Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) featherweight champion Jose Aldo is not the biggest fan of reigning lightweight champion Conor McGregor. Not only because “Notorious” stripped him of the 145-pound strap, but also because the trash-talking Irishman taunted him before, during, and after the process.
So why in the world would “Junior” defend his biggest rival?
Probably because Aldo, himself an emotional fighter, can understand why McGregor acted so impulsively at the Bellator 187 event. The in-cage chaos included a shoved referee and a slapped official.
Aldo talks to the media in Brazil (via MMA Fighting):
“I think it’s normal. He’s an emotional guy, and when an Irishman is fighting the Irish people embrace them a lot. I don’t condemn him. He didn’t do that for attention, he’s done that before. When we did The Ultimate Fighter, an athlete from his team won and he went up there and in there, he even tore his pants. He’s really emotional, and I don’t condemn him for what he’s done. How many times have I invaded the Shooto (cage) when someone close to me is fighting? I really go there. The referee talks to me, but I still do it. I think it’s the heat of the moment, but there are bigger things than just the rules.”
Tell that to this guy.
McGregor was pulled from his appearance at UFC 219, where he was expected to defend his 155-pound title against interim straphanger Tony Ferguson. Considering that bout was never official, that was hardly a punishment.
No matter.
With McGregor out of acton until further notice, Aldo will have a chance to reclaim his crown while avenging his loss to Max Holloway now that Frankie Edgar has been yanked from the UFC 218 pay-per-view (PPV) in Detroit.
As for Bellator? The fruit basket is on its way.