Tony McGregor doesn’t think Jose Aldo is afraid of his son, but he thinks the champion would be reluctant to do another world tour.
Conor McGregor was scheduled to take on the undisputed featherweight champion at UFC 189, but Aldo withdrew with less than two weeks before fight night claiming to have suffered a fractured rib in training.
UFC president Dana White has since claimed that three separate doctors told the UFC that Aldo’s ribs were bruised, not fractured, and that the x-rays Aldo’s team released were of an old injury. Aldo since denied White’s claims.
The confusion over Aldo’s reasons for pulling out has sparked rumblings that he may be ducking the Notorious, but Tony McGregor explained on the MMA Hour that he doesn’t think this is the case.
“Personally, I don’t think [Aldo] is afraid of him, I just don’t know why he won’t face him.”
“I’d hate to think a champion is afraid of any fighter, you know? I have to have respect for all fighters. Anyone who steps into the Octagon, I have respect for them. I don’t know why he pulled out of this, but the fact of the matter is, he did. When it was confirmed that he wasn’t fighting, it was a big disappointment for us Irish fans all over the world.”
The UFC invested a record amount of money promoting UFC 189, which included 12-day, five-country world tour which finished up in Dublin. Dana White vowed to spend “even more money” to promote McGregor v Aldo the second time, prior to the Notorious beating Chad Mendes.
However, Tony doubts Aldo will be open to going on another world tour.
“I can’t see the world promo thing going ahead. I wouldn’t speak for them, but I couldn’t see Aldo going through another world promo tour. I think he’s just had enough.”
Hat-tip to MMA Fighting
