The after taste of his defeat to Conor McGregor in December still lingers for Jose Aldo.
At a fan Q&A in Curitiba ahead of UFC 198 this weekend, the former featherweight champion, who was ten years undefeated going into UFC 194, said he knew defeat would come knocking one day, he just didn't think it would be Conor McGregor at the door.
Via MMA Junkie:
I hadn’t lost in a long, long time and I knew it was going to happen someday, but not for that (expletive). It’s part of it. Now I’m just going to get that belt back. I think that belt is ours. Up until then I was the only featherweight champion with that belt. We’re going to get that back for sure.
In July, at UFC 200, Aldo takes on Frankie Edgar for the interim featherweight title.
It won't be the first time that the two have stepped into the octagon together. A little over three years ago, Aldo defended his featherweight crown against Edgar with a unanimous decision win. This time around, the Brazilian is predicting a more spectacular victory. He plans to 'run over' the American.
I don’t think it’s going to be like the first one. We’re both going to be different this time. I know when things get rough he’s going to try to do his game and then that’s where we’ll get him. I’m training very hard. I think we’ll learn a lot from defeats and losses and I sure did. I’m going to go there, run over him and it doesn’t matter what happens. We’re going to win this fight.
Every fight is different. I know him, he knows me. No fight is easy, but just due to the fact I know his game, I know his strong suits. Hopefully it’s going to be easy and I’ll be able to get the win because I’m coming off a result that was less than positive so I can return and become champion again.
Who ever wins at UFC 200 is hoping for a shot at McGregor. Given the erratic nature of the Dubiner's fighting schedule in recent times, it's not certain that he will go back to the featherweight division. Though a defence in the latter quarter of this year is a possibility.
Aldo desperately wants revenge against McGregor, even 'if it's in the streets'.
After this one we’re going to go after him [McGregor] even if it’s in the streets. If I defeat Frankie Edgar we’re going to be very close to the belt.
Picture credit: Ramsey Cardy / SPORTSFILE
