Jose Aldo shares advice for Conor McGregor after ‘sad’ knee injury

Jose Aldo has offered advice to Conor McGregor regarding his future at lightweight following McGregor's ACL injury during a July rematch with Max Holloway. McGregor announced he was "confident" after undergoing knee surgery in August, but Aldo believes the Irishman should return to 155 pounds rather than pursue his recent welterweight campaign.

"I think first he needs to go through some dietary re-education to see if he can get back down and be lighter again," Aldo told MMA Fighting. "I think, in my opinion, he has the frame for 155, so it would be good." Aldo noted that a return to the lightweight division at this moment could prove lucrative, as the title picture remains unsettled following Ilia Topuria's loss to Justin Gaethje at middleweight.

McGregor's current coach, John Kavanagh, previously suggested that welterweight (170 pounds) is now a comfortable weight class for the fighter and that cutting an additional 15 pounds to return to lightweight would require "something really big" to justify. Aldo disagreed, pointing out that McGregor has added significant muscle mass over the years, making his current frame uncertain.

Aldo has fought both McGregor and Holloway at featherweight in UFC title bouts and expressed disappointment at how their anticipated rematch concluded. "It's sad because of the injury," Aldo said. "Everyone waited for him to come back, and then he comes back, you have that fight week, everyone is excited, millions and millions of people, and then when the time comes, that happens." While wishing McGregor a full recovery, Aldo acknowledged uncertainty about whether the fighter will return to peak form after his extended absence.