By Damon Martin

Max Holloway knew he was fighting against the odds when he stepped into the Octagon back in June to face Jose Aldo with the UFC featherweight title on the line.

Not only was Holloway facing the longest-reigning 145-pound champion in history, but he was also trying to defeat Aldo on his native soil in front of more than 15,000 Brazilian fans cheering on their hometown hero in Rio de Janeiro.

The cards were seemingly stacked in Aldo's favor in every way possible at UFC 212, yet Holloway defied those odds and came away as the undisputed champion following a third-round TKO.

Fast forward six months later, and Holloway will now defend his title against Aldo after the former champion stepped up on short notice to accept a rematch at UFC 218 in Detroit on Dec. 2 following an injury to Frankie Edgar. 

With the fight now just over a week away, Aldo was asked on Tuesday during a media conference call to describe the biggest difference for him now versus the fight back in June. Aldo was also asked why he's confident he will leave the Little Caesar's Arena as champion once again. 

"It's going to be different because I'm motivated. I'm very well trained right now. I'm really focused. I believe that it's going to be a different ending from the first fight," Aldo said. 

"He is coming in as the champion right now. He was the challenger before. Now I'm the guy who's going in there and challenging to win the belt again. That's really what's motivating me. To be able to re-accomplish this and get my belt back."

While Holloway holds no ill will toward Aldo, those comments absolutely baffled the reigning champion, especially when considering the conditions surrounding the first fight.

"This guy's talking about motivation, how motivated he is for the belt," Holloway said. "I have no idea when people talk about motivation. This guy, I fought him in his hometown this last one. He was the champion and for him to be saying motivation — now he feels way more motivated. If fighting for your country and fighting in front of your people, defending your belt is not enough motivation, what's going on?

"This guy's talking about motivation and stuff. It just blows my mind. I'm motivated. I don't care if it was him. I don't care who it was. I was ready for the next guy up, and line them up and I'll knock them down."

When the question was reversed and posed to Holloway, he never blinked.

The way Holloway sees it, Aldo just happened to be the unlucky person who drew the short straw to face him at UFC 218 in Detroit. 

"I'm motivated. The belt is great. You know what comes with the belt? Bigger payday, pay-per-views and a lot more stuff, but a belt is a belt. A fight is a fight," Holloway said. 

"I ain't trying to go out there and get my butt whooped in front of millions of people watching at home, thousands of people [in the arena]. That's not what I'm about. I'm in the hurt business. I'm out there, I want to get mine and I want to win. I don't care who I fight.