Banned Conor McGregor mocked by UFC fans after White House sparring video raises fresh doubts about his comeback

Conor McGregor is once again in the spotlight, but this time, not for a fight inside the UFC octagon. The former two-division champion is facing heavy criticism from UFC fans after new sparring footage of him spread fast on social media. The video shows Conor McGregor training and knocking down sparring partners while talking about his next fight camp. Instead of praise, the footage triggered strong reactions from fans who questioned the level of his training and his future in the sport.Conor McGregor is currently banned from fighting. He is serving an 18-month suspension for breaking the UFC anti-doping rules. His ban started on September 20, 2024, and will end on March 20, 2026. Despite the suspension, McGregor has talked in the past about returning on a possible UFC card at the White House on June 14. That idea has now come under fresh doubt as fans say they no longer take his comeback talk seriously.The Irish star has not fought in nearly five years. His last bout ended in July 2021, when he broke his left leg in his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier. Since then, questions around his form, focus, and future have only grown louder.In the viral footage, Conor McGregor is seen training hard and speaking with confidence about his upcoming camp. He said, “This is going to be a very serious camp for us. We are going to get much better this time.”He added, “This camp has to be one hundred percent. I am going into this fight as one hundred percent Conor McGregor. Everything has to be planned carefully.”Conor McGregor also spoke about his striking, saying, “I am throwing powerful shots. Everything has to be sharp.”However, many UFC fans were not impressed. The clips quickly filled with comments on X, where users questioned the quality of his sparring partners.One fan wrote, “This looks like light training, not real fight preparation.”Another commented, “Sadly, no one takes Conor McGregor seriously anymore.”A third fan added, “He is not even in the testing pool and is talking about fighting at the White House.”Another user asked, “Does he ever train with top fighters anymore?”One comment summed up the mood, saying, “They are sparring, but he is fighting.” McGregor’s future is also affected by legal trouble. If he ever fights again, it will be his first bout since he was found civilly liable for assaulting Nikita Hand at a Dublin hotel in 2018.A jury at Dublin’s High Court delivered the verdict in November 2024. Conor McGregor later lost his appeal. The Supreme Court rejected his request for another appeal last month, according to court records.