Jose Aldo reveals 'friendly relationship' with Conor McGregor off camera, doesn't blame 'Notorious' for promoting fights

While their rivalry lasted only 13 seconds inside the cage at UFC 194, Conor McGregor and Jose Aldo's feud beyond the Octagon is as deep as it comes. After all, "Notorious" was relentless in his mental attacks against Aldo leading up to their fight, which seemingly played a factor in the Brazilian's championship loss to McGregor this past December.

However, despite their highly-publicized rivalry, Aldo understands why McGregor does some of the things he does to promote fights and even went as far as saying the two featherweights have grown friendly off camera.

"It's a friendly relationship," said Aldo in a recent interview on "Revista Combate," a Brazilian TV show (h/t Bloody Elbow). "I don't have a problem with him trying to promote himself. If we take a look at it money-wise, it was pretty good. I think there should be more fighters like him at featherweight. I'm not his friend, though. He can go his way and I can go mine."

If this is the case, the two have come a long way. McGregor infamously ripped the 145-pound belt away from Aldo at a press conference in Ireland last year. Before that, the Irishman went as far as saying he's Aldo daddy inside of the Octagon. Quite the turnaround.

"I've seen him staring at a wall, looking at nothing with everyone around him trying to taunt him and he would just stand there, gazing," added Aldo. "He's a regular, mellow guy, but if he sees a camera or some Irish people, he transforms in a such way that makes you say to yourself 'son of a bitch.'"

"One day we were hanging out and he said he was going to get the coffee and I said I wanted mine with sugar and he said something like 'nice'. Most of the times we met, there was always someone recording us, though, so he had to keep his persona up. With no cameras, he changes completely."

That has been McGregor's technique since entering Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) back in 2013. By utilizing a grand ability to self promote his fights and create everlasting buzz, the featherweight champion has become the highest paid fighter in the sport and the biggest draw of all time. It will be interesting to see what words, if any, will be exchanged between McGregor and Aldo when they eventually meet for a rematch.