Jose Aldo hints at Jones/Cormier-style brawl when he sees Conor McGregor next
Following an intense couple of weeks on tour with opponent Conor McGregor back in March, featherweight champion Jose Aldo is already preparing for the inevitable staredown that awaits him when the two fighters face off again for their bout at UFC 189.
Aldo endured a very loud and boisterous McGregor as the fighters made stops across the globe while fighting every instinct he had inside to take a swipe at the outspoken Irishman before actually stepping into the Octagon together.
At one point during the final stop on the tour, McGregor even reached over UFC president Dana White and grabbed Aldo's title before hoisting it in the air to declare that he's the real champion in the division.
Aldo didn't cause a scene or take a swing at McGregor back then, but from the sound of things he's already plotting what could be a very volatile encounter when he comes face-to-face with his opponent during International Fight Week in July.
"I already have in my head what I'm going to do, but I won't tell you. It's a secret," Aldo said at a press conference in Brazil on Tuesday. "You will see when it happens. What I can promise is a complete different Jose Aldo at the staredown, because there will be no fine or suspension now, nothing.
"After all this they won't cancel the fight. They won't cancel it no matter what I do. I'm sure it will be different than anything I've ever done."
Aldo's promise along with his declaration that there will be no suspension at this late stage of the game probably won't sound like music to White's ears after the mess he had to deal with last August when former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones got into a brawl with Daniel Cormier at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.
Jones and Cormier butted heads before a full-on fight broke out with one UFC executive tossed off the stage like a bean bag before the two fighters spilled out into the crowd before security could separate them. Jones and Cormier faced fines and community service for the incident.
Aldo doesn't believe he'll have to endure the same kind of punishment or at least not anything that would pull him out of the fight with McGregor if they get into an incident during fight week.
"It would be good right?" Aldo said when asked about another Jones vs. Cormier type situation happening. "That's what people want to see. They pay me to beat people up, so if that happens it would be wonderful. I hope I can beat him up. I will beat him up."
Aldo admits he nearly reacted to McGregor's antics on the UFC World Tour, but he was weary of actions that could be taken against him if he incited a brawl during a face-off or backstage while the fighters were forced to be around each other.
As much as the champion wanted to take action against McGregor, especially after he grabbed the title during their last encounter, he didn't want to have to pay a hefty fine as punishment so he let it go. He can't promise the same thing will happen when they meet before UFC 189 in just a few short weeks.
"We talked about a fine during the tour, but the dollar is too expensive in Brazil, so I couldn't afford losing money, only making money," Aldo said. "That was an issue because I couldn't do what I wanted, but the fight is coming and now we can do anything.
"If he does anything, I know what I will do. You can be sure it's going to be completely different."
Aldo isn't making any wild predictions on what will happen when he confronts McGregor again in July, but he's certainly going to guarantee the UFC will have a ton of security on stage with them when they finally meet ahead of the card on July 11.
Considering the investment the UFC made in the fight, including the most expensive commercial the promotion has ever shot for a single fight, there's no chance they want to lose Aldo or McGregor with just days to go until they finally step into the Octagon together.
"We'll see when we're face to face and I will let my hands and legs do the talking for me," Aldo said. "He can say whatever he wants, but he will feel my answer when the time comes."
