Apparently, the cool thing to do right now in the UFC is wanting to become a boxer.
First, it was UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor applying for a boxing license in California and then it was Nate Diaz applying for a license in Nevada. Now, add featherweight champ Jose Aldo to the growing list.
In an interview with TV Combate on Sunday night, Aldo explained his desire to want get inside the boxing ring and do something that has never been done before.
“First of all, it’s not about money. I want to keep it clear. Thank God the UFC and MMA gave me a lot of stuff,” Aldo told TV Combate. “Yes, I think about having a career in boxing, but I want to start from the bottom, start from zero. I want to get ranked and one day fight for a belt. I don’t want to fight just to fight, for money, to go after big fights and challenge a great champion.
“I respect every boxer, but I want to start from the bottom. I want a career in boxing. That was my biggest dream, to one day become champion in MMA and boxing. That is my biggest dream.”
Talk has gotten louder and louder that McGregor will face boxing great Floyd Mayweather in the latter’s domain. Aldo stated he could care less about what happens to his rival.
“I hope Conor gets [expletive], that’s what matters to me,” Aldo said. “I don’t give a [expletive] about him. I’ve already said he’s [expletive], so what he does or doesn’t do, I don’t care. I worry about myself. I’m training to defend my belt. I want to fly higher.”
The Brazilian wants to avenge his 13-second loss to McGregor at UFC 194 in Dec. 2015 in the worst possible way. Him and his team aren’t too optimistic the Irishman will fight the current 145-pound champion.
“(McGregor) has to fight and defend his title at lightweight, but he knows that if he gets Khabib or (Tony) Ferguson, I don’t know how that fight will be,” Aldo’s manager Andre Pederneiras said in the same interview. “I think he’s afraid of this fight more than anything — except fighting Aldo again, because relinquishing a belt to avoid a rematch, I don’t think you can be more afraid than that.”
