While he wasn’t quite ready to open up in the Octagon moments after his 13-second knockout loss to Conor McGregor at UFC 194 on Saturday night, former UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo has finally spoken at length about his first crushing defeat in the UFC.
“It still is too hard to digest,” Aldo told Combate just 24 hours after his 10-year unbeaten streak came to a sudden end. “We trained hard, did everything right, and the result wasn’t positive. It takes a while for us to digest, but it’s part (of the sport). It’s a sport and we have to accept.”
Regarding the fight itself, which Aldo continues to claim never happened, he explains to the best of his ability what he remembers thinking.
“So, there wasn’t even a fight, right? Only 13 seconds,” Aldo said. “And I also remember when I came in, how I tried to punch. But, man, it’s hard to say know if it’s (his) success or (my) mistake. It’s a quick decision, and he was able to connect a good punch when I tried a combination.”
As reported on Sunday, after his emotional alone time in the locker room with his teammates and family, UFC President Dana White spoke to a “devastated” Aldo backstage after the fight.
Now, Aldo gives his version of their brief discussion.
“We spoke (with Dana White) right after. But I think it’s too soon to talk,” Aldo said. “Of course, I want a rematch, and I think I have this right. Not only me, but my career speaks for itself.
“It wasn’t this time, but we will come out victorious, for sure,” he added. “It’s a sport, we have to accept. Not only from wins you live your life. That makes us stronger. Way stronger. You can be sure that we will come back stronger, more champion than I was before.”
H/T to Guilherme Cruz and MMAFighting.com for transcribing.
