBH.”

Another chimed in: “McGregor beating up 12-year-old kids – what a downfall.”

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Several fight fans, however, believed McGregor was giving the youngsters some invaluable experience, with one saying: “He is doing them a favour.”

Another said: “He’s a great teacher ’cause nobody will take it easy in them in the octagon.”

And another said: “Great training opportunity!”

McGregor hasn’t set foot inside the octagon since breaking his left leg in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier over four years ago.

He was set to make his grand cage comeback last June against Michael Chandler but withdrew from the Sin City showdown after breaking his left pinky toe.

McGregor took a major step towards returning to the cage late last month by re-entering the UFC‘s drug testing pool.

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He submitted random samples to drug testers earlier this month, both of which came back negative for any banned substances.

If McGregor fights again, his next outing will be his first since he was found civilly liable for having assaulted Nikita Hand at a Dublin hotel in December 2018.

McGregor appealed the verdict turned in at Dublin‘s High Court but lost his bid to overturn the civil verdict in July.

DANA WHITE has all but ruled out the prospect of Jon Jones headlining the UFC’s White House card next year.

The former light-heavy and heavyweight champion ended his retirement after just TWO WEEKS in July after learning of the promotion’s plans to stage a fight card at Donald Trump‘s residence.

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White was initially open to having ‘Bones’ top the bill, but has since performed a public U-turn.

The veteran promoter claimed he couldn’t “trust” Jones enough to give him the honour of headlining the historic card after he pulled the plug on fighting Brit Tom Aspinall.

And he brutally doubled down on his claim during the UFC 319 post-fight press conference on Sunday morning.

He asked a reporter: “What do you think Jon would do in the next couple of months that would make me trust putting him on the White House card?”

“I already said I don’t trust him, and you’re asking me, ‘What could he do for me to trust him in the next three months?’

“You don’t trust him!

“I haven’t talked to him at all. I would not bet on it.

“If I have to make odds, it’s a BILLION TO ONE [that] I put Jon Jones on the White House card.”

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Jones, 38, was set to unify the heavyweight belts against interim titleholder Aspinall in a historic showdown at Madison Square Garden in November.

But despite the UFC brass meeting his demands to be paid “f**k you money“, he opted NOT to go through with the fight.

The former pound-for-pound king insisted a bout with Wigan warrior Aspinall did nothing for his legacy.

But he believes a fight at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue will add to it.

He said: “In a recent interview, I shared that the opportunity to fight at the White House gave me something deeper to fight for, a ‘why’ that goes beyond paychecks or belts.

If I have to make odds, it’s a billion to one I put Jon Jones on the White House card.”

Dana White on Jon Jones fighting at the White House

“Fighting for my country gives me a greater purpose!

“The silver lining in all this is knowing the fans see my heart.

“They see, I am ready and willing to take on anyone, to represent my country on a historic stage.

“For me, it’s never been just about the opponent. I’m chasing legacy, something timeless, something bigger than the moment.

“So for now, I’ll keep grinding, stay patient, and stay faithful. I’m ready to fight on July 4th.”