Jose Aldo must not like to watch another featherweight parade a shiny golden belt around town.
Just one day after the Brazilian UFC champion watched Conor McGregor score a knockout victory at UFC 189, capturing the interim UFC featherweight title in the process, Aldo spoke with radio show Rock Bola about his immediate future.
If his words are any indication, he's motivated, he's hungry and he's coming for McGregor.
"We will run through him (McGregor) no matter when the fight happens, but his time will come," Aldo told Rock Bola (translation courtesy of MMAFighting.com's Guilherme Cruz). "When it does, you can be sure we will smash him."
Conor McGregor enters the UFC pound for pound rankings list at #14 Chris Weidman still #2 Jose Aldo still #1 pic.twitter.com/gRZ0oKtEvn
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) July 14, 2015
Of course, Aldo's showdown with McGregor was supposed to be in the rearview mirror by now. The two were originally scheduled to fight July 11 at UFC 189, but Aldo was forced out of that bout just two weeks before the event took place with a rib injury.
Despite the setback, Aldo is still focused on McGregor. He's anxiously awaiting his chance to tangle with the Irish sensation inside the UFC Octagon, and he's already making plans to get back to training.
"I’m still recovering, (and I) should be back to training in two weeks," Aldo said. "I’ll do more exams. As soon as the doctor clears me, I’ll be back to training."
There's no doubt McGregor brought out something different in the longtime UFC champion. Aldo speaks with part anger, part determination when McGregor's name pops up in conversation, and it appears we're in for an all-time great showdown when the two finally square off.
Right now, McGregor is listed as the betting favorite in the fight, something that should add a little more fuel to Aldo's fire. While there's no official date set for this champion vs. champion matchup, ESPN's Brett Okamoto reported that the UFC is targeting Jan. 2 in Las Vegas for the fight.
ICYMI: UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta told me they have reserved Jan. 2 at MGM. Aldo/McGregor "probably" lands there. http://t.co/HJIFqu2PHu
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) July 12, 2015
Who do you think takes this one? Does McGregor unify the belts, or does Aldo prove once again why he has ruled the featherweight roost since the beginning of time in the UFC's featherweight class?
Sound off, and we'll discuss this historic tilt.
