Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor have responded to concerns after images surfaced showing the Brazilian looking skinny and gaunt in the lead-up to UFC 245.
Jose Aldo will fight Marlon Moraes in Las Vegas on Saturday 14 December in his first bantamweight fight.
Despite being featherweight for the entirety of his career, Aldo made the decision to cut down to the bantamweight division in order to face Moraes, and is required to make 135lbs for the fight.
Health Concerns
Pictures emerged recently which had fans questioning whether the extreme cut was doing any good for the Brazilian’s health, as the drastic change in weight appeared to leave the 33-year-old looking fragile.
But Aldo isn’t worried by the widespread concern and claims everything has gone swimmingly in his bid to shed the weight.
Speaking to MMA Junkie, he said: “If you guys can see my face everything went amazing,”
“I’m really excited, I’m really anxious actually to fight and perform.”
“As you guys can see I can make weight very easy.”
“Tomorrow morning I’m going to be the first one on the scale.”
“I believe in my team, I trust my team and we’ve got a nutritionist and we’ve been working diligently with a nutritionist,”
“The weight cut has been the easiest I’ve had in my life.”
“I’ve never felt that strong, that fast. It reignited a new Jose Aldo.”
“The old Jose Aldo is dead. It’s a new person, give me new goal.”
“I want to continue to make history and be a legend of the sport. We’ll be the champ at 135.”
Irish Support
Aldo is a legend in the Octagon, but since his disastrous defeat to Conor McGregor in 2015 his career has been less consistent.
Aldo was knocked out in just 13 seconds by Notorious when he lost the featherweight title, and has lost three more fights since.
But the Irishman has come out in full support as people continue to question Aldo’s choice.
Responding to a tweet of concern from ESPN’s Ariel Helwani, McGregor wrote: “I disagree here.
“He looks more than on top of it in my experienced opinion. Well trimmed in advance, and naturally a lighter man now.”
“This can only be done over a long length of time and with complete dedication.”
“Respect! I wish him well and am excited to see him in this division.”
‘A New Jose Aldo’
With not long to go until the all-Brazilian showdown at UFC 245, people continue to analyse the former featherweight champion’s physique.
But Aldo is adamant the cut is the best move he could have made, and believes it will rejuvenate his career. He said: “It reignited my passion to be champion,”
“The last time I felt this quick and this explosive I was in the WEC so many years ago.”
“I feel very young, I feel reborn like a new Jose Aldo.”
“It’s the best thing I could’ve done.”
“I’m reignited and I have the passion to be here.”
“Mark my words: I’ll be the next 135-pound champion of the world.”
The decision to lose so much weight has produced a lot of questions, all of which will be answered when one Brazilian or the other comes out on top in Las Vegas.
(Featured image source: Twitter/ Aaron Bronsteter, TSN Sports and Instagram/ Conor McGregor)