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MMA

24th Jul 2017

Just when you thought Jose Aldo had finally gotten over that Conor McGregor knockout…

Give it a rest

Ben Kiely

Conor McGregor really fucked Jose Aldo up.

It wasn’t even that patented Celtic cross that found its mark after 13 seconds that did the damage. It is clear as day that McGregor’s mental warfare reduced ‘Scarface’ to rubble, the haymaker simply provided the finish.

Prior to losing his featherweight strap to Max Holloway at UFC 212, Aldo made the following claim:

“I couldn’t care less what Conor does or doesn’t do.”

At the time, it seemed like Aldo was showing real growth with this statement, bouncing back from the laughing stock status he achieved after suffering that unforgettable KO. When it became apparent that he wasn’t going to get a rematch against McGregor, he requested a contract terminationthreatened legal action and even hinted that he would be willing to intentionally lose fights to see out the end of his contract.

When he won the interim strap against Frankie Edgar at UFC 200, he appeared to get over it. However, the Brazilian legend no longer has that coveted golden strap and suddenly he’s bringing up that acerbic-tongued Irishman again.

In an interview with Ag. Fight, Aldo laid out his immediate future in the sport. He revealed that he would be staying at 145 lbs rather than making a move up to lightweight and that he would be aiming to return to the Octagon in November/January.

Then he praised the last man that beat him, but he couldn’t do that without mentioning his arch nemesis.

“He’s the true champion, has his first title defense coming. McGregor was never a champion of anything. He defeated the champion and left. A real champion has to defend (the belt).”

“I speak for Holloway because, win or lose (against Edgar), he will be there fighting. I’m happy that Holloway is the champion. An example, someone who deserved being where he is.”

We hate to break it to you Aldo, but defeating a champion is how one becomes a champion. The record books will show that McGregor was the interim featherweight champion, the undisputed featherweight champion and the lightweight champion.