Jose Aldo Talks Controversial Strikes, UFC 179 Highlights, Dana White On If Conor McGregor Is Next
- Jose Aldo showed the true warrior spirit Saturday night at UFC 179, turning back the challenge of Chad Mendes and successfully defending his featherweight title. You can see highlights from the main event in the video above.
Aldo earned his seventh title defense and remained unbeaten since 2005, withstanding a barrage of attacks in the middle rounds from Mendes. The Brazilian was left with a badly damaged eye and other injuries, but earned the win by taking four of the five rounds on all three scorecards.
- At one point during the UFC 179 main event, Jose Aldo appeared to land a nasty combination that dropped Chad Mendes. The problem: the strikes were well after the bell sounded to end the round. Aldo wasn't deducted a point, as the referee explained on Twitter he couldn't hear the sound due to the loudness of the Brazilian fans.
"At times (Saturday), I could not even hear 10 second warnings," referee Marc Goddard wrote on Twitter. "I could not even hear the bell. I had to watch the close & the fighters."
Aldo stated much the same during his post-fight interview on FOX Sports 2, saying "I was waiting for the ref to stop the round. I could not hear it."
UFC president Dana White was Octagon-side for the contest and you could see him react as if the fight was over when Aldo hit Mendes. He also said the crowd was deafening inside the Rio de Janeiro, Brazil arena.
"You couldn't hear the bell go off here," he said. "It was so loud in the arena. I didn't hear it. My phone was blowing up afterward saying it was a cheap shot, but you couldn't hear the bell."
- What could be next for Jose Aldo after he defeated Chad Mendes? Rest, says UFC president Dana White. After that, maybe Conor McGregor.
McGregor, who was in Brazil for Saturday's card, is set to meet Dennis Siver in Boston this January on FOX Sports 1 at a Fight Night event. If he gets past that, a title shot could be in his future.
"Jose just finished this fight," said White, during an interview on FOX Sports 2. "We could have a fight between those guys in summer. Jose's pretty banged up and he takes time off after his title fights. McGregor has got to get past Dennis first."