Jose Aldo advises Conor McGregor to return at lightweight
The former UFC featherweight champion believes McGregor still has the frame to compete at 155 pounds and sees the division wide open.
Jose Aldo believes Conor McGregor should return to the UFC as a lightweight. The former UFC featherweight champion, who famously lost to McGregor in 2015, said the Irishman still has the ideal frame for 155 pounds and could quickly work his way back into title contention despite his long absence. McGregor made his last Octagon appearance at welterweight, where he was defeated by Max Holloway after suffering a knee injury.
Jose Aldo Sees Opportunity at Lightweight
McGregor won the UFC lightweight title in November 2016 by scoring a TKO victory over Eddie Alvarez. Since then, the "Notorious" has bounced between the lightweight and welterweight divisions, although he has fought only five times since defeating Alvarez.
In fact, McGregor has seen better days inside the cage. In recent years, the Irishman has gone 1-4 in the Octagon, losing his last three lightweight appearances.
Despite McGregor's recent setbacks at lightweight, Aldo believes the Irishman could still quickly climb the division if he manages to return to 155 pounds.
"Yeah, I think first he needs to go through some dietary re-education to see if he can get back down and be lighter again," Aldo told MMA Fighting. "I think, in my opinion, he has the frame for 155, so it would be good. And I'll tell you this: today, if Conor fights at 155 and beats a name (that isn't necessarily at the top), the division is wide open again."
Jose Aldo Hopes Conor McGregor Returns
Aldo and McGregor shared one of the most intense rivalries in UFC history. They met at UFC 194 in December 2015, when the Irishman knocked out Aldo in just 13 seconds to dethrone the longtime featherweight champion and snap his decade-long unbeaten streak.
Their rivalry, though, is in the past. Aldo has spoken respectfully of McGregor since they fought and has made it clear that he hopes his former foe can recover from his injury and return to action.
"Regardless of the outcome back when we fought, I always root for everyone to be able to fight, come back, and do their job," Aldo said. "It's sad because of the injury. [...] I hope he can come back, recover, and return to the Octagon."
McGregor successfully underwent surgery in August to repair a torn ACL and meniscus in his right knee following his injury against Holloway at UFC 329. For now, the Irishman faces a lengthy rehabilitation process and has no date set for his return to competition.
