Jose Aldo has revealed a changed perspective on his historic 13-second knockout loss to Conor McGregor at UFC 194. The Brazilian legend now views the defeat not as a personal failure, but as a destined moment in McGregor’s career. Aldo also commented on the current state of McGregor’s career and suggested a second fight with Max Holloway could be a suitable comeback bout for the Irish star.
Aldo’s insights are particularly significant as they bridge three key aspects of the MMA landscape: the pivotal UFC 194 encounter that reshaped the featherweight division, the surprising present-day peace and mutual respect between himself and McGregor, and the ongoing speculation surrounding McGregor’s return to active competition after a prolonged hiatus.
Jose Aldo on the UFC 194 Encounter with Conor McGregor
Aldo’s primary point is that he no longer fixates on the UFC 194 result as a career-defining setback. McGregor’s lightning-fast knockout in December 2015, which secured the UFC featherweight title and set a record for the fastest finish in a UFC title fight, is now seen by Aldo through the lens of fate rather than regret. In a recent interview with Jackpot City Casino, Aldo elaborated on this shift in his thinking:
“How do I think my career would have been different if I had beaten Conor McGregor in that title fight? I think for the fans it would’ve been huge, a great fight, a big win. But I believe in destiny. It wasn’t my mistake, it was Conor’s merit. He landed a great shot and won. After that, he moved up. I understand now, he struggled to make weight. He gained weight and never returned to featherweight because he wasn’t a natural fit for that division.”
This perspective aligns with the subsequent events in the featherweight division. McGregor never defended the featherweight belt following his victory over Aldo. Meanwhile, Aldo went on to defeat Frankie Edgar for an interim title at UFC 200 and was later promoted to undisputed champion when McGregor was stripped of the belt in November 2016.
“So I think things happened as they were meant to. I did my job, I fought, I won what I had to win, and I carried on. I’ve never been someone to dwell on losses. Once you spill a glass of milk, you can’t undo it, you clean it up and move on. That’s how my career went. I asked for a rematch, then I fought for the title again, won it, and kept going.”
Equally striking is the calm manner in which Aldo now discusses a fighter with whom he once shared one of the UFC’s most intense rivalries. Aldo states that their current relationship is “very good,” and recent reports suggest that they continue to exchange messages.
“What is my relationship with Conor like now? It’s very good. Not just with Conor, but with all my opponents, I’ve always had respect and a certain fondness for everyone. We exchange messages now and then. Recently I told him I was very happy he accepted Jesus as his saviour. I congratulated him and all that.”
Could Conor McGregor Make a Comeback?
Aldo also appears pragmatic about McGregor’s current career phase. He suggests that fame alone can only sustain a fighter for so long, and that McGregor must compete again to maintain fan engagement and the perception of a genuine return.
“When a fighter becomes a global star, they start doing films. But they still need to stay in the UFC, otherwise they fade away. So he needs to fight. I believe at some point he has to come back, it doesn’t matter who against, but he needs to be in there fighting again to reignite that spark.”
Regarding a potential matchup, Aldo sees merit in a rematch between McGregor and Max Holloway. The two fighters first met in August 2013, with McGregor winning by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 26, long before Holloway ascended to become a dominant force in the division.
“If it happened now, I think it would be a great fight for both Conor and Holloway. Both are stand-up fighters, similar in age, it’s a great matchup and a great comeback opportunity for Conor.”
