UFC
Conor McGregor thinks there should be "no reason" for Jose Aldo to pull out of UFC 189: "Just toughen up and show up"
Jun 28, 2015 - 2:20:35 PM Conor McGregor thinks there should be "no reason" for Jose Aldo to pull out of UFC 189: "Just toughen up and show up"

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

With Jose Aldo's status for UFC 189 still very much up in the air, his challenger for that event, Conor McGregor, is taking his opportunity to goad the Champion some more.

In an interview with Jon Anik via satellite for Saturday's UFC Fight Night 70 broadcast on Fox Sports 1, McGregor said he sees no reason Aldo shouldn't fight on despite his rib injury. However, he also made it clear he's ready for Chad Mendes should that be the man he winds up facing on July 11.

"Just toughen up and show up," McGregor said (transcribed by MMAFighting.com). "Many people have stepped inside the Octagon with little, itty bitty bruises. We all have knocks and bruises. Dust it off and step up. Step up and fight like a man. Fight like the championship you should be.

"There's a lot on the line. A lot of money, a lot of pride. There should be no reason to pull out of this contest. But if he does, that's on him and I cannot force another individual to step in there. If I ask myself truly, would I like to step in there and face me, I'd probably go running, too. If it's little mini Mendes, we'll smoke him, too."

Penick's Analysis: Few fighters are ever 100% when they step in the cage, that's true, but there's a difference between some of the more nagging or minor things and a rib injury if it's affecting the simple ability to work out. If Aldo's having a hard time breathing and working through the pain of the injury, then he'll have a very hard time making weight. If he doesn't make weight, there is no title fight anyway. It's just looking more and more like Aldo fighting on July 11 is unwise, and unlikely. May still happen, but I think it's reasonable to no longer expect that we're getting this bout as planned on July 11.