Jose Aldo says meeting with UFC was good start, but still doesn't see himself fighting again

LAS VEGAS – Interim UFC featherweight title champion Jose Aldo met today with UFC President Dana White and matchmaker Sean Shelby at the promotion’s Las Vegas headquarters.

While Aldo described the meeting in positive terms, he shared few details on what exactly transpired and what the future holds for his UFC career.

“It was a great conversation,” Aldo told MMAjunkie in his native Portuguese. “I can only thank the UFC for all they’ve done for me and Dana for the patience.

“I always had my mind made up. When I said something, it was never a bluff. I have an idea in my head and it’s what I always wanted. So … it’s what we talked about. There was no offer, nothing to think. I just gave my point of view. The esteem that I have for them and that they have for me is cool, but I think we need to go our own ways.”

Aldo (26-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC), the No. 2 ranked fighter in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA featherweight rankings, requested the in-person meeting three weeks after telling the media he wants to be released from his contract, citing broken promises from the UFC regarding a rematch with undisputed featherweight champ Conor McGregor (20-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC), who is now set to vie for the lightweight title at UFC 205.

Aldo’s coach, Andre Pederneiras, told MMAjunkie the fighter reached his breaking point when McGregor was given a fight with lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez (28-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC) at UFC 205.

“We don’t believe anything anymore, and Aldo’s decision was ‘I’m not fighting anymore,'” Pederneiras said. “(He said), ‘I no longer have the motivation to fight for the UFC. And to go in there without motivation – I don’t want to lose because of that. So I’d rather get out.'”

Today, Aldo said he wanted to avoid his words being mis-translated, a complaint he’s previously lodged with the media after giving controversial statements, and said he was able to express his feelings about his situation.

“This concerns me,” Aldo said. “I came with a decision. We talked with ‘Dede’ and my family. These are things that concern me, and that’s a conversation that we had in there. It stays between us. I think the fans and media need to know this was a first conversation, and I can only thank Dana and everyone in the UFC because the conversation was great.”

But it’s unclear exactly where things stand right now between the promoter and the fighter. When asked whether he’d been successful in getting his release, he sidestepped the question, though he said his intention to be let out of his contract hadn’t changed.

“I didn’t come only for the contract cancellation,” Aldo said. “We had a lot to say, and that’s what happened. I think I’m going my way, and the UFC is going theirs, and the future will tell.”

Yet when asked if he intended to take the UFC to court, as he’d previously threatened, he dismissed the idea, saying, “I’m not that kind of person.”

The primary objective of the meeting, Aldo stressed, was to open the lines of communication.

“We had a first conversation – it was very good,” Aldo said. “That’s why I thank Dana and Sean. We had this great conversation. The UFC is going through a transition phase, with new owners, new methodologies, new ideas, so for a first conversation it was very good.”

For his part, White said he’s open to working with the Brazilian veteran to resolve any issues.

“I love the guy,” White told MMAjunkie. “I’m trying to make him happy.”

But the big question – will Aldo fight again – still seems unresolved, and the interim featherweight champ admits he’s lost some of his desire to step into the cage.

“If there wasn’t a contract or anything holding me back, I don’t think (I would fight again),” Aldo said. “I don’t see myself fighting anymore. I think I’ve done a lot for the sport and I need to go my way. But, since I have a contract with the UFC, I think I need to respect that. I respect everyone, but we came here to have a conversation with them and I think the conversation was great.”

Watch the above interview to get Aldo’s thoughts on his meeting and where he stands with the UFC.

For more on UFC 205, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.