Aside from the fact that it’s a fantastic match-up, the announcement that Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar will meet for a second time in an interim featherweight title fight at UFC 200 came as great news for another reason.

Simply put, it may finally give the pair something else to talk about other than Conor McGregor.

The two veterans and their respective camps have been relentless in their attacks on the SBG fighter over the last number of months. Aldo, deeply wounded by his 13 second defeat to McGregor in December, has been consumed with the idea of redemption. While Edgar has come across just as obsessed with the reigning 145lb champion, who he feels has been ducking him.

It has become a tiresome routine to say the least, and fans will be delighted with the respite.

Don’t expect their McGregor bashing to cease entirely however, after all the winner has been promised a shot at the Irishman and the featherweight title that he is holding onto for dear life. But at least it might divert some of their focus in another direction.

In fact, there have already been indications that Frankie and Jose’s minds have started, only just, to emerge from the fog of pursuit.

Speaking to Fox Sports recently, Edgar was singing the right tune and seemed to have his sights set firmly on the difficult task that lies ahead of him. Although the spectre of McGregor still loomed large.

“I’ve got Jose on my mind 24/7 now,” said Edgar. “He’s the most dominant featherweight that we’ve ever had. He stumbled his last fight but he’s still dangerous. I know he wants to get back at Conor and I know I want a chance at Conor as well so I’m definitely excited for this fight”.

“It was a close fight(his first bout with Aldo), a lot of people feel I may have won or it was super close and just to have a chance at redemption is always a good thing”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sk3OqXhIO_0

Many have speculated that Aldo’s mindset may have been seriously effected by his quick loss to McGregor and that the Brazilian might not be the same fighter as a result. Though he acknowledged the possibility, Edgar doesn’t subscribe to the theory and expects the South American “Scarface” to be back at his best in time for July.

“He could be second-guessing himself. Conor threw one punch and it’s over in 13 seconds, that’s a tough pill to swallow and we’ve got a lot of pride as competitors. That eats at your pride and your ego. He’s going to have to deal with all these emotions leading up to this. He didn’t lose for 10 years, he’s a winner and I’m sure he’ll bounce back. I’m expecting this fight to be all it’s cracked up to be”. “It’s going to be over three years at this point (since the last fight). I’m very comfortable, I feel like I’m coming into my own more and more and I’m coming in there to finish him 100 percent. He has a lot to try and bounce back from and he’s going to have a lot of pressure on him but I feel like it’s my time right now.”

In between burning effigies of “The Notorious” one, Jose Aldo also spoke a little about his date with “The Answer” recently, during a media scrum in Rio de Janeiro(via MMAFighting).

He seemed to be finding it a little harder to quit his habit, however.

“We asked for a rematch(with McGregor),” said the former featherweight champion. “For everything I’ve done, all the years as champion, I deserved a rematch, but what can I do? I had to accept. We’re not the ones making the call. We’ll go there and win. I respect Frankie Edgar, but it’s our first step towards the belt”.

Eventually though, he got around to the matter at hand and revealed that the prospect of a battle with the former 155lb ruler had given him renewed motivation.

“It’s a bit frustrating, of course, because we expected the title fight, but it’s kind of what they said they would do, that we would fight Frankie Edgar for the belt, but it’s not the undisputed belt. But what can I do? We’re hired to go there and fight”.

“It(the interim title) means nothing” Aldo said. “I want the victory so I get the belt next. That’s the first step we’re taking. Interim belt is made for media and fans, not for me. I want the undisputed belt. I respect Frankie Edgar, but I’ll get there and win. This lit that fire again, this desire to go there and win”.

Aldo vs Edgar 2 promises to be an exciting and closely contested battle. In their first fight, Aldo started very quickly and got out to an early lead. Edgar clawed his way back into things in the later rounds, but on the judges scorecards it was too little too late. Many, however, felt that the American did enough over the final 3 sessions to deserve the win.

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