Aldo’s coach guarantees: “We’re going after Conor McGregor”

Pederneiras (right) is Aldo’s (left) main coach. (Photo: Reproduction/Instagram)

There's no mystery: José Aldo wants a rematch with Conor McGregor at any cost, regardless of title or weight range. And who confirms this is Dede Pederneiras, the Brazilian's coach.

Sincero, the leader of Nova União, the gym where Aldo trains, explained that the refusal to Max Holloway, interim featherweight champion (up to 66kg), for a duel at UFC 208, in February, changed his plans for 2017. Now, the focus is to move up to lightweight (up to 70kg) and qualify for a title fight against Irish, current champion of the category.

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“He himself said: I won my belt, I'm defending it now – this was in a conversation already discussed between us – and we're going after Conor. When Sean Shelby told me that the fight wouldn't happen on February 11th, I said: “Sean, now we're in a complicated situation. Our plans for this year would be this fight, a challenge to the number 1 contender, which would be Khabib – we want to get the toughest guy in the category, who everyone, let's say, runs from him -, and after that Conor, who is all this time pregnant and only after that will she be able to fight. We can even have this fight (with Khabib) for the interim title, because then you would no longer be able to go anywhere other than the fight (with Conor). Both Sean Shelby and Dana White thought it was a brilliant, sensational idea, so that Aldo could arrive in a situation where there was no way for Conor to sit down and say: “I'm not going to fight him”, said Dede, in an interview with the website 'Combate. with'.

Asked about who Manauara's next opponent would be, Pederneiras admitted that there is still no definition of who would be chosen, but emphasizes that, if they have not found an opponent for the interim title fight, the rematch against Conor should be held immediately.

“We accept any type of response (from Khabib and Ferguson), but we hope that one of the two accepts the fight. Or, in case they don't accept, Dana, I'm asking you for Conor to come and fight Aldo, and have his rematch. Aldo proves that he is not afraid of anyone, like he never was. He never denied fighting”, said the trainer, who concluded by mocking Holloway and stating that the featherweight division would not be “stuck”.

“I wouldn’t stop the (featherweight) category, since we have an interim champion. Since (Holloway) didn't agree to fight now because he's going to Disney, he fights and defends his interim title, and Aldo fights what he has to do and, if he wins, he takes Conor. If he is defeated, he fights with the Max Holloway No problem. Everyone will be happy. O Max Holloway goes to Disney to see Mickey and Goofy, Aldo fights the number 1 contender, takes away Conor's possible defeat to Khabib – which is what everyone thinks – and finally he has the rematch with Conor and Show everyone that he is the true champion”, he concluded.