INSTEAD OF FACING Max Holloway in February, Jose Aldo says his next fight will be for an interim UFC lightweight title in March.
In an extensive interview with Ariel Helwani of MMAFighting.com, Aldo claimed that he’s on the verge of moving up to the 155lbs division, where Conor McGregor is the reigning champion.
A fortnight after becoming the first UFC fighter to hold belts in two separate weight classes, McGregor was stripped of the featherweight strap last month having not defended it in the 11 months since he won it from Aldo thanks to a 13-second knockout last December.
Aldo, who defeated Frankie Edgar in an interim featherweight title bout in July, was subsequently reinstalled as the champion in the 145lbs division. The Brazilian had been expected to face Max Holloway in a unification bout at UFC 208 in Brooklyn on 11 February.
“This fight was set,” Aldo said. “We had told the UFC we wanted to fight on that date. For us, it was set. The UFC said, OK, and they asked that we not discuss it any further before UFC 206.”
Holloway defeated Anthony Pettis earlier this month at UFC 206 in Toronto to become the interim UFC featherweight champion. The Hawaiian told FOX Sports that he’s keen to take on Aldo but the 11 February date won’t give him enough time to prepare as he sustained an ankle injury while getting the better of Pettis.
Aldo continued: “I was told the winner of the Max Holloway and Anthony Pettis fight would be my opponent in Brooklyn, and my understanding was that both Holloway and Pettis were told the same thing before their fight.
“After that fight, Holloway said a bunch of different things. First, I heard he twisted his ankle and wouldn’t have time to heal. Then I heard he had a trip booked to Disney World with his kids and he wouldn’t be able to reschedule. Then I heard his gym is closed during the holidays and he wouldn’t have enough time to train.
“So he’s basically going around, talking a lot of trash, saying a lot of bullshit and acting like a punk. He’s just talking shit.”
With the Holloway fight now seemingly no longer an option, Aldo says he’s been offered an interim lightweight title bout for UFC 209 in Las Vegas on 4 March instead. McGregor defeated Eddie Alvarez to become the undisputed lightweight champion last month, but — with his girlfriend expecting their first child in May and some financial issues to resolve with the UFC – the Dubliner is currently on hiatus.
“No, the Brooklyn fight is not happening,” Aldo said. “I now expect and believe I will be fighting in early March. Either 3 March or 4 March, I can’t remember. I believe they will soon announce an interim lightweight title fight with me. They’ve been trying to find me an opponent, and — surprise, surprise — at least one has already turned down the fight against me. I’m waiting to see who they will find.”
Aldo added: “A guy we never thought would turn it down turned it down, because his father didn’t think it was good. I’m tired of people turning down fights. I want to put some pressure on so they’ll take the fight.”
As for McGregor, Aldo said ‘The Notorious’ has been avoiding a rematch ever since their brief meeting at UFC 194 last year. After winning the featherweight belt, McGregor moved up in weight and clinched the lightweight title after a couple of welterweight bouts against Nate Diaz.
Aldo: “The first thing we did after my fight with McGregor was ask for the rematch, and it should have happened. We’ve tried to make that fight a lot of times, as has the UFC.
“When I sat down with Dana [White, UFC president], and explained to him all the reasons why I was frustrated as a fighter, he said to me, ‘I’ve tried to make the fight. [Conor] doesn’t want to fight you. I can’t force [Conor] to fight you. You and I, Jose, we want this rematch to happen. But he’s not saying yes’. We’ve been trying, but the problem isn’t on my side of the equation.
“I went to bed one night believing the UFC was going to announce my rematch with Conor McGregor and I woke up to read the news that they booked Eddie Alvarez instead. My conversations with the UFC were, ‘It’s happening. We’re booking it’. And then literally overnight something changed without my participation.
“The bottom line is, Conor doesn’t want to fight me. There’s nothing else I can do. I don’t think there’s anything else the UFC can do. If he keeps saying no and keeps running away, he’s going to keep running away. He’s a clown.
“He’s two-faced. He says a lot of stuff to the press, but behind the scenes he turns down fights left and right. He picks opponents, he picks events. He’s not willing to face challengers the way a champion should be ready to face challengers. That’s not a true champion.
“He spent a year without defending the belt, so his math doesn’t add up when he says, ‘I was the champion for less than 12 months’. He wasn’t the champion at all. He never defended the belt. He wanted to stall an entire division. That’s not being a champion. I’ve never seen Conor as the featherweight champion. He’s not the champion now. I’ve never stopped being the featherweight champion.”
Aldo’s loves talkin nonsense. Im 100% the next fight will be vs Halloway. Aldo prob holds the record in most pull outs and is p4p the biggest moaner in the UFC
Ariel Helwani tweeted that he fact checked everything Aldo said about UFC208 and the LW title shot in March after the interview and its 100% accurate.
At this stage the way everything is going in the UFC, why not. Probably Ferguson (if Khabib ducked Jose) and then McGregor II. Aldo to be the only man to get knocked out by the same man in 2 different weight class title fights? The interim title, if used properly, could be even better than the unfortunate “Number 1 contender” spot for the fighters, at least you have some guarantee you’ll get a title shot if you’re parading around with a belt.
What is it Conor says? “Losers focus on winners”
I’m fairly sure hundreds of people said that before Conor.
Yes. People have said words before.
Yea Brian, and people said “I’ll be back” before The Terminator did. Just because others have said a term doesn’t mean someone else can’t utter the phrase.
@Brian: Unfortunately Brian, Conor just tells it better. Because everyone can see it happening.
Well David the point wasn’t that nobody else can utter the phrase, the point was it wasn’t Conor who coined it. It was also recently made famous by LeBron James so if anything it’s his before Conors. I know the first comment went over your heard do I expect this one too.
*head
Aldo is now chasing Conor to save face. I never respected him when he was champ as he backed out of too many fights when the opponent was willing & ready. Many got beaten by a replacement never to be heard of again it’s how Pettis got to where is now… http://m.fightland.vice.com/blog/jose-aldo-a-history-of-pulling-out-of-title-fights. Conor should let him waste away after how he has gone on. Spoilt little runt
Think Holloway beat Aldo, and McGregor for that matter. Most improved fighter in the UFC, savage he is.
@Colin Foley: I disagree, I reckon Aldo would have his number. Holloway has looked great against the lower tier but Edgar, Mendes, Aldo and McGregor are at a different level to the fellas he’s beaten. Pettis is a decent enough win but the tough weight cut could’ve had a big impact on Pettis’ performance.
@DL: The lower tier??? Delusional!!! Holloway has basically cleared out that division bar Conor. Holloway would light Aldo up. His striking is on another level to Aldo
Mendes still the best on the ground for me and a match for anyone, would love to see a rematch between a properly prepped Mendes and McGregor
@Breandán Ó hEidhin: Yes, the lower tier. Edgar, Mendes, McGregor and Aldo are the elite of the division and he hasn’t beaten any of them. You’re the delusional one if you think Holloway’s striking is on another level to Aldo’s. Aldo has brilliant jiu jitsu and yet we never see it because of how good his striking is.
Simon basically they’re gunning for a huge Aldo v McGregor fight next year for both belts. Simples.
Such a farcical organisation. How did it make sense to give Also the belt without him having to fight somebody for it? Making it up as they go along