Jose Aldo, the UFC featherweight champion and top-ranked fighter pound-for-pound in the company, had to pull out of the UFC 189 main event to the dismay of fans anticipating one of the most-hyped fights in recent memory with Conor "The Notorious" McGregor.
Chad Mendes is stepping in for Aldo as a replacement, and the pair will fight for the UFC's interim title with the winner getting an immediate title shot vs. Aldo. McGregor believes that because Aldo's rib is not broken he should have remained in the fight, to which Aldo did not respond kindly.
"I suffered a fractured rib during a workout, proven by official medical records. In spite of doing everything possible to fight, I was forced to withdraw, and that saddened me very much. Only I, my family, coaches and teammates know how much I tried my best to represent Brazil again," Aldo said in a statement, contradicting reports he had a bone bruise, and not a break.
He then spewed venom toward McGregor, whom he's shown extreme disdain for throughout the buildup.
"With regard to my opponent, who said I should take the fight like a man, I cannot say anything about a guy who mimics a TV character (the actor Travis Fimmel of the series "Vikings"). This is who he really wanted to be because he is ashamed of being who he really is, so much that mimics the character's lines, actions and tattoos.
"He is an artist, not in martial arts, but in cheap comedy. He should look for a stage and not an octagon. The octagon is my kingdom and there there is only room for a king, who I am. If he wants to participate, it will have to be as the court jester that he already is. If he beats Chad Mendes, the only thing that he will have will be a toy belt to show his drunk friends in the bars of Ireland, because that is what this interim title represents for me: a toy. I am the champion."
It seems Mendes doesn't have any love for McGregor either or his antics.
"Conor is like a chihuahua, he's all bark. See, Conor is a master at selling fights and talking s**t. So Conor can say what he wants, nothing is gonna get in my head. This is what I was born to do," Mendes said.
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