Jose Aldo says the prospect of never getting a rematch, rather than the defeat itself, brought him to tears after his 13-second knockout loss to Conor McGregor at UFC 194 in December 2015.
The former Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight champion explained in an interview with Mundo da Luta that he was devastated after learning he would not have the opportunity to avenge his defeat.
Jose Aldo explains why he thought a Conor McGregor rematch was impossible after UFC 194
Aldo expected an immediate rematch after his defeat at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. However, he said Dana White told him backstage that McGregor intended to move up to lightweight because making the 145-pound limit had become too difficult.
“I cried a lot because, in my mind, after I lost, I was thinking, ‘Damn, there’s going to be a rematch because I was a dominant champion,’” Aldo said. “Up until that point, I was the first and only featherweight champion in history. So, in my mind, I was thinking, ‘There’s going to be a rematch, I’m going to fight him again, and it’s going to be a whole new story.’
“Everyone thinks I was crying because I lost. No, I was crying because I knew we weren’t going to fight anymore. There was no way I was going to get that win back, you know?” he added.
Aldo continued to push for a rematch over the next few years, but the two never fought again. The Brazilian won the interim featherweight title in July 2016 and was elevated to undisputed champion in November. He then moved up to bantamweight.
Despite their history, Aldo developed a more friendly relationship with McGregor. He also publicly supported the Irishman’s recovery from his recent knee injury, expressing hope that his old rival could return to competition.
Gn sports
