The Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes bout has stumbled upon yet another minor roadblock as the reigning featherweight champion was sent to the hospital for kidney stones. It was clarified, however, that the rematch against Chad "Money" Mendes is still pushing through.
The Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes rematch was originally slated as the headliner for UFC 176 last August 2nd, but was postponed after the champion suffered a neck injury during training.
Consequently, the Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes fight was moved to October 25th for UFC 179, in Brazil.
In an interview with Aldo's coach Andre Pederneiras for Brazil's media outlet Combate, it was established that the 28-year old fighter had been suffering from the same illness since his teenage years.
"Aldo has this renal calculi issue since he was 16 years old. After his fight against 'Korean Zombie,' he also expelled a stone. Same thing last week," Pederneiras said. "It started with a little pain, he was then hospitalized, took some serum and anti-inflammatory, and then he expelled the stone.
It was not the first time Jose Aldo went down from the said illness. In August 2013, the long-time mixed martial arts featherweight champion was also brought to the hospital after suffering from the same ailment right after his title bout with "The Korean Zombie" Chan Sung Jung.
The postponement of the Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes rematch from its original date has fueled the animosity between both combatants. Right after Aldo pulled out of the August date, Mendes quickly fanned the flames by insinuating that his adversary was on performance enhancing drugs.
"I definitely do [think Aldo's using PEDs]," Mendes said. "This is something that's been ongoing, but for him to all of a sudden just drop out -- I mean he drops out of a lot of fights -- but I think it's pretty coincidental."
But in a report by MMA Fighting, the rematch will be pushing through, as Aldo was released from the hospital the same day he was brought in.
