Holloway hits back at Aldo and claims injury to avoid fighting at UFC 208

Holloway says ankle injury prevents him from fighting at UFC 208. (Photo: Getty Images)

Max Holloway wasted no time and responded to the statements of José Aldo, who insinuated that the Hawaiian was “running away” from a fight at UFC 208, which will be held in Brooklyn (USA), on February 11th. According to the interim featherweight champion, an injury prevents him from fighting at the beginning of 2017.

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“I don’t know what the hell he’s talking about telling me I knew before the fight. I didn't know shit before the fight. When they told me in the cage after I won that they wanted the fight on February 11th, I thought it was ten weeks away, so I would have two weeks off and then I would have an eight-week training camp to prepare for it. So after all, my adrenaline was through the roof and I was going crazy, they got me excited and I said what I said. I said everything was fine and we could do it. (…) The next morning I woke up and my ankle was swollen like an elephant's leg. I told the UFC what was going on and I don't know why they didn't announce it, but I went to the doctors as quickly as possible and they told me I can't do anything for four to six weeks. No contact, nothing on my ankle. I can't kick, I can't do anything. I discovered an old injury on my ankle and told them I was out for four to six weeks,” he said in an interview with Fox Sports.

Holloway was also irritated by the fact that the Brazilian was saying that he never turned down a fight proposed by the UFC. According to “Blessed”, Aldo has no morals to talk about the subject.

“He’s coming out teasing and talking a lot, but at the end of the day, if I wasn’t injured, I’d fight his ass any day of the week. I would fight him tomorrow. This guy is the last one who should be talking about injuries. He wants to say that he has never turned down an opponent in his life and he doesn't choose his opponents. At (UFC) 205 and 206, he didn't fight me. He said he would rather fight Anthony Pettis and then he wants this fight (with me). He's saying "I don't turn down fights", but go ask Sean Shelby if Max Holloway already rejected a fight. I've never turned down a fight in my life. (…) Great that you never refused a fight, now show yourself. You came out of six fights. I don't know how he prides himself on “I never turned down a fight”, and then doesn't show up for six fights. Get out of here with that conversation. That's the thing that irritates me. This guy is trying to drag my name into the mud. I never turned down a fight. I have more wins in 10 fights than he has wins in the UFC. This guy should calm down. I respect him, he's a legend of the sport, but he has seven title defenses and got out of six of them. He almost has the same amount of canceled fights as he has made saves. Tell me what's going on. I've never walked away from a fight in my life. I'm the most active guy in the division”, said Max, who added that one day he will “settle the score” with Aldo inside the octagon.

“I have my golden ticket to fight him and I can't wait to go out there and do it. I know how hard I worked to get here. I am the most active. This guy can talk as much as he likes, but I'll see him sooner or later,” he concluded.

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