Jose Aldo Says Max Holloway Is Ducking Him, Khabib Turned Down Title Fight

Once again the UFC featherweight division is in ruins…

After a pretty miserable 2016 for the UFC featherweight division, it was hoped things would start to get better. Although it was highly controversial, the stripping of Conor McGregor was meant to clear things up.

Since defeating Jose Aldo for the belt at UFC 194, McGregor hadn’t fought at featherweight for 12 months. The promotion was left with little choice but to strip his belt. Max Holloway and Anthony Pettis fought for a pointless interim featherweight belt at UFC 206. Meanwhile, Jose Aldo was promoted to full champion.

Funny, But Kinda True

It seemed the need for gold at UFC 206 was the main motivator for taking Conor McGregor’s belt. Either way, he remained the lightweight champion since he starched Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205.

We’ve seen a different side to Aldo this year, as the Brazilian tried to retire amid the featherweight mess. The UFC quickly shut him down in that regard, and he’s since been a bit quieter since receiving the full title.

Until last night:

Aldo: I’ve Always Been Champion

During a long interview with MMAFighting.com, Jose Aldo claimed he’s been offered a lightweight interim title fight. He also said Max Holloway is ducking him, anmd Conor McGregor was never the full champion. Not the Aldo we are used to, that’s for sure:

“First of all, I never stopped being the champion. When I lost to Conor, he should have rematched me right away. Like I’ve always said and done, the champion is the guy who defends the belt against all challengers. Guys who run from title defenses are not champions. All Conor did was he beat the champion. But he never did what he had to do to become the champion. He’s never been the champion of the featherweight division.”

Holloway Is Ducking Me

“So I don’t know what’s going on with the fight right now. I know that I want to fight. I’ve been planning on fighting on the card. I asked for that card. When Holloway started talking shit, we approached UFC and made clear that I want to fight in Brooklyn. I’m flexible about my opponent. I even said, ‘Why don’t I go up in weight class and fight the No. 1 or No. 2 contender and start setting up a rematch with McGregor?’ There was some enthusiasm for that idea, but my understanding is, some fighters turned down that fight. The UFC can’t put together a match-up if fighters are turning down fights. But I just want to be very clear: Me, Jose Aldo, I don’t turn down fights. I don’t turn down opponents. I don’t choose opponents.

So, there’s a lot of shit now being talked by Holloway, saying I don’t show up. That couldn’t be further from the truth. There’s a lot of people turning down fights against me in Brooklyn, and Holloway is one of them.”

Aldo To Lightweight?

No, the Brooklyn fight is not happening. I now expect and believe I will be fighting in early March. Either March 3 or March 4, I can’t remember. I believe they will soon announce an interim lightweight title fight with me. They’ve been trying to find me an opponent, and — surprise, surprise — at least one has already turned down the fight against me. I’m waiting to see who they will find.

Wow. I didn’t expect that. Who turned it down?
You gotta ask the UFC that. They’ve asked me not to say anything. I won’t say who it is because it’s a surprise. A guy we never thought would turn it down turned it down, because his father didn’t think it was good. I’m tired of people turning down fights. I want to put some pressure so they’ll take the fight.