With Rafael dos Anjos sidelined with an injury, the UFC considered booking a rematch between Conor McGregor and Jose Aldo for March 5 in Las Vegas. However, according to Aldo’s coach and manager Andre Pederneiras, they had to decline the offer.
“Dana (White) called me, telling what happened and asking if Aldo was in shape to fight,” Pederneiras told Combate. “I said he wasn’t and that there wasn’t enough time, and unfortunately he wouldn’t be able to fight next week.”
On Jan. 27, Aldo posted on his Instagram that he would only accept to return to the Octagon in a title fight. The only exception, he said, would be a rematch with McGregor.
“For everything I have done, everything I have accepted and mostly how the fight ended, I will not accept any other fight other than a title shot,” Aldo wrote in January. “My only exception would be fighting (McGregor), at any time, anywhere, and once that he is afraid and knows that I’m gonna win… Doesn’t have to be title fight against him. Keep my belt, but I wanna whoop (your) ass anywhere.”
During a recent media scrum in Rio de Janeiro, Aldo, who lost to McGregor in 13 seconds back in December, said he “returned to training a while ago, adjusting my weapons and getting better,” but didn’t expect his next move to “be decided until dos Anjos’ fight with Conor.”