Jose Aldo’s Nova Uniao Sparring Partner Speaks Up About Rib Injury
As the MMA world waits with baited breath on the test results for Jose Aldo’s supposedly broken rib that has put his anticipated UFC 189 title fight versus Conor McGregor in jeopardy, the training partner who caused the unfortunate accident for ‘Junior’ has spoken up to detail the situation.
Apparently Alcides Nunes, an undefeated 5-0 lightweight who trains at Aldo’s famed Nova Uniao gym in Rio de Janeiro, detailed the scene to MMA Fighting’s Guilherme Cruz, saying that he injured the longtime champion’s ribs with a spinning back kick after he slipped on some sweat on the mat:
“I threw a kick but slipped with all the sweat on the mat, and ended up hitting his rib. I was mimicking McGregor’s unorthodox style, things he does in the fight. I’m also left-handed, my style is similar to his, so that’s why they asked me to be part of his camp, but I ended up slipping and causing this injury.”
Nunes went on to say that the champ was a true warrior, finishing out the round of sparring before deciding he could not carry on and going to the hospital:
“He finished the round, and then decided to stop. I’m sure he would continue to train if he could. He’s a warrior and was really well prepared for this fight.”
As the biggest fight of his illustrious career is potentially falling apart, Aldo has stated that he wants to fight McGregor at the MGM Grand Garden Arena nonetheless. But that may not be a possibility if doctors deem him unit to compete at the approaching event.
That has Nunes saddened abut his mistake in training, because he said that Aldo was in great shape and ready to face off with ‘Notorious’:
“I’m still sad about all this,” he said. “As a fan and an athlete, I know this is devastating. I’m really sad. Aldo was in shape and prepared for this fight.”
Aldo may have been in great shape, but it’s questionable a to why he was having a hard sparring session with a bigger fighter who threw a kick powerful enough to break his ribs just 18 days out from possibly the biggest MMA fight of all-time. Was it a grave mistake by Nova Uniao or just an instance of extreme bad luck?
