Jose Aldo has been with the UFC for the last six years. He was the first UFC featherweight champion, defending his title successfully seven times before Conor McGregor beat him in that infamous 13 second bout at UFC 194.
But now, Aldo is trying to get out of his contract. He's spoken at length about his reasons for wanting to leave the promotion - but he revealed on Brazilian TV channel SporTV on Monday that not even a title re-match with McGregor would make him stay in the promotion:
Not even that because that would be the right thing to happen. This fight is the fight that should happen next in the featherweight division. I conquered that ever since I entered the UFC. I saw other champions losing and fighting right away for the belt.
I didn’t fight for the belt. They made me fight for the interim title, I went there and won, and still have no definition whatsoever. To me, not even a fight with McGregor… It’s not about him being fighting now or not. I don’t care where he’s going. I want to follow my path.
That loss to McGregor represents his only loss in UFC - and after beating Frankie Edgar to claim the interim featherweight title - he expected to be given a re-match with the Dubliner.
That hasn't happened, and Aldo wants to get out. He doesn't want to change MMA promotions, he sees moving anywhere else as a step down. Instead, Aldo is considering pursuing his passion for soccer, probably as a manager at this stage of his life.
As for McGregor, Aldo thinks that the Dubliner is scared to fight him - and that's why he hasn't gotten his re-match:
Everybody knows he’s scared to fight. He knows how dangerous I am for him for the fact that my last fight, everybody said that I had a safe performance and if I fight this way I don’t lose to anyone. I’ve seen him in press conferences saying that he would fight with Frankie Edgar but not against me. I think he’s scared.
See Also: José Aldo Continues Assault On State Of UFC With Very Candid Takedown Of Fellow Stars
Picture credit: Ramsey Cardy / SPORTSFILE
