UFC featherweight champion Jose Also has withdrawn from the 11 July title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena with Conor McGregor due to a rib injury.
Chad Mendes (17-2), who has twice before fought for the title, will step in for Aldo to fight McGregor (17-2) for what will now be an interim title. Aldo (25-1) will face the winner of the bout for the title proper upon his return from injury.
The UFC today announced an event scheduled for the 3 Arena, Dublin, on 24 October of this year. In light of talk of a future fight between Aldo and McGregor in Dublin, there is likely to be speculation of a McGregor-Aldo match-up taking place in Dublin on that date, should McGregor come past the challenge of Mendes.
However, talk of a European title fight between the two athletes could be off the mark due to the time difference between the US and Ireland and knock-on effects in terms of decreasing revenue from pay-per-view TV subscriptions and advertising interest. More likely would be Aldo versus the winner of McGregor/Mendes in Las Vegas or at an east-coast US venue this coming autumn.
UFC president Dana White revealed news of Aldo's withdrawal on Tuesday night, saying: "Aldo's rib is too painful and he will not be fighting. Chad Mendes will fight Conor McGregor for the interim belt.
"It's [Aldo's] decision. I don't feel great about it. We've spent a lot of money promoting this fight and a lot of people were excited. It's definitely disappointing."
On hearing the news, Dubliner McGregor said: "If a man is scared for his life, we can not force him to step inside and fight me.
"Doctors have cleared him to fight - it's a bruise - but he still pulled out. Rightfully so, the belt should be taken from him and we will contest for the interim belt or, in my opinion, the real belt."
Mendes and McGregor share an identical MMA record of 17 wins and two defeats apiece, albeit that Mendes is four years older than the Irish fighter.
The American has twice fought Aldo for the featherweight title, losing by knockout in 2012 and unanimous decision in 2014. He will come into the McGregor fight on the back of a TKO victory over Ricardo Lamas.
Mendes is the third-ranked fighter in the division, one ahead of McGregor in the rankings, and many observers had called for the fight to be billed in advance of McGregor being scheduled to fight Brazilian Aldo.
#ICYMI: Aldo Out. Mendes In against McGregor at #UFC189: http://t.co/IhgZaolCf8 pic.twitter.com/YTSdH8ccvu
— UFC United Kingdom (@UFC_UK) July 1, 2015The Hanford-born fighter is a renowned wrestler, and was twice voted an NCAA All American in the Olympic sport.
McGregor's coach John Kavanagh, speaking to MMA journalist Ariel Helwani about the change of card, simply responded: "Nothing has changed. Belt is ours."
McGregor also spoke about new opponent Mendes in his typical fashion: "I'm gonna demolish him. I'm gonna rip his head off.
"I am confident going in against any man on the roster. I feel I am number one on the roster. That is why an opponent change does not matter.
"Essentially the opponent is an illusion in there. It's you versus you, so it doesn't matter who is across from me 11 July. I will charge forward, I will put the pressure on, and I will get the victory."
