Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) featherweight No. 1 contender Conor McGregor didn't seem too upset -- or surprised -- when he learned that reigning division titleholder Jose Aldo was injured and possibly unfit to defend his 145-pound title.
Probably because he expected it all along.
"If I'm being honest, I can see a fight between myself and Jose being scheduled for a stadium," McGregor told SportsJoe.ie back in 2014. "Either Croke Park or the Aviva Stadium. Then I could see Jose pulling [out], but I could see Frankie stepping in."
Aldo suffered a fractured rib while sparring for his UFC 189 pay-per-view (PPV) main event, which takes place on July 11, 2015 inside MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. A follow-up exam, which will ultimately determine his eligibility to compete, is expected later this week.
"I hope he trains smart, I hope he stays safe," McGregor recently told Irish journalist Niall McGrath (via Bloody Elbow). "He's pulled out of many contests on U.S. soil. He's only fought his last few fights on Brazilian soil where there's no commission out there. So, I hope he stays safe, I hope he stays clean, and we will see."
Frankie Edgar, along with fellow division contender Chad Mendes, are being considered as possible replacements.
To see the re-shuffled UFC 189 fight card and line up click here.