The interim prefix may as well be removed from Jose Aldo’s introduction, if you ask Andre Fili.
Fili, a fighter quickly gaining traction in the UFC’s featherweight division, believes that the legendary Brazilian former champion ought to be considered the undisputed king at 145lbs due to Conor McGregor’s gallivanting at other weight classes.
‘The Notorious’ has yet to defend the featherweight title which he claimed with a 13-second knockout of Aldo last December and he fights for the lightweight strap, his third fight away from 145lbs, next month.
Fili suggested that the division is being held up by the Irishman and, in his personal opinion, he’s no longer champion.
The Team Alpha Male featherweight made the claim after getting back in the win column at the weekend with a unanimous decision victory over Hacran Dias in Portland, taking his UFC record to 4-3.
“I’m an adult and I understand how life works. Especially in this sport, it’s a popularity contest,” Fili said in his post-fight media scrum. “When you do what you’re supposed to do, you can do whatever the fuck you want.
“And I think McGregor is holding up the division and I do think it’s not fair.
That's one FIRED UP @TouchyFili!!! What a performance on 3 weeks notice! #UFCPortland pic.twitter.com/0IC9Fs6hUw
— UFC (@ufc) October 2, 2016
“I do think that Jose Aldo, who is one of my favourite fighters ever, is the 145lbs champion because McGregor hasn’t defended it.
“But McGregor gets to do whatever the fuck he wants because look what he’s done. That’s just how life works.
“I’m not here to talk about what’s fair and what’s not fair. Life isn’t fucking fair.
“I would like to see my boy (Max) Holloway get a shot at that belt personally. That’s the homie and I think he’s one of the baddest motherfuckers in the world so I’d like to see him get a little bit of shine finally.
“McGregor’s holding up the division but he also kind of gets to do whatever the fuck he wants because he’s done some pretty rad shit.
“Jose Aldo is the 145lbs champion and give my boy Holloway some shine!”
