Jose Aldo Junior is not used to entering the octagon as anything other than overwhelming favourite.
The UFC featherweight champion has not fought since October 2014, however, and Conor McGregor has stolen a march in the interim. Excuse the pun.
To that end, Las Vegas bookmakers have installed McGregor as the favourite to win the pair’s UFC 194 unification bout on December 12. It is a similar story on this side of the vast pond – Ladbrokes have McGregor 4/7 while Aldo is 7/5.
The Brazilian gave his reaction to the current odds in an interview with Sensei Combat. He highlighted Ronda Rousey’s UFC 193 loss to Holly Holm as a recent example of how being heavily backed means nothing once in the octagon.
Aldo remarked, “Anyone who wants to earn money, bet on Aldo. It will be the easiest money of your life.
“Just look at what happened with Ronda and Holm. I’ve no problem with it [being underdog].
“I don’t know who makes fighters favourites. I try not to pay much attention to it. I try to focus on me. I know my actions, I have to do to get there and win.”
It has been 10 years since Aldo lost an MMA fight but he insists the crown rests easily on his head. Complacency is not allowed in his camp, he insists.
“I’m always trying to learn more; to set an example for everyone. I have to be always training more than anyone else. I think that I will never be in a comfort zone.
“I will not allow myself to fall into some idea that I’m better than everyone.”
