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Five things to know about McGregor's next opponent

As MMAFighting.com's Ariel Helwani said on Off The Ball last night, it really was interestin...
Newstalk
Newstalk

23.50 19 Jan 2015


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Five things to know about McGr...

Five things to know about McGregor's next opponent

Newstalk
Newstalk

23.50 19 Jan 2015


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As MMAFighting.com's Ariel Helwani said on Off The Ball last night, it really was interesting to see how quickly Conor McGregor's focus switched to his next opponent Jose Aldo after beating Dennis Siver yesterday morning.

Leaping out of the Octagon to confront the Brazilian face-to-face, Helwani noted how serene Aldo seemed despite the obvious provocation.

But what do we know about the man standing between McGregor and the UFC featherweight title?

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1. As Helwani mentioned on air last night, Aldo's powerful kicking ability will have been helped by his early interest in soccer. The 28-year-old had aspirations to play professionally and once togged out for a local side in his home city of Manaus.

Indeed, in a charity match before Christmas, he even managed a fancy bit of skill against Brazil and Barcelona star Neymar:

 

2. Much has been made about Aldo's nine-year unbeaten stretch. It also makes for more impressive reading when you look at a record which reads 26 professional fights, 25 wins.

His only defeat came in November 2005 against Luciano Azevado in Manaus, falling to a near-naked choke submission in Round 2:

 

3. Since winning the WEC Featherweight title (later merged with the UFC belt) in 2009, Aldo has enjoyed nine straight successful title defences. The most recent was in October against American Chad Mendes, who is ranked No 1 in the UFC's pound-for-pound rankings.

It went to five rounds in Rio de Janiero, but Aldo won by a unanimous decision.

4. Aldo has a distinctive scar on the left side of his face which was caused by an accident involving a barbecue.

During the 1986 World Cup, Aldo was placed in a play-pen his father and his older sister pushed him onto the barbecue by accident while playing.

 

5. He has suffered from problems with kidney stones since his teenage years according to his coach, Andre Pederneiras. Last year Aldo was hospitalised, before expelling a stone. 

 


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