AAAAAAARGHHH: Jose Aldo Out, Mendes vs. McGregor Now Headlines UFC 189

(Official prediction: McGregor via triangle choke, round 1.)

Well, this has been a real roller coaster of a week, eh Nation? First Aldo was out, then he wasn’t, then Chad Mendes was being flown into Vegas/paid his show money just in case Aldo did decide to pull out, and now, this.

Jose Aldo is out of UFC 189. For realsies this time. Conor McGregor will now face Chad Mendes for the interim featherweight title at UFC 189 on 11 days notice. The news was delivered by Dana White on Sportscenter last night, the video of which you can check out after the jump.

The post AAAAAAARGHHH: Jose Aldo Out, Mendes vs. McGregor Now Headlines UFC 189 appeared first on Cagepotato.


(Official prediction: McGregor via triangle choke, round 1.)

Well, this has been a real roller coaster of a week, eh Nation? First Aldo was out, then he wasn’t, then Chad Mendes was being flown into Vegas/paid his show money just in case Aldo did decide to pull out, and now, this.

Jose Aldo is out of UFC 189. For realsies this time. Conor McGregor will now face Chad Mendes for the interim featherweight title at UFC 189 on 11 days notice. The news was delivered by Dana White on Sportscenter last night, the video of which you can check out after the jump.

And just like that, the most lavishly-promoted fight in UFC history goes up in smoke. Aldo misses out on the biggest payday of his career. McGregor gets an arguably tougher stylistic matchup and PPV sales likely tank. Karma at work, maybe?

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UPDATE: Jose Aldo’s Rib *Not* Broken, McGregor Fight Still On For UFC 189


(And he couldn’t be more thrilled, Joe!)

Today is a good day, Nation. The best, even.

After initial reports Tuesday claimed that Jose Aldo had fractured a rib in training and would most likely be removed from “the most anticipated featherweight fight of all time” at UFC 189, the UFC released a statement earlier today rebuffing those claims and offering a beacon of hope in the dreary, dystopic landscape that MMA fans have long grown accustomed to (no hyperbole).

That statement is after the jump.

The post UPDATE: Jose Aldo’s Rib *Not* Broken, McGregor Fight Still On For UFC 189 appeared first on Cagepotato.


(And he couldn’t be more thrilled, Joe!)

Today is a good day, Nation. The best, even.

After initial reports Tuesday claimed that Jose Aldo had fractured a rib in training and would most likely be removed from “the most anticipated featherweight fight of all time” at UFC 189, the UFC released a statement earlier today rebuffing those claims and offering a beacon of hope in the dreary, dystopic landscape that MMA fans have long grown accustomed to (no hyperbole).

In light of recent reports regarding the status of UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo, UFC has received official medical confirmation from several doctors that Aldo did not suffer a broken rib. Following a review of the scans, it has been determined that the champion suffered a bone bruise to his rib and cartilage injury during training.

With this news, Aldo has expressed that he has every intention of facing Conor McGregor at UFC 189.

Or as the “Notorious” one put it…

In either case, I’m just glad this development is behind us and will in no way affect our opinion of McGregor vs. Aldo in hindsight. Nope, there’s no way this injury will be discussed ad nauseum should the fight underwhelm, or draw constant questions from naysayers regarding the legitimacy of a potential McGregor win. It’s smooth sailing from here on out, everyone!

FWIW:

While Aldo has indicated that he will compete in Las Vegas on July 11, UFC has confirmed a contingency plan. No.1 featherweight contender Chad Mendes will face McGregor for the interim UFC featherweight championship in the event Aldo cannot compete.

So yeah, even if Aldo does go down, the UFC secured themselves a hell of a backup plan. Take to the streets and celebrate, everyone! It’s gonna be a bright, bright, sunshiny day!!!

The post UPDATE: Jose Aldo’s Rib *Not* Broken, McGregor Fight Still On For UFC 189 appeared first on Cagepotato.

