Three-time UFC title challenger, retired fighter and ESPN MMA analyst Chael Sonnen takes nothing away from Jose Aldo’s accomplishments. But he still believes the UFC featherweight champion missed a career-making opportunity – one that could even hurt his career down the road.
“I don’t think the UFC is going to be in a big hurry to put Jose Aldo back in the ring,” Sonnen today told MMAjunkie Radio. “He is the champion, so per the competitive architecture, they’re going to have to. But – he burned them five times. As quick as you can get that belt off Aldo and not give him a shot to get it back, not only has he burned you five times, but he is the worst drawing champ of all time.”
Harsh words, indeed, for Aldo, who this past week suffered a fractured rib while in the final stretch of preparation for a meeting with Conor McGregor at next week’s UFC 189, which has been promoted as one of the biggest events of the year and is expected to break box office records. It was the fifth time an injury prevented him from defending his UFC belt, including previously canceled bouts at UFC 125, UFC 149, UFC 153 and UFC 176, though his level of activity is comparable to other champions on the UFC’s roster.
Several doctors, including MMAjunkie’s own medical consultant, say the champ’s injury is serious enough to eliminate any thought of Aldo competing. It’s unclear why UFC President Dana Whitesaid the fighter had been cleared to fight on July 11. But like White, Sonnen questions why the champ was ever in the position to be injured.
As previous reports indicated, Aldo suffered a rib fracture when a new sparring partner, Alcides Nunes, caught him with a spinning back kick during practice. The strike is one McGregor frequently executes in the cage, but Sonnen believes it’s too high risk in training, especially with a new partner.
“You’ve got to have training partners you can trust,” Sonnen said. “I could be sparring with a guy and he forgot his mouthpiece, it wouldn’t matter. I’m not going to loosen his tooth, ever. If he goes with me, he’s going to leave in the same condition that he showed up in. He can trust me. Those are the kind of guys that you want to be working out with.
“Accidents happen. This could have been an accident. But it was a spinning kick to the midsection. That’s a very hard strike to control – it’s the same reason we don’t throw elbows in practice. They’re just too hard to control, and if one gets away, even a light one, it can cut your opponent and he’s going to need stitches. There are some things you just don’t do on a partner; you save it for the heavy bag. I’m very confused as to how this even happened 10 days before a title fight.”
While Aldo’s (25-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) injury prior to UFC 176 caused the cancelation of the pay-per-view, the promotion, which reportedly spent millions promoting the headliner between the champ and McGregor (17-2 MMA, 5-0 UFC), is moving ahead with McGregor opposite two-time title challenger Chad Mendes (17-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC). McGregor reported Wednesday that 2,500 Irish fans are headed to Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena. White said the event is expected to earn $7 million at the box office. The UFC executive also has said UFC 189 will break the one million mark in pay-per-view buys, though that prediction came prior to Aldo’s withdrawal.
Sonnen agrees with McGregor that the headliner’s new prize, an interim UFC featherweight belt, should be switched to the undisputed title.
“I couldn’t imagine pulling out of a fight, ever, for any reason, let alone a title fight, and he’s done it five times,” Sonnen said. “You can call it an interim championship – I guess that’s what you have to do. If I’m in charge, we strip him.
LINK to full story: Chael Sonnen: I don’t think the UFC is going to be in a big hurry to bring Jose Aldo back | MMAjunkie
