Jose Aldo has been around long enough to know that there are rules to follow, and such include instances wherein a fighter would end up moving up a weight.
Under normal circumstances, a champion would be asked to vacate his previous title for any intention to compete in a separate division. However, an exemption has been made recently for Conor McGregor who will remain Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) featherweight champion despite the fact that he will be challenging lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos this March for UFC 197.
The reason behind it is simple — McGregor is a big name and crowd drawer and Dana White and company have considered that such is more than enough to make him an exemption.
McGregor could end up a champion for two divisions should he defeat dos Anjos and such would be a first for the UFC. Then again if he loses, he is still champion (featherweight) and life goes on. To make it simple, it is a win-win situation for the Irishman.
Aldo, the same fighter whom McGregor finished off in just 13 seconds at UFC 194 decries the power vested on McGregor. He bares through the Daily Mirror that the contract they signed called for the winner to indeed fight at lightweight but would need to abandon the featherweight title.
Now, it seems the UFC has railroaded a bit and the reason behind is simple — McGregor packs the stands and is a big draw for the company. He does talk a lot, but the thing is he delivers.
That is, apparently, why the UFC has made him an exemption because they know he can do things despite the odds and such the looming possibility of making UFC history if he is able to defeat dos Anjos.
Aldo knows that he is not in the limelight right now, but at some point in the future, he will get his chance to avenge his UFC 194 loss. But with Frankie Edgar the top contender right now, his turn could take some time.
