X-ray of Aldo's rib shows the location of the injury. Photo: Disclosure
Less than 20 days before the biggest fight of his career, the featherweight champion José Aldo suffered a rib injury and ended up being cut from UFC 189 and replaced by Chad Mendes, which now faces Conor McGregor in the interim title fight. On Wednesday night (01), Aldo published a long outburst on social media and took the opportunity to publicize the x-ray exam in which the fracture was found that made it impossible for him to perform. Furthermore, the man from Manaus skewered Irishman McGregor and criticized Ultimate's decision to create a new belt after his injury.
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“I've been UFC champion since April 2011, I've defended my belt seven times in four years, and I'll do my eighth defense in 2015, an average of two title fights per year. This is without counting the WEC, an event owned by Zuffa, as well as Ultimate, and of which I was champion in 2009 and then put the belt on the line twice more in less than a year. Therefore, I cannot agree with the UFC's decision to have an interim champion in my category, justifying this with the five opportunities in which I was unable to defend the belt", wrote the Brazilian in an excerpt from the publication on his profile on Instagram. “If you win Chad Mendes, the only thing he (Conor McGregor) will have a toy belt to show off to his friends, drunk in bars in his country, because that's what an interim title represents to me: a toy. I’m the champion”, he added.
According to Aldo, he even considered the possibility of playing, even when injured, but chose not to risk it in the name of preserving his legacy in the sport. “Despite doing everything possible to fight, I was forced to do the opposite and that saddened me a lot. Only me, my family, coaches and teammates know how much I worked to represent Brazil again. (…) The money ends at some point, but the legacy of achievements will remain in history, and that is what I value most. The decision was made out of respect for the fans and the UFC, who today consider me the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world,” he assured.
At 28, José Aldo He has a professional record of 25 wins and one loss. The man from Manaus is, to this day, the only champion in the history of the 66 kg Ultimate category, having been promoted to title holder since the extinction of the WEC. In the octagon, Aldo has defended his title seven times, most recently against Chad Mendes, in October last year, at UFC Rio 5.
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Check out the full text released by José Aldo below:
For three months, every day, I carried out three training periods. I invested my time and money, bringing training partners, both from the country and abroad, to hold the best training camp of my life and be ready to defend, for the eighth time, my belt on July 11th. Unfortunately, I suffered a fractured rib during training, which is confirmed by an official report. Despite doing everything possible to fight, I was forced to do the opposite and this saddened me greatly. Only me, my family, coaches and teammates know how much I worked to represent Brazil again.
The decision was made out of respect for the fans and the UFC, who today consider me the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. I couldn't fight without being in 100% of my physical condition and with a fractured rib that could get worse if I suffered a blow to the area. Many people told me to fight anyway, because of the money I could earn, but I wouldn't sell myself for any amount, whatever it was. I fight for the love of what I do and for my country. Money, for me, comes in the background, it's like a shadow: when you try to get it, you can't, but when you move forward, it follows you. The money runs out at some point, but the legacy of achievements will go down in history, and that's what I value most.
I've been UFC champion since April 2011, I've defended my belt seven times in four years, and I'll do my eighth defense in 2015, an average of two title fights per year. This is without counting the WEC, an event owned by Zuffa, as well as Ultimate, and of which I was champion in 2009 and then put the belt on the line twice more in less than a year. Therefore, I cannot agree with the UFC's decision to have an interim champion in my category, justifying this with the five opportunities in which I was unable to defend the belt.
If these fights had occurred, I would have had, in the UFC alone, 12 title fights in four years, with an average of three fights per year, an average that no champion has had. Rarely has any champion made three defenses in one year. So, this cannot be the main reason for giving an interim title, but as the UFC is a private company to which I am hired, I cannot complain about their decisions, but that does not mean I can say that I agree.
Regarding my opponent, who told me to present myself for the fight as a man, I can't say anything about a guy who imitates a TV series character in his life (actor Travis Fimmel, from the series Vikings). This is who he really wanted to be, because he must be ashamed of being who he really is, so much so that he imitates this actor's lines, way of being and tattoos. He is an artist, but not of martial arts, but of cheap comedy. It's even disrespectful towards the actor and, especially, towards real athletes. He should look for a stage and not an octagon. The octagon is my kingdom and there is only room for one king, which is me. If he wants to participate, he'll have to be like the court jester he already is.
if you win the Chad Mendes, the only thing he will have will be a toy belt to show to his friends, drunk in bars in his country, because that's what an interim title represents to me: a toy. The champion is me.
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