Regardless of what happens against Conor McGregor, UFC 194 might be the last time we see Jose Aldo inside the Octagon.
Two-time K-1 champion Andy Souwer has been helping the featherweight champion prepare for his upcoming title defence against the Notorious, and he believes we’ll see a very different Jose Aldo on fight night.
He explained to MMA Plus TV that the pressure of keeping a hold of the belt has made Aldo more reserved in some of his previous defences as opposed to the uber-aggressive knockout artist we’ve seen in his early fights.
“It’s something about champions, when they get champion, they’re going to change. They don’t want to lose, they get more experience, they think about what they reached. They have to keep the belt. It’s a different world. We love to climb the ladder, but when you’re on top of the ladder, it’s pretty damn different.”
However, Souwer reckons that McGregor taking the spotlight in the build up for this bout has caused him to soak up all the pressure, which should result in a more loose and relaxed Aldo in Vegas.
“It looks like this time he let Conor keep the attention, keep controlling the interviews. So, he got up in a kind of underdog position because of McGregor and he kind of likes it.”
“At the beginning of this year, you could see the Brazilian heart spoke, he was really emotional but for this time he loves to be in the position where McGregor has to wait.”
Souwer closed the interview by predicting that UFC 194 will be the last time Aldo fights. He cited his strained relationship with the UFC and his years of being at the zenith of the sport as the reasons why he could walk away from the sport.
“To be honest, yeah, I think (he will retire after UFC 194).”
“I think he’s done with it and ready and I will agree. Whatever his thinking is, or his decision, but I think it will be good for him.”
