In disappointing news from the UFC, featherweight champion and No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter Jose Aldo may be forced out of the UFC 189 headliner vs. Conor McGregor with a fractured rib.
Aldo’s coach Andre Pederneiras described Aldo as “heartbroken” about his injury, and did not seem optimistic about the fight moving forward on July 11. If Aldo isn’t cleared by doctors to fight through the injury, he’s likely to be shelved for three months to recover.
"He cried. He wants this fight bad, everybody invested a lot in this. I was with him the whole afternoon. He's heartbroken. He wants to fight anyway. Now we have to wait for the exam results. Aldo is in deep pain,” Pederneiras said.
“If the fracture is really confirmed, Aldo will have to stop training, do nothing for three or four weeks until it's fixed, and then he would be able to do any exercise without forcing his rib. And then he would need a normal time to do a training camp: three months. I believe this fight wouldn't happen before October."
The fight was one of the most anticipated bouts of the year, largely because of McGregor’s knack for self-promotion. He is either the company’s most entertaining fighter or biggest villain depending on any fan’s individual tolerance for boasting. He has skyrocketed up the UFC ranks—undeservedly so in some circles—and this bout was built as either a crowning of a new MMA king or a showboat being brought back to Earth.
Instead, UFC fans will probably have to settle for a replacement. Here are the three top options.
Chad Mendes
Mendes fought very recently—April 4—but if Aldo can’t go, there isn’t a higher-quality opponent McGregor could face. Mendes is one of the top fighters in all of the UFC; he just simply has not been able to conquer Aldo. He would have every bit the chance to silence McGregor as Aldo would, and hardcore UFC fans’ interest in this card would remain piqued.
The biggest problem here would be preparation. Unlike when the UFC plucked Daniel Cormier off a card to replace Jon Jones, Cormier had not just come off a training camp and a fight. The timing makes it hard for Mendes to take on such a quality opponent as McGregor.
Frankie Edgar
After three straight losses in 2012-2013 for Edgar, he has rebuilt his stock in a big way over his next four fights. Edgar has won two decisions, submitted an opponent, and knocked one out, showcasing versatility. He is not the physical beast Mendes is, but he’s absolutely a step up in competition from the likes of Denis Siver that McGregor has been dominating.
If McGregor can handle Edgar—or dominate him—it would go a long way toward legitimizing him in the eyes of his detractors. That would make the eventual clash with Aldo an even bigger deal than it already is.
Cub Swanson
Swanson was a rising star until two big speed bumps named Frankie Edgar and Max Holloway derailed him. His relevance is fading fast, so he might make for an interesting replacement to take on McGregor. He will be desperate, and desperation makes for entertainment. He’s also clearly vulnerable, so he could make McGregor look very good, this maintaining the buzz for the inevitable McGregor-Aldo clash.
On the flip side, he’s also a very talented and versatile fighter that poses a real threat to McGregor, who has yet to prove his chops vs. top opposition.
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