Former UFC featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo is feeling disrespected after being side-stepped for a shot at ‘The Notorious’ Conor McGregor to unify the featherweight titles, as McGregor instead will chase the 155-pound title at UFC 205 in hopes of becoming the first dual-weight champion in UFC history.
Shortly after the UFC 205 press conference to present the massive card to mixed martial arts (MMA) fans, Aldo would then request his release from his UFC contract as he claimed he no longer trusted UFC President Dana White and wished to pursue another sport.
Aldo recently spoke to Brazil’s SporTV earlier today (courtesy of MMA Fighting) and was asked if a match-up with the Irishman would be enough to get him back inside the Octagon:
“No. Not even that because that would be the right thing to happen,” Aldo said. “This fight is the fight that should happen next in the featherweight division. I conquered that [right] ever since I entered the UFC. I saw other champions losing and fighting right away for the belt. That was the right thing.
“I didn’t fight for the belt. They made me fight for the interim title, I went there and won, and still have no definition whatsoever. To me, not even a fight with McGregor… It’s not about him being fighting now or not. I don’t care where he’s going. I want to follow my path. Today, the right is me getting released from the contract.”
Aldo claims that he not only wants to be done with the UFC but the sport of MMA altogether, and would not be signing with any other promotion if he is released:
“It’s hard for me. If there’s something good [the UFC can do] is release me,” he said. “I don’t want to fight for other promotion. I’m at the level above. There’s no reason why leave the first division to fight at the second division when I’m well appreciated in the first division, it would mean taking a step back.
“I don’t want to fight for other promotion. I want to follow my way in a different sport, do new things. I’m a young guy, and I want to enjoy that side, too.
“A good thing would be if they release me without a fight. I’m not mad at the UFC or no one else. I like Dana, I have a special love for Lorenzo [Fertitta], a guy that always treated me well since I got to the UFC. If there’s something good from this, I hope they release me so I can follow my way and the UFC follows its way.”
With McGregor’s choice to jump to 155-pounds and pursue that title rather than defend the featherweight strap that the Irishman carries so proudly around his shoulder, ‘Scarface’ believes McGregor is scared to face him after seeing his performance against Frankie Edgar at UFC 200 for the interim title:
“Everybody knows he’s scared to fight [me],” Aldo said. “He knows how dangerous I am for him for the fact that my last fight, everybody said that I had a safe performance and if I fight this way I don’t lose to anyone. I’ve seen him in press conferences saying that he would fight with Frankie Edgar but not against me. I think he’s scared.”
While Aldo is looking to make his way out of the UFC, McGregor has a date in the main event of UFC 205 against Eddie Alvarez for the UFC lightweight title live on pay-per-view (PPV), from the Madison Square Garden arena in New York City on November 12, 2016.
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