Jose Aldo will take on Pedro Munhoz at UFC 265 this weekend. The bantamweight duo will clash in the co-main event of the pay-per-view. As always, one name that comes up with the Brazilian is none other than Conor McGregor, who earned a 13-second knockout finish at UFC 194 over Aldo to win the UFC featherweight title.

At the time, Aldo was considered the pound-for-pound greatest and was undefeated for over a decade leading up to the fight. But McGregor’s notorious persona got into his mind. As the mind games were perhaps too much for the Brazilian legend to handle, he crumbled to defeat.

One might argue Aldo hasn’t been the same since. But he is in a new weight class and has a chance to put together a winning streak with a triumph against Munhoz.

Ahead of the fight, Aldo reflected upon McGregor’s injury at UFC 264. He believes the Irish fighter can certainly bounce back from the loss he suffered.

Jose Aldo voices support for Conor McGregor

Aldo knows McGregor like few others. He believes ‘The Notorious’ has the mindset of a champion and should be able to overturn his recent adversity.

“First of all, I’m upset with the injury. It’s quite hard, we work with our body, we try to keep it healthy because that way we can always be working,” said Aldo, empathizing with his former opponent.

“I think he can [get back to fighting at a high level]. I never doubt the champions, the mind and willpower of the champions. He has dominating before and was the lightweight and featherweight champion. It’s all up to him. If he wants to come back at a high level, he can do it,” he added further. (h/t MMA Fighting)

It is fascinating to see that there is still mutual respect between the duo despite all that has gone down. Aldo, however, is solely focused on getting a win this weekend at UFC 265, where he will have a stern test in ‘The Young Punisher‘. Can Jose Aldo win and advance in the bantamweight division?

Also Read: ‘Don’t Worry I’ll Be Back’- Cody Garbrandt Takes a Dig at Sean O’Malley Following His Flyweight Move