Jose Aldo Injury: Sparring Partner Who Broke Aldo’s Rib Speaks out

I don’t think you’d want to be Alcides Nunes right now. The sparring partner who accidentally broke Jose Aldo’s rib is feeling a little bit downtrodden right now, given that his wayward kick has jeopardized Aldo’s featherweight title defense against Conor McGregor at UFC 189. But give Nunes credit. In an interview with Guilherme Cruz of […]

I don’t think you’d want to be Alcides Nunes right now. The sparring partner who accidentally broke Jose Aldo’s rib is feeling a little bit downtrodden right now, given that his wayward kick has jeopardized Aldo’s featherweight title defense against Conor McGregor at UFC 189. But give Nunes credit. In an interview with Guilherme Cruz of […]

Conor McGregor Responds to Jose Aldo Injury

You have to hand it to Conor McGregor. The man is as smooth as silk, as slick as snot on a doorknob and as cool as polar bear feet. He’s taking care of business as usual. Most contenders would be hitting the panic button after hearing news of an injury that could put the biggest […]

You have to hand it to Conor McGregor. The man is as smooth as silk, as slick as snot on a doorknob and as cool as polar bear feet. He’s taking care of business as usual. Most contenders would be hitting the panic button after hearing news of an injury that could put the biggest […]

BREAKING: Jose Aldo Fractures Rib. UFC 189 Headliner in Jeopardy. God is Dead.


(The nightmare begins. via McGregor’s Twitter.)

(*inhales deeply*) (*buries face in couch pillow*)

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!

We all knew that this day would come. Between the next-level trash-talk, the unprecedented world tour, the insane promos — both of which were described by Dana White as “the most expensive ever” — and the talks that the event would need to sell 1 million+ pay-per-views for the UFC to break even (which early figures indicated would happen), we knew that the MMA Gods would simply never allow the UFC 189 megafight between Conor McGregor and Jose Aldo to come to fruition. We knew this, yet we held out hope.

Which is why, perhaps more than ever before, it hurts so much to say this.

According to various sources (but first broke by Combate’s Anna Hissa), Jose Aldo fractured a rib in training early this morning. Two and a half weeks out from UFC 189. While his fight with McGregor has yet to be officially called off, one has to imagine that it’s only a matter of time.

God. Dammit.

The post BREAKING: Jose Aldo Fractures Rib. UFC 189 Headliner in Jeopardy. God is Dead. appeared first on Cagepotato.


(I AM MADDER, I GUARANTEE IT.)

(*inhales deeply*) (*buries face in couch pillow*)

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!

We all knew that this day would come. Between the next-level trash-talk, the unprecedented world tour, the insane promos — both of which were described by Dana White as “the most expensive ever” – and the talks that the event would need to sell 1 million+ pay-per-views for the UFC to break even (which early figures indicated would happen), we knew that the MMA Gods would simply never allow the UFC 189 megafight between Conor McGregor and Jose Aldo to come to fruition. We knew this, yet we held out hope.

Which is why, perhaps more than ever before, it hurts so much to say this.

According to various sources (but first broke by Combate’s Anna Hissa), Jose Aldo fractured a rib in training early this morning. Two and a half weeks out from UFC 189. While his fight with McGregor has yet to be officially called off, one has to imagine that it’s only a matter of time.

God. Dammit.

Now of course, some have been quick to note that Aldo’s injury has come just weeks after his drug testing fiasco, but can we just not right now? Can’t we all just wallow in misery and drink ourselves into a midday coma before Johnny Conspiracy starts spouting his mouth off? GAHHH I HATE EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW.

This sport is the worst, you guys. THE WORST. We’ll have more on this story as it develops. Go f*ck yourselves.

The post BREAKING: Jose Aldo Fractures Rib. UFC 189 Headliner in Jeopardy. God is Dead. appeared first on Cagepotato.

‘Cowboy’ Cerrone Will Wait for Champ Rafael Dos Anjos to Recover from Injury

Donald Cerrone isn’t one to sit around and wait for a fight, but a shot at the lightweight title is apparently something he’ll make an exception for. The hard-charging striker has become one of the most popular fighters in mixed martial arts due to his anytime, anyplace mentality, and has backed up that bold talk […]

Donald Cerrone isn’t one to sit around and wait for a fight, but a shot at the lightweight title is apparently something he’ll make an exception for. The hard-charging striker has become one of the most popular fighters in mixed martial arts due to his anytime, anyplace mentality, and has backed up that bold talk […]