Mendes on standby
Thursday 25 June 2015 08:46, UK
Conor McGregor's UFC championship fight will go ahead as planned despite Jose Aldo's injury, it has been confirmed.
The Irishman's featherweight title shot at UFC 189 on July 11 appeared to go up in smoke on Tuesday when news emerged that the champion Aldo sustained a rib injury in training.
But the fight, already hotly anticipated after McGregor stole Aldo's belt at a press conference earlier this year, will not be postponed despite initial fears around the severity of the Brazilian's injury. However, Chad Mendes will be drafted in to fight McGregor if Aldo's state worsens.
A UFC statement read: "In light of recent reports regarding the status of featherweight champion Jose Aldo, UFC has received official medical confirmation from several doctors that Aldo did not suffer a broken rib. Following a review of the scans, it has been determined that the champion suffered a bone bruise to his rib and cartilage injury during training.
"With this news, Aldo has expressed that he has every intention of facing Conor McGregor at UFC 189.
"While Aldo has indicated that he will compete in Las Vegas on July 11, UFC has confirmed a contingency plan. No 1 featherweight contender Chad Mendes will face McGregor for the interim UFC featherweight championship in the event Aldo cannot compete."
