Aldo is the only Brazilian UFC champion currently. Photo: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC
In the final stretch of preparations for UFC 179, José Aldo stated that the support of the fans present in Rio de Janeiro will be essential to further increase their motivation for the fight against Chad Mendes, main attraction of the event that will be held at the Maracanãzinho gymnasium, on Saturday (25).
The featherweight champion revealed that he is inspired by the fans' displays of affection, and that this will help him express his aggression inside the octagon. “The support is wonderful. I'm very emotional, I take a lot of heat from this, so I become even more confident. I know the night will be full, so everyone will be singing, cheering and fighting along with me. I will definitely go up like a runaway truck”, assured Aldo, in an interview with the press in Rio de Janeiro in an excerpt published by the website “Portal do Vale Tudo”.
In recent interviews, Mendes declared that he believes he has evolved more than the Brazilian since the first fight between the two, in January 2012. Aldo, on the other hand, says that the North American is not in a position to evaluate his evolution. “I think I'm such a dominant champion because I always fight facing my opponent. It's very difficult for anyone who watches one of my fights to say that I've gotten better or worse in this or that way. No, I always adapt to opponents. And it won't be any different now. We trained for three months to get there and beat Chad once again,” he said.
The only Brazilian currently UFC champion assured that he does not feel pressured by the responsibility of keeping the country with at least one title. “I try to forget that side. And the José Aldo who will be there, regardless of whether he is the only Brazilian champion or not. I try to do my own thing and believe in what I train. That stays outside – inside, it’s me fighting for myself”, he argued.
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