Keep your schedule open, Frankie Edgar.
According to Chael Sonnen, UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo was ‘ducking’ No. 1 contender Conor McGregor when he withdrew from their title clash July 11 at UFC 189.
Asked if he believed Aldo could have fought through his rib injury ‘if he really wanted to,’ Sonnen didn’t have much doubt.
“Yea, I do,” Sonnen told Michael Landsberg on TSN’s Off the Record. “I want to be responsible with my words because a guy’s health comes first but that story is extremely fugazi. Two different x-rays came out. Five different stories came out. His coach says he doesn’t want to coach him anymore.
“Jose says he doesn’t want to be in the weight class anymore and his own teammate, after he injures him, goes on a media tour telling everybody how he did it. That was a weird, weird deal.”
McGregor managed to TKO late replacement Chad Mendes after being taken down four times in just two rounds, paving the way for an even bigger event with Aldo later this year.
UFC president Dana White has insisted that fight would take place in Las Vegas, but rumors swirled July 16 that brass were interested in AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys.
Unfortunately, Sonnen doesn’t see the fight ever coming together.
“Well, our president Dana White is a gambler,” said Sonnen. “I think he will gamble and throw down a bunch of money and try to put it together again. No, I don’t imagine … I don’t know why [Aldo and McGregor] would [fight]. It’s not going to be bigger than it just was [at UFC 189] and Jose just didn’t show up.
“What’s the expression? ‘Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me.’ Come on. Jose Aldo’s pulled out of five fights. The guy’s an excellent fighter. I’m not trying to kick a guy when he’s down, but that’s a bunch of crap what he just pulled.”
5 MUST-READ STORIES
‘I was upset with this injury.’ Jose Aldo says he didn’t watch UFC 189 and that he would be open to fighting Conor McGregor in Ireland.
The MMA Beat. The panel discusses the aftermath of UFC 189, Fedor Emelianenko’s apparent interest in fighting again, UFC Fight Night: San Diego post-fight storylines and more.
‘We are the Power Rangers.’ Jose Aldo isn’t a big fan of the UFC’s Reebok kit. ‘It sucks, but what can we do?’
‘I got a fight to sell, so great timing, huh?’ UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey ‘waited a whole year’ to respond to Floyd Mayweather’s ‘snarky remark.’
‘We can afford Fedor.’ World Series of Fighting enters the Fedor Emelianenko sweepstakes.
MEDIA STEW
Ronda Rousey talks Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather and fighting Bethe Correia.
Ronda accepts her ESPY for ‘Best Female Athlete.’
UFC Fight Night: Glasgow.
Dana White says McGregor will be ‘World’s most dangerous man’ if he beats Aldo.
UFC meets Trainspotting.
Ronda Rousey gets hit on by college football player, doesn’t get punched.
Long watches.
UFC 190: Ronda Rousey Media Day Scrum
…
Chael Sonnen’s ‘You’re Welcome’ with Thiago Silva and Robbie Lawler
TWEETS
Math.
Love the numbers and the numbers will love you. Ignore the numbers and the numbers will ignore you. pic.twitter.com/FuC61aPpIA
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 17, 2015
Campaigning.
This is who I represent. The red, white, and blue. Enough said. @ufc @danawhite @lorenzofertitta #notakedowndefense pic.twitter.com/c71oUc6FEL
— Frankie Edgar (@FrankieEdgar) July 16, 2015
MAKE NO MISTAKE…retweet if you agree! http://t.co/s19Ega2hqE #1contender
— Johny Hendricks (@JohnyHendricks) July 16, 2015
Nice.
@TonyFergusonXT @ufc it was a pleasure to have fought you man. You’re very talented with a bright future. Keep it up bud.
— Josh Thomson (@THEREALPUNK) July 16, 2015
@AlanJouban FOTN we did it brother! It was an honor fighting you. pic.twitter.com/fGHDe3X4p4
— Matt Dwyer (@MattDwyerMMA) July 16, 2015
@MoTownPhenom congrats on a great performance. I wish you nothing but success in the future Kevin
— James Moontasri (@jmoontasri) July 16, 2015
Thanks for everything.
I am officially retired from fighting… Check here to read my thoughts… http://t.co/5uJw2bMFPM #ThankYouAll pic.twitter.com/vnLajhaY7r
— Mike Quick Swick (@officialswick) July 16, 2015
Always a fan @officialswick!
