JOSE ALDO HAS insisted that he won’t be seen again in the UFC unless his next fight is an opportunity to regain the featherweight title.
Having been the only featherweight champion in UFC history, Aldo’s 10-year unbeaten run ended last month when he was knocked out by Conor McGregor after just 13 seconds.
In a new interview with PVT in his native Brazil, Aldo says he was promised an immediate shot at the 145lbs belt by UFC president Dana White in the aftermath of his defeat to McGregor in Las Vegas on 12 December.
McGregor will move up to lightweight to challenge reigning 155lbs champion Rafael dos Anjos in his next outing, but he won’t be required to vacate his featherweight title before doing so. According to Aldo, however, that wasn’t part of the plan.
The 29-year-old was expecting to face top contender Frankie Edgar next, but he’s interested in a rematch with McGregor too. Aldo still maintains that “there was no fight” at UFC 194, given how quickly the contest ended.
“Right after the fight, Dana went to the locker room and told us [my] next fight would be against Frankie Edgar for the [featherweight] belt, because Conor would move up to the lightweight division since he couldn’t cut weight anymore.
“I want a rematch with [McGregor], of course, especially because there was no fight. None of us fought, it was just a punch that he was able to connect and won the fight. Okay, congratulations, but it wasn’t what everyone expected. But I’m not focused on that, I’m focused on the future.
“If it’s a rematch or a title fight, it doesn’t matter. But, of course, one day we will fight again and I know I will beat him. I know I can do it. My next step, like I said, I can’t see any other fight, and I won’t accept another fight if it’s not for the belt.”
Aldo added: “When we signed the contract, the intention was that the winner would fight at lightweight, but we would need to abandon the featherweight belt. That was the plan, that’s what they told us. If we fought at lightweight, win or lose, and then had the opportunity to fight at featherweight again, it would be for the title immediately.”
The former pound-for-pound number one also criticised the UFC for allowing McGregor to exert too much of an influence over the organisation, claiming that “luck” has been the main reason for his success.
“I think they gave him too much power, let him grow a lot, and he’s playing now, calling the shots more than the others. I think that’s wrong, no one ever did that,” Aldo said.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s about money or not at this point. What matters is who calls the shots, who’s the boss, and not just a piece of shit talking about things. He doesn’t deserve to be where he is. I’ve always respected all the merits, but he’s had more luck than merits.”
H/T: MMAFighting.com
