Aldo pushes for rematch with McGregor at lightweight
Jose Aldo isn't giving up on a rematch with Conor McGregor.
Aldo went from interim to undisputed UFC featherweight champion after the promotion announced McGregor had vacated the latter strap over the weekend. The Brazilian - who was dethroned by McGregor in just 13 seconds nearly a year ago at UFC 194 - expected the Irishman to vacate the title, but is not appeased with the change and continued to pine for a rematch in a recent appearance on Brazilian TV show Planeta SporTV.
"I knew that would happen," Aldo said, according to MMAFighting's Guilherme Cruz. "To me, I never stopped being champion. I lost that fight because of an accident. I knew that I would win a rematch, that I would be champion again. It’s not my fault that he's such a p---y he was never the champion. I don't see myself losing to anyone in this division or any other (division)."
With Aldo's newfound status came a newly anointed interim title fight. Max Holloway and Anthony Pettis will duke it out for the second strap in the main event of UFC 206 since an injury to Daniel Cormier scrapped its previously scheduled light heavyweight title bout with Anthony Johnson.
The winner of Holloway versus Pettis will presumably meet Aldo in a title unification bout, after which the Brazilian vows to exact his revenge on McGregor - who still owns the UFC lightweight strap - even if it's at 155 pounds.
"First, I want to defend my title, and then go after a fight with him (at lightweight). Just like Dana (White) said, we can choose who we want to fight, so I want to fight him. That's what will happen."
Aldo and McGregor are the only featherweight champions in UFC history, with the Brazilian's loss to "The Notorious" abruptly ending a 10-year unbeaten run that saw him handily beat the division's best in both the WEC and UFC. The belt didn't return to his waist under ideal circumstances, but the title of undisputed champion sounds sweet to Aldo nonetheless.
"I was always the champion and will always be as long as I'm in the featherweight division. No matter what happens, I will always be the champion. I had no doubt about it. The moment I lost, I knew the belt would be mine. It was a matter of time. It's not the way I wanted, but I'm happy because I know I'm the champion."