Look out, Conor McGregor. Jose Aldo is coming for you. Again.
The latter defeated Frankie Edgar by unanimous decision Saturday at UFC 200 to win the interim featherweight title, and he immediately ran to the fence to yell at McGregor and let him know his belt was no longer safe.
Aldo pledges to beat "this guy," points to Conor McGregor.
— Bleacher Report MMA (@BR_MMA) July 10, 2016
“I feel really good,” Aldo told reporters after the fight, per UFC.com. “This is one step to getting the belt back. The next time you’ll see me as the true champion.”
The two exchanged some verbal jabs.
As expected, @JoseAldoJunior & @TheNotoriousMMA go at it! #UFC200 https://t.co/SAcp1ptLSv
— UFC (@ufc) July 10, 2016
McGregor, of course, took Aldo’s championship belt last December with a first-round knockout in just 14 seconds, an embarrassing loss for the 29-year-old Brazilian who hadn’t lost in over 10 years and 18 fights.
Aldo wasn’t the only one focused on the rematch.
https://twitter.com/PhilWhi7/status/751978783356452864
The scene with Aldo running over to talk to McGregor outside the octagon rung familiar, and not without cause. In January 2015, it was McGregor running over to yell at Aldo after his Fight Night victory in Boston against Denis Siver.
That win scheduled the two to fight last July before Aldo withdrew with an injury. They finally fought in December.
Now, Aldo is the interim champion, solidifying his No. 1 contender status and an eventual rematch with McGregor. Though the Irishman will fight next month in a rematch with Nate Diaz, he’s already got his next opponent waiting in the wings, plotting his revenge.
Thumbnail photo via Joshua Dahl/USA TODAY Sports Images