Coming off five victories in a row, four of them coming by way of stoppage, UFC featherweight No.1 contender Chad Mendes is brimming with confidence heading into his rematch with Jose Aldo at UFC 179 later this month.
So much so in fact that he’s already looking forward to his next fight which he hopes will be against one of the most talked about men in the sport right now, Conor McGregor.
“Don’t get me wrong,I’m not looking past Jose Aldo at all,” Mendes said on AXS TV’s ‘Inside MMA’ show yesterday. “I mean, obviously I’ve fought him before. I know what he feels like, his strength, his speed, his power, and I truly believe I have what it takes, and I’ve done everything done possible to do it. But God, it’s going to feel so good to punch a hole through Conor McGregor‘s face.
“The guy has been talking so much crap. The guy has got a huge hype train behind him. It’s going to feel good to get in there and just dismantle this dude.”
Aldo is also aware of McGregor’s presence, but in an interview with FOX Sports this week the current champion was doing his best not to be drawn into a war of words with the outspoken Irishman – or at least not in the immediate future anyway.
“I’m really focused on Chad Mendes right now and I do think it’s a little bit disrespectful,” Aldo said. “This fight hasn’t even happened. There’s nothing set yet. I do need to keep my feet on the ground and keep focused on Chad Mendes and not think of anyone else.”
Aldo and Mendes rematch takes place on October 25th in Rio De Janeiro and there has been talk that McGregor could be cage-side to see that fight unfold.
Watch Mendes’ full interview on Inside MMA in the video below.
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