UFC 189 is now one month removed, and Jose Aldo can finally put behind what was a tumultuous two weeks after he suffered a rib injury and was forced to bow out of his much-anticipated featherweight title fight against Conor McGregor.
The trash-talking Irishman went on to face -- and defeat -- Chad Mendes back on July 11, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada, to claim the interim 145-pound strap (highlights).
While in Rio de Janeiro for UFC 190, Aldo spoke to FOX Sports about the difficult decision to pull out, as well as dealing with the backlash that ensued and of course, his thoughts on McGregor's performance.
"It was very difficult. It was a very important fight. There were many things involved. There were some days I would wake up saying, 'I'm going to do it.' Then there were some days I would wake up saying, 'I'm not going to do it.' It was a very important decision, but I think I took the right decision. Not really (upset at backlash). People can say whatever they want. When I'm not fighting, I don't really pay attention to what people are saying. It's just something I ignore."
Aldo insists he wasn't all that surprised with the way McGregor's championship fight went down, unfolding the way he expected. As far as "Notorious" walking around with the interim title, he doesn't really think much of that either, and went on to declare that C-Mac won't know what hit him when they finally collide.
"When I'm with him inside the cage, I'm going to run him over," Aldo said. "He's not even going to see what went over him."
While not confirmed, their title unification bout is expected to headline UFC 194 on Dec. 5, 2015, at the famed AT&T Stadium (formerly Dallas Cowboys Stadium) in Arlington, Texas.
And while "Junior" may have lost out on a big payday at UFC 189, he could recuperate that loss -- and possibly more -- this December.
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