Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor will finally meet at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Dec. 12, and the featherweights heated things up during Friday’s “Go Big” UFC press conference in Las Vegas.
The Brazilian champion flew from Rio de Janeiro to Las Vegas to talk to the media a week before and visit the set of The Ultimate Fighter, where McGregor was coaching a season opposite Urijah Faber. According to Aldo, “The Notorious” wasn’t expecting to see him there.
“He was surprised when he saw me,” Aldo said at the press conference. “Another day goes by and I see him as a clown. He likes to make people laugh, and everybody likes to listen him talk to laugh at his face. He was scared when he saw me, he wasn’t expecting for this surprise.
“He came to shake my hand. He’s a clown. He saw me and became scared. With his pants torn, embarrassing himself. He’s sh-t. He saw me and came to shake my hand. I think he’s funny. I like to laugh, and he makes me laugh. I’m waiting and preparing to fight. I know I’m going to win. I have to laugh at him, that’s what I have left right now.”
Aldo had to pull out from a fight with McGregor on July 11 due to a rib injury, and the Irish featherweight defeated Chad Mendes to win the interim title. The Nova Uniao fighter, who left the press conference early to catch a flight, is anxious to finally fight “The Notorious”.
“I see him as nothing,” Aldo said. “Too bad I wasn’t able to fight him that day. But if God wants, I’ll get there and shut his mouth on December 12.”
With two wins over Mendes under his belt, Aldo didn’t sound impressed about McGregor’s win over “Money” in July.
“F–k, this guy got beat up. (Mendes) was on vacation, fishing. He looked like a turtle. I felt sorry,” said Aldo. “Has (McGregor) ever heard about jiu-jitsu and wrestling in his life? He actually believes the things he says and laughs at himself. F–k, he’s nothing.”