Jose Aldo Mocks Interim Belt, Calls It ‘A Toy’

After Jose Aldo pulled out of his July 11 fight against Conor McGregor, the Internet has not been kind to the featherweight champion. Now, it does not help that Notorious is the loudest fighter in UFC history.

McGregor has called him “scared” and even predicted that this would happen in December 2014. On the other hand, Dana White displayed disappointment with the announcement, as he purposefully made the bout between McGregor and Chad Mendes for the interim featherweight belt: basically, calling out Aldo’s history of pulling out of title defenses.

Well, Aldo has officially struck back, releasing a massive statement that mocked the interim belt, confirmed that his rib is broken and even fired shots at Dana White’s handling of the situation.

Jose Aldo Calls Mocks Interim Belt

Before he even mocked the interim belt, Aldo talked about his reign as champion — since 2011 — and how many times he fought per year, which, on average, was twice. He claimed that if he did not pull out of the five other fights due to injury, then he would have defended the title, on average, three times a year. A feat that he claimed “no other UFC champion did.”

However, he soon backtracked before officially calling out White or the UFC, as “[the UFC] is a private company which I work for.” But he did not hold back about McGregor, who he called a Vikings caricature — referring to the History — and an “artist” more than a fighter.

“As of my opponent, who told me to step up and fight like a man, I can’t say anything about a man that imitates a TV series character [Travis Fimmel from Vikings],” Aldo wrote. “That’s really who he wanted to be, because he’s probably ashamed of being who he really is, so he imitates his lines, his style and this actor’s tattoos. He’s an artist, but not from martial arts, but cheap comedy. It’s disrespectful with the actor, and with real athletes… The Octagon is my kingdom and there’s place for only one king, which is me. If he wants to participate, he can be the joker he already is.”

“If he beats Chad Mendes, the only thing he will have is a toy belt to show his drunk friends in his country’s bars, because that’s what an interim belt represents to me: a toy. I am the champion.”

Jose Aldo Shows X-Rays

On top of this, he presented x-rays, stating that the UFC doctors were allegedly wrong and he indeed has a broken rib.

But his main reason for pulling out of UFC 189 was for his fans and the UFC because fighting hurt would not give them the fight that they deserve.

“My decision was made in respect to the UFC and the fans that today see me as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world,” Aldo continued. “I couldn’t fight without being 100 percent physically and with a rib injury that could get worse if I got hit in the ribs. Many people told me to fight anyway because of the money I could make, but I wouldn’t sell myself for any money, no matter how much. I fight for love and I do it for my country… Money ends some day, but legacy and things you do becomes part of the history, and that’s what I value the most.”