Jose Aldo is once again the UFC featherweight champion, and there doesn’t appear to be anymore discussion regarding his retirement.
Aldo spoke with media in Brazil recently and indicated he is looking to defend the his championship in either February or March. Barring injury, that bout should be against the winner of Max Holloway vs. Anthony Pettis from UFC 206.
Conor McGregor Vacates Featherweight Championship
“I think both are very tough fights for him, either at lightweight with Khabib (Nurmagomedov) or a rematch with me. So he chose to let go of mine. It’s no problem. Of course, first I want to do a (title) defense and then, yes, I will want to pursue a fight with (McGregor).” Aldo stated to the Brazilian media.
The news that he is once again the featherweight champion must be bittersweet to some degree for Aldo. While again is champion of the division he had previously ruled since its inception, it makes the possibility of a rematch with Conor less likely. Conor won’t take a rematch with Aldo until it is the most financially rewarding bout for him, which may never happen.
“To me, I never stopped being champion. I lost that fight because of an accident. I knew that I would win a rematch, that I would be champion again. It’s not my fault that he’s such a pu–y he was never the champion. I don’t see myself losing to anyone in this division or any other (division).” Aldo stated to UFC’s Brazil website recently.
Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor at Lightweight
“First, I want to defend my title, and then go after a fight with him (Conor at lightweight)”
There is nothing stopping Aldo from moving up in weight and chasing Conor in the lightweight division. Though considering Conor’s track record of defending titles, there is no guarantee Aldo would be able to get a title shot no matter how many lightweights he defeats.
According to Aldo however, his plan at the moment is to defend his championship in February or March and then move up in weight to chase a rematch with Conor.
Before his loss to Conor at UFC 194, Aldo had been as dominant a champion as almost anyone in history. With 7 title defences to his name, Aldo is only 3 wins away from tying Anderson Silva’s record for all time title defences (though not consecutively). Current flyweight division champion, Demetrious Johnson, has 8 title defences and has been eyeing Silva’s record as well.
Jose Aldo in 2017
Now that his somewhat insincere attempts at retiring appear to be over, 2017 should be a big year for Aldo.
His first fight in February or March against either Pettis or Holloway has fight of the year candidate written all over it. After that fight if Aldo can’t get a fight with Conor, he would have a chance at tying Silva’s all time title defence record before the end of the year with just two more victories.
