Following one of the biggest world tours ever produced by the UFC, Jose Aldo is simply happy to be back in Brazil on familiar soil.
While he was being transported across several continents with his upcoming opponent, brash Irishman Conor McGregor for the better part of 10 days, the featherweight champion admit that the hardest part of the journey was simply dealing with the constant changes in location, weather, and food.
More on Aldo vs. McGregor
More on Aldo vs. McGregor
“The worst thing is waking up at one place and sleeping in another, the different food also,” Aldo told MMAFighitng.com. “That was the toughest part for me.”
While Aldo has had to deal with all sorts of threatening foes in past Octagon battles, he had his patience particularly tested with McGregor, who went out of his way to provoke the champ into a reaction. Although it was not convenient for the Brazilian, he understands that the tour was pivotal to the eventual success of the PPV.
“That’s normal. It’s part of our job. We had to do that. It was bad for both of us, but it’s cool. It’s a job, we had to go there and do this.
“We went to a lot of countries, and that brings us to a higher level. We will get more recognition, more fans and media coverage. That’s part of the deal. I was happy with the tour.”
At several points, Aldo appeared as though McGregor’s antics had struck a nerve, including late in the tour when the Irishman stole the champ’s belt at the Dublin press conference, to the delight of the crowd in attendance. While Aldo looked furious at the time, he admits that he doesn’t think about now that the tour is behind him.
“That’s nothing for me. That’s business, promotion. We hype it so the money invested by the UFC in this tour will be back with the fight.”
While McGregor has already predicted a first round finish against Aldo, the Brazilian is not impressed, and revealed that he doubts the fight would even last four minutes.
“I will catch him earlier.”
Transcription via MMAFighting.com.
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