Jose Aldo Explains Real Reason He Cried After Conor McGregor Loss
Jose Aldo revealed that his emotional breakdown following his UFC 194 loss to Conor McGregor was caused by the realization that he would never get a rematch.
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On Dec. 12, 2015, Jose Aldo suffered a devastating 13-second knockout defeat against Conor McGregor at UFC 194 in Las Vegas, losing his UFC featherweight championship. Footage released by the UFC showed Aldo crying with his team in the locker room at the MGM Grand Garden Arena shortly after the fight, but the Brazilian legend revealed that the loss itself was not the reason for his tears.
Aldo explained that as the promotion's first and only featherweight champion up to that point, he believed an immediate rematch was inevitable. However, those hopes were shattered moments later when Dana White arrived in the locker room and indicated that McGregor would not be cutting down to 145 pounds again, regardless of the outcome.
“Everyone thinks I was crying because I lost,” Aldo said. “No, I was crying because I knew we weren’t going to fight again. There was no way for me to get that win back, you know?” The reality of never getting an opportunity to avenge the loss broke his heart. Aldo spent years pursuing a rematch, eventually regaining the featherweight title before later dropping down to bantamweight.
Despite their intense rivalry leading into UFC 194, Aldo and McGregor have developed a friendly relationship over the past few years. Aldo told MMA Fighting in September that he continues to root for McGregor's return to the Octagon following injuries and an extended hiatus, wishing the former two-division champion a successful recovery.
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