IF JOSE ALDO’S latest comments are to be believed, fans might not have to wait until 11 July to see the UFC featherweight champion trade blows with Conor McGregor.
The pair are due to collide in the main event at UFC 189 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in 24 days’ time.
However, Aldo has told the press in Rio de Janeiro that he’s willing to take McGregor on before then “if there’s any trash talk”.
During a media tour to promote the fight earlier this year, McGregor provoked Aldo on several occasions — most notably in Dublin when he snatched the champion’s belt during a Q&A session with fans.
Aldo has claimed that the fear of being fined prevented him from laying a hand on McGregor, but that won’t be the case over the coming weeks.
“We talked about a possible fine during the tour, but it is too expensive, and I couldn’t afford getting fined,” Aldo said. “That was an issue because I couldn’t do what I wanted to do. But the fight is around the corner now so we can do something more because nobody will do anything about it. It there’s any trash talk, I know what I’m going to do.
“I already have in my mind what I’m going to do, but it’s a secret. It’s going to be a different Aldo. There’s no fine or suspension anymore. After everything they spent, they won’t cancel this fight for anything. I’m sure he will come after me, but I guarantee it’s going to be different this time.
“It would be great if there’s a brawl. I hope that happens. That’s what people want. I’m paid to beat people up so, if that happens, it would be wonderful. I hope I can beat him up. The fun is over, it’s going to be for good now. After this staredown, he will give up doing anything he was planning to do. You will see.
“I’m usually calm, he’s the one trying to promote himself. We’ll see when we’re face to face, and I will let my hands do the talking for me. He can say whatever he wants, but he will feel my answer when the time comes. I’m sure he will be afraid, I felt that when I looked into his eyes. I’m going after him. He’s never fought a guy like me before.”
Aldo also responded to being called a ‘little weasel’ by McGregor via Twitter last week when it emerged that there had been some confusion over a drug test administered to the UFC champion at his gym.
He said: ”I will answer him in there. He can say whatever he wants. He can try anything he wants. In there, when we are face to face, I will answer him. He will see what he got himself into.”
H/T: MMAFighting.com