— Joe Lauzon (@JoeLauzon) July 16, 2015
@officialswick always been one of my favs and one of the good guys. Proud of you
— Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) July 16, 2015
@officialswick this is to never saying goodbye. 😉
— Jon Fitch (@jonfitchdotnet) July 17, 2015
Congrats man. Great memories. @officialswick
— Chael Sonnen (@sonnench) July 17, 2015
Congrats to @officialswick on his career. Good luck to you on the next chapter of your life brother. @ufc
— Michael McDonald (@MaydayMcDonald) July 16, 2015
@DiegoSanchezUFC Thanks buddy! Your the last one standing dude! Congrats and give them hell! 😉 #TUF1
— Mike Quick Swick (@officialswick) July 17, 2015
Thanks for all the comments and support! Making me feel old but in a very humble & tearful way. Love you all! #BeenAnHonorToFightForYou 😉
— Mike Quick Swick (@officialswick) July 16, 2015
Glad to hear.
#Repost @dukeroufus with repostapp. ??? Guess who’s back? @showtimepettis is approved to start… https://t.co/wSH3N3yH8Z
— Anthony Pettis (@Showtimepettis) July 16, 2015
Eh.
Everybody forgot that I was ranked 14 when I fought Phil Davis. I’m fighting Jan because he deserves a chance just like I was given one!
— Anthony Johnson (@Anthony_Rumble) July 16, 2015
Over 9,000.
pretty badass super saiyan edit by proxyrax – who can spot master roshi? https://t.co/RuVJhmeHHY
— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) July 17, 2015
This Week in Struggle.
A couple drops of #JoshThomson‘s blood flew onto my bout sheet during the fight. Thanks #TonyFerguson… https://t.co/XINDAtnB6k
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) July 16, 2015
I always laugh when fans scream “Anik” at me when they see him standing 10 feet away. Joke never gets old, eh?
— Dave Sholler (@Sholler_UFC) July 16, 2015
1. I’m a okay 2. This is a SPORT, you win some, you lose some 3. Fuck ALL the haters and keyboard warriors.
— Marina Shafir (@MarinaShafir) July 10, 2015
@danhardymma awesome….From safety and comfort of my couch. I can appreciate the fact that you are doing what they call living
— Forrest Griffin (@ForrestGriffin) July 15, 2015
On first name basis w/ TSA agents at ATL airport, they tease me about being at the airport so much & they work there. Not good
— Brian Stann (@BrianStann) July 15, 2015
Sitting in London airport. Waiting for my flight to Glasgow. It’s already been over 24 hours since I left my house I’m tired
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) July 15, 2015
I hate to admit it but just watch parts of magic mike 2, lol
— Efrain Escudero (@effyescudero) July 15, 2015
It changed when I came back. They don’t want to promote an official by calling them something other then their name https://t.co/AoVd81zSlA
— Big John McCarthy (@JohnMcCarthyMMA) July 15, 2015
Hahahhhahahahahahahahahahahahahhahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha No I’m sorry I don’t https://t.co/oKRqDfQQQe
— Stipe Miocic (@stipemiocicufc) July 15, 2015
Lol ok I am a dumb ass. I have been trying to talk about @thefrankmir all night and have been tweeting some other bozo my bad it’s late
— Tim Sylvia (@timsylviamma) July 16, 2015
Interesting…wonder when ‘other’ sports leagues will catch up to these world class organizations??? https://t.co/SR4SGbZNYw
— TheOnceAndFutureKing (@BensonHenderson) July 14, 2015
@InMyMMAOpinion Brother, I lost everything regarding sponsors from pay to a nice vest! Now I have no fees and a generic vest.
— Jacob Stitch Duran (@StitchDuran) July 13, 2015
@ALIAQUINTA pic.twitter.com/bz7RjD1nYc
— Al Iaquinta (@ALIAQUINTA) July 16, 2015
Patriotic weight cutting @UFC_UK #UFCGlasgow pic.twitter.com/szovY6criP
— Robert Whiteford (@Flyinjudoka) July 16, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (July 16 2015)
Saad Awad vs. Patricky Freire at Bellator 141: Dynamite
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via jaywolf1.
FRIDAY, TOTAL STRIKERS DELIGHT! Bellator140 LIVE & FREE on SPIKE ft. Best WW Strikers in MMA
Hello MMAFighting Fans & Friends!
Man am I excited to tell you about Friday’s Bellator 140: Lima vs. Koreshkov FREE on Spike because it features some of THE Best WW Strikers on the planet! Plus, it also has a 2x D-1 All American on it! This is really a fantastic event that all real MMA fans absolutely MUST SEE!
…
Check out the rest of the post here.
Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.