If you listen very carefully, you can actually hear the hearts of thousands of MMA fans breaking.
That’s because the hugely anticipated, heavily promoted, freakishly intriguing title bout between Conor McGregor and Jose Aldo may be in jeopardy.
Combate reporter Ana Hissa broke the news that the UFC featherweight champion had fractured a rib in sparring on Tuesday morning and, with just 18 days to go until the Vegas clash, Aldo would likely not be cleared to fight.
Aldo injured during sparring session, exams confirm fractured rib
— Ana Hissa (@AnaHissa) June 23, 2015
And, predictably, Twitter went into meltdown with fear that the UFC 189 headliner would be pulled from the card.
If Jose is out I’m willing to step in and beat @TheNotoriousMMA again!! @ufc @danawhite
— Joseph duffy (@Duffy_MMA) June 23, 2015
Aldo injured during sparring session, exams confirm fractured rib
— Ana Hissa (@AnaHissa) June 23, 2015
If Aldo-McGregor is off then I’m not coming back from Spain
— KingOf.Pizza (@GoodTimeHaver) June 23, 2015
Aldo is hurt? This sucks pic.twitter.com/uUp8aSuK5j
— Cwais (@TheCwai) June 23, 2015
Shamrock and Kimbo make it through a training camp at a combined age of 92 (or something) and Aldo can’t? #UFC189
— Big Sexy (@RobbieMoney) June 23, 2015
Jose Aldo is injured. fuck this
— Sam (@EINinoMaravilla) June 23, 2015
Say it ain’t so, Aldo.
— Chad Dillashaw (@chadNflight) June 23, 2015
On the bright side, Aldo being out could mean Edgar vs McGregor.
— Lou Giordano (@NYR30_) June 23, 2015
I mean Aldo being out is pretty funny. Make Mcgregor fight Chad Mendes.
— Silky Jon-Stoned (@Jonscrazylife) June 23, 2015
Tough part about reporting an injury that doesn’t cancel the fight is fighter/camp will deny it. Call u a liar for 2 months. Then admit it
— FrontRowBrian® (@FrontRowBrian) June 23, 2015
You gotta be real afraid of @TheNotoriousMMA to fracture your own hip to avoid a fight pic.twitter.com/PPg3m0KD7y
— ZombieProphet (@ZProphet_MMA) June 23, 2015
Please please please god tell me that Aldo did not break a rib in training camp. @ufc @TheNotoriousMMA #ufc189
— Andrew Murray (@TheMurrayGroup) June 23, 2015
Jose Aldo injured…can’t wait for @TheNotoriousMMA response to this.
— TB (@Burleytommy) June 23, 2015
@josealdojunior you better not be injured I’ve been waiting a year for this fight with McGregor, man up!
— Jake (@SirJakeMurphy) June 23, 2015
@josealdojunior out of #UFC189!?!? NONONONONONO!!!!!!! @TheNotoriousMMA @chadmendes @FrankieEdgar http://t.co/YkeBKExYwV
— Jason L. Malmstrom (@MalmstromJason) June 23, 2015
