Updated at 11.45am
THERE ARE STILL major doubts whether Ireland’s Conor McGregor will face Jose Aldo for the featherweight title at UFC 189 on 11 July after conflicting reports emerged overnight regarding the severity of the Brazilian’s injury.
Initial reports indicated that Aldo fractured his ribs in training, but the UFC later announced that he had bruised ribs and was cleared to fight.
However, according to MMAFighting, Nova Uniao head coach Andre Pederneiras claims that Aldo’s medical reports are conflicting with Brazilian doctors adamant his fighter has fractured ribs and American medical experts saying they’re not.
“There’s medical report here and an evaluation there. I’m not a doctor to say which one is correct,” Pederneiras told the media after Shooto Brazil 55 in Rio.
“I know he’s injured and this rib injury is painful. He’s using anti-inflammatory and we will wait to see if he gets better. The fight is on, and we’ll check him again next week.”
Pederneiras went on to outline Aldo’s treatment plan, including injections and a platelet-rich plasma treatment, but admitted the injury could stop his fighter making weight for the championship bout.
“If he can’t do any exercise to cut weight, he won’t fight at all.”
The UFC has already lined up number-one contender Chad Mendes to fight McGregor for the interim featherweight title if Aldo can’t participate in UFC 189.
Originally published at 10.20am.
