Jose Aldo is over talking about Conor McGregor: 'He doesn't want to fight me anymore'

Jose Aldo is not a man of many words, but it seems he doesn’t mind using more than usual to talk about Conor McGregor.

Or yet, to talk about how he is kind of done talking about McGregor.

Aldo, who’d made it clear in the past that he’s quite over the current UFC lightweight champ, used today’s UFC 212 conference call to once again put the subject to rest. Given the chance, Aldo said, of course he’d change the events that led him to lose the 145-pound title to McGregor in 13 seconds. And, looking back, he appreciates the added visibility and money brought on by McGregor.

But with a rematch off the table and McGregor’s (21-3 MMA, 9-1 UFC) very future in the UFC undetermined, Aldo (26-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) has moved on and kindly requests that the rest of us join him.

“It’s good that this subject is being brought up, because nowadays everybody talks about something, and I don’t really understand why,” Aldo told reporters in his native Portuguese. “Conor, on the one hand, was good, let’s say. And it’s good to explain that to everyone, because he brought a lot more visibility, both to the division and to me. But, on the other hand, talking about the fight? That’s in the past.

“Everybody goes back and talks about this, if I want (a rematch) or not. It’s not up to me. It’s up to the UFC. And we know that it’s never happening. I don’t even know if he’s fighting again. I ask not just the reporters, but everyone who talks about ‘Aldo …’ This doesn’t exist anymore. The UFC tried to make that fight, and he didn’t accept it, and he never will. Because what happened is never happening again. It’s good to make that clear for everyone.

“I see athletes, reporters, UFC people saying that ‘Aldo wants to fight (McGregor) … Man, there’s no way. He doesn’t want to fight me anymore, and it’s never happening again. And that’s good, because then nobody ever talks about my name or his. I don’t give a damn about what Conor is or isn’t doing. I’m a UFC athlete fighting in the featherweight division. So whoever is coming up the ranks, these are the guys I need to fight, that I have to train for, and get better and better to defend the belt.”

After his UFC 194 encounter with McGregor, the Brazilian champ went on to claim the interim title over Frankie Edgar at UFC 200. McGregor has since fought Nate Diaz twice, with mixed results, before going on to take the 155-pound belt with a TKO of Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205. The Irishman ended up vacating the 145-pound title, making Aldo once more the undisputed champ.

The two certainly have different things in mind at the moment. As McGregor remains involved in conversations of a boxing match against legend Floyd Mayweather, Aldo prepares for UFC 212’s headliner against interim champ Max Holloway (17-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) at Rio de Janeiro’s Jeneusse Arena on June 3.

Exuding his usual confidence, Aldo doesn’t seem particularly worried about Holloway – who he says doesn’t really present anything he hasn’t faced in his 13-year MMA career. But that is not to be mistaken for complacency.

“Max is a big challenge,” Aldo said. “He’s an opponent I already imagined I could fight. I’m a reference. I’m the target. Everyone wants to be the champion. So I’m always studying every up-and-coming athlete in the division. This will be a test for me, because he’s a young guy, hungry to win, but he’ll be one more to try and not succeed. To me, that’s certain.”

After an intense year that included a widely publicized retirement threat, Aldo doubled down on his desire to pursue a boxing career during the call. But he also took the opportunity to reiterate his commitment to MMA and to keeping his UFC majesty.

“MMA represents a lot to me,” Aldo said. “It’s what I chose for my life. It’s what I like doing. I wake up in the morning and go to the gym happy to train to defend this belt. I feel very happy and proud that I’m a champion in the world’s biggest MMA organization. I think millions of people would like to be where I am, and I have this privilege.

“So you can be sure that whenever I defend my belt I’ll be very determined and hungry to win. It’s what I was born to do. It’s what I like doing, and it’s all I know how to do. I’m very happy to be there, defending the belt and competing in MMA.”

For more on UFC 212, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.