In one of the most traumatic events in mixed martial arts (MMA) history, former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Featherweight champion Jose Aldo saw nearly 10 years of professional perfection go to waste when Conor McGregor knocked him out in 13 seconds at UFC 194 this past December.
Needless to say, the 29-year-old Brazilian veteran has been vigorously looking for a way to lock down a rematch with the Irishman. But with McGregor jumping around like a divisional hot potato, Aldo has found it very difficult to get the opportunity for unimaginable redemption.
Instead, he will face fellow Featherweight top contender Frankie Edgar in a rematch of their own at UFC 200 on July 9 for the interim title. McGregor will take on Nate Diaz in a Welterweight reboot on the same night.
In a recent interview with FOX Sports, Aldo discussed his current state of affairs and what he thinks about McGregor’s rematch with Stockton’s own.
“You know as an athlete obviously it’s good because I get to fight, but as a fan it sucks,” said Aldo when asked about his fight with Edgar being for the interim strap. “To me it makes no sense really. Because everyone thought he was going to come back and defend his title and now he’s fighting Nate again. It’s a fight that doesn’t get anyone, anywhere. It doesn’t get Conor anywhere. It doesn’t get Nate anywhere. So it really makes no sense, I don’t know what’s going on.”
It’s understandable that Aldo, and even Edgar for that matter, would have a serious issue with McGregor fighting for a second-straight time outside of the division. But when the money starts rolling in, it’s difficult for the promotion not to give “Mystic Mac” what he asks for.
“He needs to come back to featherweight,” added Aldo. “There’s no way he can just hold onto that belt for a long time. By the end of the year he needs to come back to featherweight.”
When asked about what he thinks about McGregor’s chances in a rematch with Diaz, the former UFC champion held nothing back.
“I don’t think there’s any way for it to be different,” said Aldo. “We saw what happened last time. Maybe the only difference is that Nate is going to be even better prepared and Conor’s shame is going to be even greater.”