Jose Aldo is once again the UFC’s featherweight champion after Conor McGregor vacated his title and as far as the Brazilian star is concerned the natural order at 145lbs has now been restored.
“I knew this would happen,” Aldo told UFC.Com in Brazil. “To me, I have always been the champion. I lost that fight [with McGregor] because of a (fluke).”
McGregor took just 13 seconds to KO Aldo at UFC 194, ending the long-reigning champion’s nine year winning streak, and he never got a chance to gain revenge as ‘The Notorious’ moved on to other challenges in the lightweight and welterweight divisions.
“I know I could win in a rematch. I knew I would be champion again. It’s not my fault that (McGregor) is a coward, that he was never champion. I don’t see myself losing to anyone in this weight class, or any other.”
It was just a few months ago that Aldo had threatened to quit the sport altogether after McGregor was given a shot at the lightweight title instead of a rematch with him, but now that he has the belt around his waist again the 30 year-old appears more settled and is now setting his sights on a title defense against the winner of UFC 206’s main event between Max Holloway and Anthony Pettis.
That being said, he is by no means ruling out a potential rematch with McGregor at some stage in the future.
“Of course, I think about (the McGregor) fight, and it certainly will happen. I want to defend my belt first, and then I’ll plan on this (McGregor) fight.”
