Conor McGregor Sparks Outrage After Beating Up Young Training Partners in Italy

The 37-year-old Irishman has been grinding it out in Italy, supposedly preparing for his long-awaited return to the octagon. And by “grinding it out,” I mean absolutely pummeling what appear to be significantly younger sparring partners with the kind of intensity you’d expect from someone who’s forgotten this is supposed to be practice, not actual combat.

The footage shows McGregor trading leather with two young fighters, and let’s just say he wasn’t exactly pulling his punches. We’re talking full-pelt shots that would make even seasoned pros wince. It’s the kind of sparring session that makes you wonder if someone forgot to tell Conor that training partners aren’t punching bags with feelings.

The video spread across social media faster than gossip in a small town, and the reaction was about as mixed as a cocktail made by a drunk bartender. Some fans were absolutely horrified, while others tried to defend their fallen hero with the enthusiasm of a lawyer representing a hopeless case.

UFC Fans Unleash Their Fury Over McGregor’s Training Methods

The internet, being the wonderful cesspool of opinions that it is, didn’t hold back on McGregor. One particularly unimpressed fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter, for those still catching up): “Hmmm. Not a good look for McGregor.” And honestly, that’s probably the most diplomatic way to put it.

Another fan was even more brutal, stating: “Still an embarrassing show. He is such a shell of his former self.” Ouch. That’s got to sting worse than any punch those young sparring partners took.

The criticism kept rolling in like waves during a hurricane. “Bullying young fighters,” one fan commented, while another simply said: “Embarrassing, TBH.” Perhaps the most damning comment came from a fan who wrote: “McGregor beating up 12-year-old kids – what a downfall.”

Now, calling them 12-year-olds might be a bit of an exaggeration, but the sentiment is clear: fans are not impressed with McGregor’s apparent need to go full throttle against training partners who probably signed up for light work, not a war zone.

The Other Side of the Coin: McGregor’s Defenders Speak Out

Of course, not everyone was ready to throw McGregor under the bus. Some fans actually defended his training methods, though their arguments were about as convincing as a chocolate teapot.

“He is doing them a favour,” one supporter claimed, presumably meaning that getting your bell rung by a former champion is somehow educational. Another fan chimed in with: “He’s a great teacher ’cause nobody will take it easy on them in the octagon.”

While there’s some truth to the idea that hard training prepares fighters for real competition, there’s a difference between challenging sparring and what looked like McGregor trying to prove he’s still got it by overwhelming much younger, less experienced opponents.

One particularly optimistic fan called it a “Great training opportunity!” which is a bit like calling a car crash a “sudden driving lesson.”

McGregor’s Rocky Road Back to the Octagon

Let’s take a step back and remember where McGregor stands in his career. The man hasn’t set foot in the octagon since that gruesome leg break against Dustin Poirier over four years ago—an injury that was about as pleasant to watch as a root canal performed by a blindfolded dentist.

He was supposed to make his triumphant return last June against Michael Chandler, but wouldn’t you know it, he had to withdraw after breaking his pinky toe. Because apparently, McGregor’s body is now made of the same material as fortune cookies—one wrong move and everything crumbles.

The good news (if you can call it that) is that McGregor recently re-entered the UFC‘s drug testing pool, which is like dipping your toe back into the dating pool after a messy divorce. He submitted samples that came back cleaner than a hospital floor, so at least we know he’s not chemically enhanced—just naturally intense to a fault.

The Legal Baggage That Won’t Go Away

If McGregor does manage to make it back to the cage without injuring himself getting out of bed, his next fight will be his first since being found civilly liable for assaulting Nikita Hand at a Dublin hotel in December 2018. Because nothing says “comeback story” like carrying around a civil court verdict that follows you everywhere like a bad smell.

McGregor tried to appeal the verdict but lost that bid in July, proving that sometimes even money can’t buy you out of your mistakes. It’s the kind of legal baggage that would weigh down a freight train, let alone a fighter trying to rehabilitate his image.

What This Means for McGregor’s Future

Looking at this training controversy, you have to wonder if McGregor has lost touch with reality. The man who once had the entire MMA world eating out of his hand is now getting roasted by fans for what amounts to playground bullying in a boxing gym.

The intensity he’s showing against these young fighters reeks of desperation—like a former high school quarterback trying to relive his glory days by dominating kids at the local rec center. It’s not inspiring; it’s concerning.

McGregor used to be known for his precision, his timing, and his ability to dismantle opponents with surgical strikes. Now he’s going full berserker mode against training partners who probably cost less per hour than his morning coffee.

This isn’t the behavior of a confident champion preparing for a comeback—it’s the behavior of someone who’s forgotten the difference between proving you still have it and proving you’ve lost it.

The real question isn’t whether McGregor can still throw hard punches (clearly, he can), but whether he can still think strategically about his career and public image. Based on this latest controversy, the answer seems to be a resounding no.