UFC 194 turned out to be a nightmare for Jose Aldo who’s 10 year undefeated run came to an end in just 13 seconds courtesy of a single left hook from the new featherweight champion Conor McGregor.
However, rather than retreating to lick his wounds, Aldo is already campaigning for an immediate rematch with his rival.
“We spoke (with Dana White) right after, but I think it’s too soon to talk,” Aldo said in an interview with Combate the day after his defeat. “Of course, I want a rematch, and I think I have this right. Not only me, but my career speaks for itself.”
Despite the abrupt nature of his loss he does have a point, and it seems that it’s one that former UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones, who’s been neck and neck with the Brazilian at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings in recent years, wholeheartedly agrees.
“If Rousey is granted an immediate rematch I would expect the same treatment for Aldo,” Jones wrote on Twitter. “It only seems right.”
Certainly the UFC could be accused of double standards here, though at the same time, after promoting McGregor Vs Aldo for the best part of a year now, first for UFC 189 which fell through, and then UFC 194, then it’s perhaps understandable that they’d be looking to move on to a fresh fight next.
There is also the fact that just one night earlier they had promised Frankie Edgar the next title shot after his impressive KO stoppage of Chad Mendes, though it may turn out that McGregor doesn’t defend his 145lb belt against anyone next as there’s the possibility that he could now move up to lightweight to face the winner of Rafael dos Anjos Vs Donald Cerrone which takes place next weekend at UFC On FOX 17.
If Aldo gets back to winning ways there’s a good chance that a rematch could take place at some stage in the future though, and he believes that when the time comes he’ll avenge his defeat.
“It wasn’t this time, but we will come out victorious, for sure,” Aldo said. “It’s a sport, we have to accept. Not only from wins you live your life. That makes us stronger. Way stronger. You can be sure that we will come back stronger, more champion than I was before.”
