Holloway taunts Aldo with football: 'Present to retire'

M. Holloway (right) with the ball: provocation to Aldo (Photo: João Vitor Xavier/Super Lutas)

Max Holloway arrived in Brazil for the UFC 212 launch press conference with a special gift for his opponent, José Aldo: a soccer ball. Although the offer was apparently made in peace, the interim champion didn't stop provoking the Brazilian.

When asked why he had taken a football to the press conference, Holloway said it was a help for Aldo to retire, as the linear champion has already revealed on more than one occasion his dream of playing football professionally when he retires. the MMA.

See too

Anderson Silva rules out Belfort and Rockhold, but 'accepts' Romero and Diaz

Conor McGregor builds arena for training against Mayweather

Businessman reveals that Jacaré will 'test the market' after the last fight of his UFC contract

“This is a gift for José. I remember this guy said he wanted to play football after he retired, so this gift is to help him. It’s a gift,” commented Holloway.

Although the treat could be interpreted as a provocation, as Holloway hinted that he would help Aldo retire from MMA when the two faced each other, the Brazilian thanked him for the gift and preferred to discuss the Hawaiian's intentions and even said that the provocations are welcome.

“I didn’t see it that way. I think it was a gift. Brazil is known as the country of football. If the fight was in Hawaii, I would suddenly bring him a flower crown. If he wanted to give me a gift, I don't see a problem, that's up to him”, declared Aldo, also talking about the issue of provocations in MMA.

“Nowadays, everything is different from when I started in the sport. I was raised to respect and honor the sport, but nowadays you don't get anywhere without talking, without provoking. The ranking is worthless, the point is to provoke, because what drives sport today is money. I like that, I don't see any problem, there has to be a provocation for the fight to sell and for us to make money. Today, the athletes are the ones who fight the fights. If he arrives and insults you, the fight will happen. The fight is over, everyone goes to their corner with a pocket full of money. That’s what matters”, argued the Brazilian champion.

The fight between José Aldo e Max Holloway will be the main fight of UFC 212, also called UFC Rio 8, an event that takes place on June 3, at the Jeunesse Arena, in the capital of Rio de Janeiro