If you know me you know I've been a self-proclaimed Aldo die-hard for as long as I can remember. Hell I even succumbed to buying a Reebok t-shirt cause it had his face on it... Dedication? I'd say so. It's also no secret that I have never been much of a McGregor fan. Yet I must admit I have recently found myself enjoying his antics more oftentimes than not... Fook!
With the announcement of UFC 205: Alvarez vs McGregor came word of Aldo's desire to be released from the UFC. Regardless of where you stand I think this represents a thought provoking point in UFC history. I know a lot of people feel Aldo's complaints are unwarranted.. he fails to show up, got knocked out Yada Yada.. (thanks Seinfeld). Even if you think Aldo is merely whining you can't deny this makes what it means to be a title holder and the obligations that should entail worth thinking about.
More than anything I feel the continued McGregor show is a good showing of how star power of his caliber and this sport can intersect within the UFC. Presumably the main goal of any fighter who joins the UFC is to attain and keep the glory that comes with the gold (traditionally respective to their weight class). While the UFC is allowing McGregor to break these traditional barriers they are also trivializing the FW belt and arguably Aldo's entire reign. This is a man who reigned supreme in the FW division from WEC to UFC for years with rematch hopes now lost at the expense of McGregor's ambitions. Do I blame the UFC? No. After all the UFC is a business they are not a non-profit organization with a mission of upholding the integrity of this sport and each of its divisions. Still, it can be stomach ache inducing for an Aldo fan like myself.
Another discussion worthy aspect of this dilemma is what it means for competing organizations. While the UFC has been credited with monopolizing this sport deteriorating fighter-UFC relations like this one play an interesting role. Though Aldo has contract obligations and claims he no longer wants to fight, it's interesting when you hear of Wanderlei inviting him to Rizin combined with Bellator rumors. With personalities like Rory Macdonald and Chael Sonnen joining new ranks, it will be interesting to see if this trend continues and if it changes the current landscape.
Overall McGregor represents what it means to be a superstar in this sport. It's not all bad, Diaz did score some good paper. Still when a fighter of Aldo's caliber apparently wants to leave... it makes you think.
PS: If you read this far you deserve to be fed pizza on a throne. Also... Team Alvarez!