Conor McGregor has made it clear that he wants to fight in Brazil before he hangs up his gloves.
Last month, McGregor reiterated his desire to experience the famous Brazilian atmosphere and he has now revealed that he was tempted to travel to Rio De Janeiro for a rematch with Jose Aldo in May.
McGregor knocked Aldo out just 13 seconds into their grudge match in the main event of UFC 194 in 2015 but Aldo has steadied his career ship in recent years, scoring back-to-back knockout wins over Jeremy Stephens and Renato Moicano.
What an amazing atmosphere at UFC Brazil tonight.
I would LOVE to compete there for all the passionate Brazilian fans at some stage of my career.
I was so close to securing a bout in Rio last year. It was essentially a done deal.
Maybe next time.
Ui Vai Morrer!!!! I’m still here.— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) February 3, 2019
Aldo will now meet Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 237 but, apparently, McGregor was considering giving his former rival a rematch at the Rio event.
“Even Aldo now currently, he had a great win, his last two wins were great wins,” McGregor said at a recent Q&A event in Chicago, via BJPENN.com.
“He had a little bit of a slip, but he’s had two great wins and now he’s fighting in his hometown of Rio De Janeiro.
“I actually was thinking I might slide in and face him, but all these politics and co-main event conversation kind of halted that as well. If he wins, I believe he’s up in line for a rematch also.
“Although it was a 12-second knockout, I still think if you rise up again, you deserve a rematch. So, this is where we are at.”
With his suspension for his role in the UFC 229 brawl set to expire next month, McGregor was reportedly in talks to face Donald Cerrone in the summer but his conditions for fighting in a co-main event seemingly acted as a stumbling block.
Cerrone is now set to fight Al Iaquinta, while McGregor’s next move remains to be seen.
While he is eager to get another crack at Khabib Nurmagomedov, ‘The Notorious’ is also looking at other potential rematches with fighters he’s beaten in the past.
“If you beat a man convincingly, a first-round KO or a dominating performance, there’s not really a need for a rematch,” McGregor said.
“But, if that individual rises up the ranks, if he goes back, checks himself, humbles himself, stays focused, stays positive and rises up exactly like Dustin Poirier has done and exactly like Max Holloway has done, well then there are rematches deserved.”
