Jose Aldo’s return to the Octagon after the best part of two years couldn’t have gone much better.
The Brazilian underscored his status as the so-called ‘King of Rio’ at UFC 301 on Saturday night, snapping Jonathan Martinez’ six-fight win streak in a clear-cut unanimous decision win which shows that the former two-time UFC featherweight champion still has some gas left in the tank.
The fight was the final bout on Aldo’s UFC contract, meaning that he is now technically a free agent but said that talks will be held with UFC brass over a possible extension — and maybe even a title shot.
“I always have to sit with the UFC, because in the contract, there is this, isn’t it? The UFC can match any offer that pops up,” Aldo said at the UFC 301 press conference in Rio de Janeiro, after translation, via MMA Fighting. “So, calm down, I think first we have to sit with Dana, have to see… and see what is the best path we can take.”
More than just an extension, though, Aldo says that working his way up to bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley isn’t outside the realm of possibility, even with Merab Dvalishvili — who defeated Aldo back in August 2022 — thought to be locked in as the next world title challenger.
“That’s what [my manager] says,” Aldo explained. “I can skip line, I can get in there, because when we left, we were very well ranked. I feel happy to be part of this card. I think we [are lucky to have ended up] here in Rio, right? Because when I started talking with the UFC [in] January, there were no plans of doing a UFC [event] in Rio, but thank God it worked.
“Not that I saved the card, but being able to come here and do a great show. I hope this can [help], can’t it? If we can skip the line, it would be great. I think that’s it. I’ll get some rest, and go back to strong training, and new challenges will come.”
And should further opportunities arrive in the UFC, Aldo said it could overrule his recent moves into boxing where he has competed twice since exiting the UFC 18 months or so ago.
“Yes, it can be [boxing], like I told you,” he said. “I received offers, I was sent a contract [for the Paul vs. Tyson card], but I said, ‘No, I’m with UFC, so I need to fight, I need to see how I am.’”
