Jose Aldo Distances Himself From Future Rematch With Conor McGregor, Claims It Will 'Never' Happen
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| Mandatory Credit: Brandon Magnus - Zuffa LLC |
Former UFC featherweight champion, Jose Aldo appears to have permanently shut the door on a potential future re-run with past-foe and former two-weight gold holder, Conor McGregor -- claiming that a rematch between the two will "never" happen.
In reaction to Aldo's vintage unanimous decision victory over Pedro Munhoz in the co-headlining bout of UFC 265 earlier this month, Crumlin native, McGregor called Aldo a true legend of the sport -- with some suggesting a future rekindling between the two despite the fact McGregor has flirted with a welterweight division return, while Aldo is currently within title-contention at bantamweight.
"That's what I don't understand, brother," Aldo said. "Back when it (rematch) should have happened like they are going (to make) rematches and trilogies, I didn't have the opportunity, no one considered anything, and each one went their way. Now that the situation has inverted again, it feels like they have the obligation to book it."
"No, I don't see myself fighting Conor (McGregor)," Aldo explained. "Never, I think. I can even say that. It might happen tomorrow, but that's not the path. I root for him today, I hope he recovers from the injury and fights again at the highest level, and becomes champion again because that way he and I will always be together. No matter if I'm down and he's up or the other way around, people will always put our names together, and that way we carry each other up."
"No, man, there's no way," Aldo said. "I'm going after a fight for the belt, I want to build this career at bantamweight and make history this way. I'm happy that (Chael) Sonnen and others are talking about this rematch, but I don't see myself (fighting McGregor again). I see my next fight being at bantamweight, and that way we'll be close to fighting for the belt."
Headlining UFC 194 back in December of 2015, Aldo suffered his first loss inside the UFC's Octagon in the form of a stunning, record-setting 13-second knockout loss to then-interim featherweight titleholder, McGregor, who successfully unified the featherweight crowns.
In the time since, speculation has been somewhat brought to the forefront regarding a possible future rematch between the two, with McGregor seated Octagon-side for Aldo's interim featherweight title victory over Frankie Edgar back at UFC 200.
McGregor would go on to claim his second UFC title with a November 2016 knockout win over Eddie Alvarez, before he was then stripped of the featherweight title due to inactivity in the division -- with Manaus favourite, Aldo instated as the undisputed champion again.
Prior to McGregor's short-notice UFC 196 pairing with two-time opponent, Nate Diaz, reports emerged detailing how Aldo and Edgar, as well as eventual-opponent, Donald Cerrone had been offered a pairing with McGregor, with each bout failing to come to fruition.
Appearing to somewhat bury their hatchet recently, Aldo wished McGregor well on his road to recovery after he had suffered a fractured tibia at UFC 264 last month opposite Dustin Poirier, claiming that the injury made him feel "sad" for the Dubliner.
In reaction to Aldo's vintage unanimous decision victory over Pedro Munhoz in the co-headlining bout of UFC 265 earlier this month, Crumlin native, McGregor called Aldo a true legend of the sport -- with some suggesting a future rekindling between the two despite the fact McGregor has flirted with a welterweight division return, while Aldo is currently within title-contention at bantamweight.
Responding to recent calls for a future re-run during a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Aldo insisted a rematch with McGregor would "never" take place.
"That's what I don't understand, brother," Aldo said. "Back when it (rematch) should have happened like they are going (to make) rematches and trilogies, I didn't have the opportunity, no one considered anything, and each one went their way. Now that the situation has inverted again, it feels like they have the obligation to book it."
"No, I don't see myself fighting Conor (McGregor)," Aldo explained. "Never, I think. I can even say that. It might happen tomorrow, but that's not the path. I root for him today, I hope he recovers from the injury and fights again at the highest level, and becomes champion again because that way he and I will always be together. No matter if I'm down and he's up or the other way around, people will always put our names together, and that way we carry each other up."
When asked about a possible rematch even taking place at lightweight -- a division where Aldo has been linked to leap to throughout his latter run as featherweight champion, the Brazilian still insisted there was no way they would fight again.
"No, man, there's no way," Aldo said. "I'm going after a fight for the belt, I want to build this career at bantamweight and make history this way. I'm happy that (Chael) Sonnen and others are talking about this rematch, but I don't see myself (fighting McGregor again). I see my next fight being at bantamweight, and that way we'll be close to fighting for the belt."
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