Jose Aldo says he and rival Conor McGregor have a ‘friendly relationship’ when the cameras are off

Former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo has had his long documented history with Conor McGregor, who took the belt from him at UFC 194.

With the two putting in the extra hours of media obligations and hype for their featherweight title fight after Aldo had to initially pull out due to injury, the two finally met in the Octagon at UFC 194.

Aldo, the only champion the division ever had prior to UFC 194 lost by knockout against the Irish superstar in just 13-seconds. Aldo has kept the rivalry alive with some smack talk about “The Notorious” and says the Irishman got “lucky” in their fight. Aldo made things even more interesting when he won the UFC featherweight interim belt against Frankie Edgar at UFC 200 in July, setting him up for a rematch with McGregor if he ever decides to defend his title.

Even with all the talk and antics that went down between the two, Aldo surprised a lot of people when he said that he and “The Notorious” have a respectful, friendly relationship when the cameras and media aren’t around.

“It’s a friendly relationship. I don’t have a problem with him trying to promote himself,” Aldo said on the “Revista Combate” television show (transcribed by Bloody Elbow). “If we take a look at it money-wise, it was pretty good. I think there should be more fighters like him at featherweight. I’m not his friend, though. He can go his way and I can go mine.”

Aldo explained that McGregor can turn his character on at the flip of a switch when he knows cameras or media are present.

“I’ve seen him staring at a wall, looking at nothing with everyone around him trying to taunt him and he would just stand there, gazing. He’s a regular, mellow guy, but if he sees a camera or some Irish people, he transforms in a such way that makes you say to yourself ‘son of a bitch'”.

“One day we were hanging out and he said he was going to get the coffee and I said I wanted mine with sugar and he said something like ‘nice’. Most of the times we met, there was always someone recording us, though, so he had to keep his persona up. With no cameras, he changes completely.”

Do you think Conor McGregor will defend his featherweight title and rematch Jose Aldo? Share your thoughts on the potential rematch in the comment section!