This is one theory that we’ve not heard yet.
With Conor McGregor’s outspoken bravado and Jose Aldo’s bullish determination, we never got the sense that either fighter was afraid of the other.
But former UFC middleweight and light heavyweight challenger Chael Sonnen claims both guys are terrified.
“I have never seen a fight of this magnitude where both guys are so sure they’re going to lose,” Sonnen told Submission Radio.
“Every time you have a huge fight in boxing, in wrestling, in MMA, both guys are sure they’re going to win. They really believe it.
“These guys are so scared of one another and these guys are so positive that the other guy is going to beat them, I’ve never seen anything like it.
“Conor McGregor is feathering a nest for a fall and it’s so apparent to a guy who understands the psychology of sport.”
Sonnen suggested The Notorious was setting himself up for a defeat.
“He (McGregor) just did an interview where he was saying that the secret ingredient to success is failure and that nobody can really be the best until they get beaten and, hey listen man, that’s just not true,” he continued.
“I can name you a bunch of guys that went undefeated. You don’t have to get beat.
“But it was a weird thing for him to say and he was feathering this nest.”
And, according to Sonnen, Aldo also lacks belief that he can come away with his belt despite the fact that he’s not been beaten in 10 years.
“Jose Aldo, this guy’s a chicken. I can’t even tell you how good Jose Aldo is but he doesn’t think it.
“When Georges St-Pierre retired and when Jon Jones was absent, I had Jose Aldo as the number one fighter in the world pound-for pound. That’s how highly I think of him.
“That guy’s a chicken! He’s pulled out of five fights. He’s already pulled out of this one once.
“Neither one of these guys thinks they’re going to win this fight. I’ve never seen anything like it.
“The average viewer doesn’t get that. It’s entertaining, it’s fun and all of these things but I’m telling you as an athlete who gets sports psychology, these guys are scared of each other!”
