Morning Report: Jose Aldo looks to 'seriously injure' Conor McGregor, 'You'll see his mask fall down soon'

UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo still isn't a big fan of interim champ Conor McGregor.

Before he faces McGregor Dec. 12 at UFC 194, Aldo attended a roundtable at the 2015 Rio Sports & Health conference. As the discussion inevitably turned to his opponent, Aldo didn't sound like he's losing sleep over "The Notorious."

Aldo was originally set to tangle with McGregor in July at UFC 189, but a controversial rib injury forced fellow contender Chad Mendes to step in for the champ on 18 days notice. Mendes did an admirable job standing in, but ultimately suffered a TKO late in round two.

"After we saw his fight against Chad, we could see that everything was working out as planned and that we would win the fight. I mean, we will win the fight," Aldo said at the conference (via Sherdog). "Be sure that I'll put my hands on him like I've never put my hands on any other opponent.

"I can just see the win ahead of me, and I'm going after it. I'm not going to lose focus. Of course, I'm going to leave him seriously injured and bring my belt back."

Believing McGregor's vibrant personalty to be a facade, Aldo says McGregor broke character when he surprised him during a visit to the set of The Ultimate Fighter.

"Whenever he sees a camera, he starts to play the character and put on a show, but when he met me without cameras or an audience, he didn't say anything," said Aldo. "I could see that during filming, when I got into the house and he was not being advised. He came to shake my hand, and I thought the fight would start right there.

"I heard he even went to complain to [UFC President] Dana White and [UFC CEO] Lorenzo Fertitta about not telling him I was going to be there. You'll see his mask fall down soon."

Aldo looks to unify the featherweight title against McGregor Dec. 12 at UFC 194 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

5 MUST-READ STORIES

More high praise. Tristar head coach Firas Zahabi says UFC lightweight Sage Northcutt "reminds me a lot" of a young Georges St-Pierre.

Join the team. UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman signs Reebok endorsement deal and lands his own line of signature shoes.

'The whole thing is a bummer.' CM Punk says he "dodged a bullet" with his shoulder injury and won't require surgery.

Calling it a career. Longtime Bellator vet Rick Hawn (here) and UFC heavyweight Soa Palelei (here) retire from mixed martial arts.

Update. Nova Uniao leader Andre Pederneiras discusses whether or not former UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao will move up in weight and what's next for strawweight contender Claudia Gadelha.

Watch The MMA Hour with Chris Weidman in studio, CM Punk, Yoel Romero, Firas Zahabi, Paddy Holohan, Nick Newell and Rick Hawn.

MEDIA STEW

Free Fight: Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs Jessica Penne.

Dan Hardy breaks down Dustin Poirier vs. Joseph Duffy.

Robbie Lawler and Rory MacDonald get the Street Fighter treatment.

(via r/MMA)

GLORY heavyweight champ Rico Verhoeven making his MMA debut against Viktor Boguttzki at RXF 20. Full event here.

Quinton Jackson calls up Donald Cerrone.

TTTHS.

Long watches.

TWEETS

Beef.

Take as much time as you want, the fire inside of me won't be dying down anytime soon. #AndStill

— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) October 20, 2015

Of course they give Sage Cody Pfister, the worst lightweight on the roster. Smfh

— Kevin Lee (@MoTownPhenom) October 19, 2015

I will take my time. I've been fighting against the best in the world not dealing with nonsense. Our time is coming. #growup #urnotakid

— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) October 20, 2015

@sagenorthcutt you can't be protected forever

— Kevin Lee (@MoTownPhenom) October 19, 2015

You probably never heard of Pfister but he's the guy on the ground...... And he's comain in a Las Vegas UFC event. pic.twitter.com/eFkhJ9MZ4o

— Kevin Lee (@MoTownPhenom) October 19, 2015

Hey @AliAbdelaziz00 so you think your champs can beat our champs? Well after I beat Held in a few weeks I'm volunteering... #champ champ

— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) October 20, 2015

#paigeandsage.

Yougins taking over!!! @sagenorthcutt let's do this!!! #ufcvegas DECEMBER 10th!! pic.twitter.com/GsJY4iIel5

— Paige VanZant (@PaigeVanzantUFC) October 19, 2015

They even gave them their celebrity couple name and put it on the poster I love it!!!! #PaigeAndSage

— Cathal Pendred (@Pendred) October 19, 2015

Congrats.

Super pumped to be part of such an amazing team, go check out all the gear at http://t.co/Mp0xAEuD9W<http://t.co/Mp0xAEuD9W>

— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) October 19, 2015

Proud to announce a partnership between @Reebok and @SBG_Ireland #CombatTraining #CentreofExcellence

— Coach Kavanagh (@John_Kavanagh) October 19, 2015

Get well soon.

First day back in the gym after surgery. Just a light workout. I'll work around my left arm.... https://t.co/N5dYzRGdMP

— michael (@bisping) October 19, 2015

More cuts.

Just letting my fans know that I've been cut from UFC for the time being due to being an inactive fighter. (Injuries and family matters)

— TJ Waldburger (@TJWaldburger) October 19, 2015

First goal is to heal up and get back to training. My family is relocating to the Dallas area to be with my brother who is battling cancer.

— TJ Waldburger (@TJWaldburger) October 19, 2015

I'm excited to see what doors the move will open for me and my career. I can't wait to come back a bigger and better fighter. #MMA #Dallas

— TJ Waldburger (@TJWaldburger) October 19, 2015

Bad news everyone. Over the weekend I was informed that I was released from the UFC. There's a short statement here https://t.co/omS0b1783L

— David Michaud (@bulldawgUFC) October 19, 2015

With all of these people getting released from the UFC. The regional circuits are about to get really competitive!

— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) October 20, 2015

Happy holidays.

The new #StarWarstrailer makes me want to laugh and cry at the same time. It has all the Star Wars magic. #Goosebumps

— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) October 20, 2015

Is it shunned upon to officially become a #StarWars fan, just from watching that movie trailer? The effects were dope! #NYGvsPHI

— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) October 20, 2015

Seriously considered skipping training to get the first look at new #starwars trailer. But alas... https://t.co/mjSbrNrzPQ

— Sean O'Connell (@realOCsports) October 20, 2015

Halloween pic.twitter.com/MbGBLqihb8

— Sage Northcutt (@sagenorthcutt) October 19, 2015

Book it.

Yep . If you are willing to take the spot lets fo it !! Tons of respect for you !!#ufconfox18 #january30th https://t.co/wshbAI1pXL

— patrick cote (@patrick_cote) October 19, 2015

Nothing but respect and I'm always up for a challenge, let's do it @patrick_cote @ufc

— Neil Magny (@NeilMagny) October 19, 2015

Dang.

Well this is a first. Lol. Got some fan mail today, but I think my picture is a little off @Mike___McDonald pic.twitter.com/owpbzQkqvj

— Michael McDonald (@MaydayMcDonald) October 19, 2015

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced yesterday (Oct. 19 2015)

Sage Northcutt vs. Cody Pfister at UFC Fight Night: VanZant vs. Calderwood

Edgar Garcia vs. Sheldon Westcott at UFC 195

Found something you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we'll include it in tomorrow's column.