Despite the fact that he’s taking on the very dangerous Frankie Edgar for the interim belt at UFC 200, Jose Aldo still can’t seem to stop talking about Conor McGregor.
The former champion has maintained his stance that the Celtic cross that rendered him unconscious at UFC 194 was nothing more than a lucky shot and admitted that he wasn’t happy when it was announced that McGregor would be getting a do-over against Nate Diaz for the landmark UFC 200.
Scarface feels that it was disrespectful for him the UFC not to give him a second shot at The Notorious considering all that he has achieved throughout his storied career.
“Obviously, I’m not happy that I didn’t get a rematch. It’s disrespectful due to everything I’ve done. I’m deserving of a rematch, and it’s not just me who says that. Everyone has been coming up to me, asking when the rematch is going to happen. But I’m an employee for the UFC, and this is what they decided. What can I do?
“Conor is going to have to come back [to the division] to fight me. I expect that. Everybody expects that.”
Aldo was offered his second crack at McGregor when Rafael dos Anjos pulled out of UFC 196’s main event with a leg injury. The Brazilian featherweight obviously turned down the late notice opportunity and instead Nate Diaz stepped in and handed the Dubliner his first UFC defeat.
But despite constantly asking for a rematch before and after the March 5 event, Aldo explained he has no regrets over his decision to refuse the UFC’s offer.
“The fight I turned down, I was traveling and doing charity work. After being the champion for so long, I deserve the respect of having a fight set and not fighting on one week’s notice. I’m not a guy who just fills in to save an event. I was the champion for a long time.
“Like I’ve been saying, by the end of the year, the belt will be mine again and he’ll go back to being what he was – which is nothing.”
