This won’t come as music to the ears of Dana White.
Jose Aldo forced the UFC into a last-minute personnel change after he broke his rib in a sparring session three weeks ahead of the UFC 189 main event against Conor McGregor.
The injury resulted in the fifth time that the UFC featherweight champion has had to withdraw from a bout in the last five years which called into question the intelligence with which sparring was used at Nova Uniao.
Many believed that the Brazilian ought to lighten up on sparring so close to fight night but Aldo revealed in a media scrum today that he doesn’t intend to do so.
“That never happens at Nova Uniao,” Aldo told reporters in Rio de Janeiro. “Our protection is God.”
“God always has something good for us and now the fight is going to be two times bigger.
“The fan expectation, him being the interim champion, everything will be bigger.
“About the protection, we’ve always trained like this. Not only me but other athletes have pulled out of fights with rib injuries or ankle injuries. It’s part of the job. This is a contact sport.”
The 25-1 fighter revealed that he likes to keep a realistic fight environment right up to fight night rather than be wrapped in cotton wool.
“The closer to reality the better for me,” Aldo added. “Protection is for the weak. We have to be closer to reality.
“Many people said I was training with heavier guys but we always trained like this and I will continue to.”
Aldo also revealed that he was rooting for Conor McGregor to beat Chad Mendes in the interim title fight last month because a third clash with Money would have been more difficult than facing the Irishman.
“If Chad won then we would have to fight a third time in a tough war and my pocket would be kind of empty.
“We will get McGregor which is an easy fight and also brings us some good money.”
