Conor McGregor questions Jose Aldo's heart ahead of UFC 189 featherweight title bout in Las Vegas

Brazilian endured more taunts from the fiery Irishman, who has no doubt he will take the UFC featherweight title from his hands

Conor McGregor (GETTY IMAGES)

The already intense rivalry between Conor McGregor and Jose Aldo has ratcheted up a notch, with the Irishman claiming the incumbent champion doesn't have the same desire for the title.

Aldo is the UFC featherweight champion, and will defend his belt against the fiery McGregor in Las Vegas on May 11.

But the build-up has been dominated by McGregor, with the man self-styled as 'The Notorious' accusing the Brazilian of performance-enhancing drug use, claiming that PEDs may be 'part of Brazilian culture'.

In a promotional appearance in Dublin at the end of March, McGregor ripped the belt from Aldo's grasp, while UFC president Dana White, clad in an Irish rugby shirt, desperately tried to intervene.

Now the No 1 contender has stoked things further, insisting that Aldo simply does not share his hunger for success.

"He doesn't want to be near me, he doesn't want this the way I want it," McGregor said of Aldo, who will be making his eighth title defence.

"He can't hide the fact he doesn't want the belt in his presence."

McGregor earned his shot at the featherweight title by beating Dennis Siver by TKO on January 18 at UFC Fight Night 59, whereupon he mounted the cage to confront Aldo.