Jose Aldo is happy to stay at featherweight instead of pursuing a lightweight title fight against Conor McGregor.
The loss to Conor McGregor might sting, but Jose Aldo has moved on and wants to re-establish himself as the best featherweight in the world.
Aldo, 30, was determined for a rematch with ‘The Notorious’ at lightweight, but his priorities have changed since losing the 145-pound title to Max Holloway at UFC 212.
‘Scarface’ fully accepts his loss to ‘Blessed’ and believes Frankie Edgar is next in line for a title shot.
"No doubt that Edgar is (the next title contender),” Aldo told Ag. Fight in a recent interview (h/t Guilherme Cruz of MMA Fighting). “Their fight will be in November. I know Edgar will be the next challenger. I’m not thinking about being champion (in the short term), the game has restarted. I have to start over, with my head focused on the next opponent, and (continue) like that until I fight for the belt again. That’s what I have in mind."
Aldo said he has no desire to move up to lightweight in pursuit of a rematch with McGregor and has a featherweight opponent in mind for November/December.
"We’re already talking, I’m back to training,” he said. "I’m waiting for my time to come back to fighting, but I can’t say anything until it’s done. I’ll fight at featherweight, there’s no reason to move up to lightweight. That division is not moving, nobody knows what will happen there. I’m a featherweight… I’ll fight in December, at most, but if I can fight earlier, in November…"
Aldo started off strong against Holloway but faded towards the end of the second round. The Hawaiian eventually caught Aldo with a combination in the third and proceeded to batter him on the ground, securing a TKO stoppage.
Aldo had nothing but complimentary words for Holloway and said he behaves like a true champion, unlike current lightweight champ McGregor, who is set to take on Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a 12-round boxing fight on August 26.
"He’s the true champion, has his first title defense coming,” Aldo said of Holloway. "McGregor was never a champion of anything. He defeated the champion and left. A real champion has to defend (the belt). I speak for Holloway because, win or lose (against Edgar), he will be there fighting. I’m happy that Holloway is the champion. An example, someone who deserved being where he is."
Nothing has been confirmed, but expect Aldo to return to the Octagon against a top-ranked featherweight contender in the fall.
