Max Holloway Questions Jose Aldo’s Motivation Going Into Their Rematch

UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway has some doubts about Jose Aldo’s motivation leading into their upcoming rematch at the next UFC PPV (pay-per-view) event, UFC 218.

On Tuesday, November 20th, the former UFC champion attempted to say all the right things when speaking to the media during a conference call to hype the upcoming fight.

In their first fight, Holloway took Aldo’s UFC featherweight title via third-round TKO at UFC 212 in Rio de Janeiro. Thus, when the opportunity came knocking to take back his belt and become a three-time champion is all the motivation that Aldo needs to get his hand raised.

“It’s going to be different because I’m motivated,” Aldo said via translator on a conference call (transcript courtesy of MMA Fighting). “I’m very well trained right now, I’m really focused and I believe it’s going to be a different ending from the first fight.”

This is when Holloway took exception to Aldo’s comments and wants to know why is Aldo finding the motivation now and where was it for their original fight.

“This guy is talking about motivation, how motivated he is for the belt,” Holloway said. “I have no idea when people talk motivation. This guy was fighting at his hometown as the champion, and for him to be saying motivation, now he feels way more motivated, fighting for your country and fighting in front of your people, for your belt, is not enough motivation? What’s going on?”

Holloway defeated Anthony Pettis to win an interim belt at UFC 206 before unifying the titles at UFC 212. Now, simply holding onto the belt is enough to keep Holloway motivated.

“I’m motivated. The belt is great. You know what comes with the belt? Bigger paydays, pay-per-views, and a lot of stuff,” Holloway said. “But a belt is a belt, and a fight is a fight. I don’t want to go out and get my butt whooped, my ass whooped in front of millions of people watching at home.”

If you recall, Holloway was originally supposed to defend his championship against Frankie Edgar at the event, but Edgar had to pull out of the fight with an injury. Make no mistake about it, he didn’t have any problems getting up to fight someone he slugged it out with just a mere few months ago.

“I can fight this guy 10 times in a row,” Holloway said. “I’ll be motivated, that’s who I am.”

UFC 218 is set to take place on on Saturday, December 2, 2017 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The main card will air on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. ET while the preliminary card will air on FOX Sports 1 at 8 p.m. ET and the promotion’s streaming service, UFC Fight Pass, at 6:15 p.m. ET.