Jose Aldo still feels he’s the rightful featherweight champion and plans to make a statement against Frankie Edgar at UFC 200.
The devastating loss to Conor McGregor at UFC 194 has reignited a spark within Jose Aldo.
‘Scarface’, who will rematch Frankie Edgar for the interim featherweight title at UFC 200, says he has recaptured the mindset that made him such a terrifying force in the WEC.
“That hunger, everything I felt in the WEC days, is all back, and I want to do it again,” Aldo told MMAjunkie at UFC 198.
In fact, according to Aldo, he maintains the mindset that he’s still champion and plans to use Frankie Edgar as a stepping stone to avenging his loss to ‘The Notorious’.
“In my mind, I still haven’t lost the belt. Obviously, this is another step, and by beating Frankie Edgar I’ll get the belt back.”
Aldo and Edgar squared off three years ago at UFC 156, which saw the Brazilian take home a unanimous decision in Edgar’s 145-pound debut. The championship bout was largely contested on the feet, but Aldo believes the New-Jersey based fighter will be rendered unconscious if he utilizes the same gameplan on July 9.
“(Wrestling is) his strongpoint,” Aldo said. “That’s his strength, and it’s what he’s going to try to do. There’s no way. If he stands with me, he’s going to go down.”
While Aldo and Edgar will battle for the interim FW belt, McGregor is fighting his own battle against the UFC. The Irishman was pulled from his welterweight rematch with Nate Diaz for not attending a press conference and rumors continue to circulate of a potential boxing mega-fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
UFC 200, which will feature Aldo vs. Edgar in the co-main event, takes place July 9 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.