Jose Aldo Captures Interim Title, Eyes Conor McGregor After UFC 200

By Carlos Toro

Among the mess that was the Jon Jones debacle, who was going to be Daniel Cormier’s opponent and what was going to be UFC 200’s last fight, Frankie Edgar and Jose Aldo would have main evented any other UFC event. They instead took a backseat in the card’s pecking order, but was an entertaining one that went the distance.

Aldo kept Edgar’s offense at bay in impressive fashion and won via unanimous decision, becoming the interim UFC Featherweight Championship. The result was a similar one like in the first fight between the two of them at UFC 156 in February of 2013

After the win, Aldo’s sights immediately locked on to Conor McGregor, the man who knocked Aldo out in 13 seconds in his previous fight back in last December. Aldo was not the first guy to challenge McGregor into a fight as new UFC Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez did the same after he won his fight on UFC Fight Night 90.

“Frank’s a great athlete,” Aldo said through an interpreter after the fight. “I respect him, but I have one goal and it’s to beat [Conor McGregor]. Next time I come here, I will beat him.”

Although Aldo wants McGregor, there is still a chance for other people in the Featherweight division that could challenge for the title in the meantime, such Max Holloway, Jeremy Stephens, Chad Mendez, etc…

After a relatively uneventful first round from Aldo, the 29-year-old Brazilian had one of the most technically sound victories he has had in recent memory. He then took a lot more chances in the fight offensively and damaged Edgar, while looking relatively unscathed in his dominant win.

Aldo said that he lost his father recently, but credited Coach Andre Pederneira with helping train and go through with this process.

“Brazil, I lost my father, but I have a new father in [Pederneira],” Aldo, who’s now won 19 of his last 20 fights, said. “I owe everything to this guy and he’s nice to me all the time.”

He finally took care of Edgar, now we shall see whether or not Aldo will get his wish and get his revenge on McGregor in his next fight.