Jose Aldo admits he shoved Chad Mendes to promote UFC 179

UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo is not a pay-per-view king, so he decided to spice things up heading to his rematch with Chad Mendes at UFC 179 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Oct. 25.

The Nova Uniao fighter shoved Mendes during a media day at Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday. But when they had to face off again in Sao Paulo on Wednesday, nothing happened.

Speaking to the local media during a media day in Sao Paulo on Wednesday, Aldo explained that his actions were a way to promote his upcoming fight.

“We were talking to Andre (Pederneiras) in a meeting about how we could improve our fight promotions. It’s part of the show. But I told Andre after (the staredown) that it’s not my style,” Aldo said. “It was not staged, we were talking (trash) to each other and it happened. … We (Aldo and Pederneiras) tried to spice things up, but that’s it.”

Aldo is not the type of fighter who promotes his fights with trash talk and pre-fight melees, and don’t expect him to ever shove another fighter again.

“I’ve never pushed anyone during a staredown before,” he said. “I should behave better. I’m not saying I regret it. We did it, it was good. There was a good thing about it that people are now talking about it, but it’s not who I am. It won’t happen again.”

Aldo and Mendes are set to headline the UFC 179 pay-per-view fight card in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Oct. 25. In their first bout, Aldo defeated Mendes via first-round KO.

UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo is not a pay-per-view king, so he decided to spice things up heading to his rematch with Chad Mendes at UFC 179 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Oct. 25.

The Nova Uniao fighter shoved Mendes during a media day at Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday. But when they had to face off again in Sao Paulo on Wednesday, nothing happened.

Speaking to the local media during a media day in Sao Paulo on Wednesday, Aldo explained that his actions were a way to promote his upcoming fight.

“We were talking to Andre (Pederneiras) in a meeting about how we could improve our fight promotions. It’s part of the show. But I told Andre after (the staredown) that it’s not my style,” Aldo said. “It was not staged, we were talking (trash) to each other and it happened. … We (Aldo and Pederneiras) tried to spice things up, but that’s it.”

Aldo is not the type of fighter who promotes his fights with trash talk and pre-fight melees, and don’t expect him to ever shove another fighter again.

“I’ve never pushed anyone during a staredown before,” he said. “I should behave better. I’m not saying I regret it. We did it, it was good. There was a good thing about it that people are now talking about it, but it’s not who I am. It won’t happen again.”

Aldo and Mendes are set to headline the UFC 179 pay-per-view fight card in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Oct. 25. In their first bout, Aldo defeated Mendes via first-round KO.