Former
Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight champion explained an interview with Mundo da Luta
that he was devastated after being told he would not get a chance to avenge the loss.
Jose Aldo explains why he believed a Conor McGregor rematch was impossible after UFC 194
Aldo expected an immediate rematch after the loss at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. However, he said that Dana White told him backstage that McGregor was going to move up to lightweight because it had become too difficult to make the 145-pound limit.
“I cried a lot because after the loss I thought, ‘F**k, there’s going to be a rematch because I was the dominant champion,'” Aldo said. “Until that moment, I was the first and only featherweight champion in history. So in my mind I thought, “There’s a rematch, I’m going to fight him again and it’s a whole new story.”
“Everybody thinks I cried because I lost. No, I cried because I knew we weren’t going to fight again. There was no way I was going to get that win back, you know?” he added.
Aldo also demanded a rematch in the following years, but they never fought again. The Brazilian won the interim featherweight title in July 2016 and was promoted to undisputed champion this November. He later moved up to bantamweight.
Despite their history, Aldo has developed a friendlier relationship with McGregor. He has also publicly backed the Irishman’s recovery from a recent knee injury, expressing hope that his former rival could return to competition.
