Jose Aldo: I Don’t See Any Problem With Fighting McGregor In Ireland
UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo saw the prospect of the biggest fight in mixed martial arts (MMA) history (along with potentially million dollars) slip through his fingers when an unfortunate broken rib forced him out of his grudge match with Conor McGregor at July 11’s UFC 189.
But even though the fight went on with McGregor coming from behind to stop late replacement Chad Mendes in the second round (watch highlights here), Aldo wasn’t interested in the outcome.
Speaking during a press conference today (Thurs., July 16, 2015) at his famed Nova Uniao Gym (via MMA Fighting), Aldo described that he didn’t watch the fight, but his head coach Dede Pederneiras did. According to Pederneiras, the fight went well for them because it was clear Mendes, whom Aldo has already beat twice, was winning until he gassed out:
“It’s funny. When my friends aren’t fighting, I don’t even watch it. ‘Dede’ talked to me about it, said it’s cool, that it was a good fight for us. He saw his game, that Chad was winning while he had gas, and that they shouldn’t have stopped the fight. But when I’m not fighting, I don’t read or watch anything.”
The champ was unwilling to give credit to archrival McGregor, believing him to have taken advantage of an opponent who came in with less than a full training camp:
“Mendes won the battle, but McGregor won the fight.”
Aldo went on to say that he’s actually glad with the outcome in a sense, because his proposed bout with McGregor would bring in much more hype, attention, and financial gains than a third fight with ‘Money’ would have:
“Chad is a really tough fighter, but it wouldn’t be that good financially (to fight him a third time),” he said. “We considered fighting (McGregor) injured, I like those big events, and I was training well. We asked for a deadline to try to recover and fight injured, but I wasn’t recovering as expected. I still feel the pain. I would have fought if I could, but I couldn’t.”
As for the champ’s return, Pederneiras said that they’re looking to resume training within a couple of weeks. That would put Aldo on track for a potential return sometime in November or December, and without a UFC title fight booked in those months, the stars could align for an absolutely massive card. However, that will only happen if the champ is fully healthy, of course:
“Aldo wants to get back to training in two weeks,” Pederneiras said. “I don’t believe Frankie Edgar will fight Conor first. Aldo will be cleared to fight before the end of the year, in November or December. That’s what I think, but I’m not a doctor. We can’t rush anything. He will come back when doctors tell him he’s cleared and there’s no risk of getting injured again.”
Las Vegas has been targeted as the location to settle the biggest rivalry the UFC may have ever seen, but even if the promotion decided to book the fight in McGregor’s native Ireland, Aldo said he wouldn’t have a problem. He simply wants to get back to fighting:
“It would be great, I don’t see any problem with that,” Aldo said. “They can say whatever they want. If they don’t say it in Portuguese, I won’t understand a word so I don’t care. I’m anxious to fight already.”
“Get ready, I’m coming,” Aldo tells McGregor. “He can say whatever he wants, but his weapons are nowhere near what I’m showing him.”
Having been highly criticized by UFC President Dana White for being oft injured, Aldo appears to be letting all of the talk slide past while he prepares to get back to training for the biggest fight of his life. But when will it happen, and where?
