Jose Aldo wants to avenge knockout loss to Conor McGregor at lightweight

Jose Aldo is not completely satisfied with being UFC featherweight champion.

The UFC announced on Saturday that Conor McGregor would “relinquish” the UFC featherweight title, which would make Aldo the champion, while Anthony Pettis and Max Holloway will compete for the interim featherweight title at UFC 206.

“I was always the champion and will always be as long as I’m in the featherweight division,” Aldo told Brazilian TV show Planeta SporTV. “No matter what happens, I will always be the champion. I had no doubt about it. The moment I lost, I knew the belt would be mine. It was a matter of time. It’s not the way I wanted, but I’m happy because I know I’m the champion.”

Although Aldo said that it wasn’t the way he wanted to become champion again, he isn’t surprised by how it all transpired.

“I knew that would happen,” Aldo said. “To me, I never stopped being champion. I lost that fight because of an accident. I knew that I would win a rematch, that I would be champion again. It’s not my fault that he’s such a [expletive] he was never the champion. I don’t see myself losing to anyone in this division or any other (division).”

Although being champion may sound good to many, it’s not totally good news for Aldo. Despite reclaiming the 145-pound throne, he still looks to avenge his 13-second knockout loss to McGregor last December. But he’ll likely have to square off with the winner of Pettis-Holloway first to unify the titles.

“First, I want to defend my title, and then go after a fight with him (at lightweight),” Aldo said. “Just like Dana (White) said, we can choose who we want to fight, so I want to fight him. That’s what will happen.”