Jose Aldo is now one of many hottest free brokers in MMA, however he plans to take a seat down with Dana White and the UFC brass to debate his future following a powerful unanimous determination win in opposition to Jonathan Martinez within the co-main occasion of UFC 301.
The most important cause is as a result of he has to, primarily based on the language in his contract.
“I all the time have to take a seat with the UFC, as a result of within the contract, there’s this, isn’t it? The UFC can match any supply that pops up,” Aldo mentioned in Portuguese on the UFC 301 post-fight press convention. “So, settle down, I believe first we’ve got to take a seat with Dana, need to see … and see what’s the finest path we will take.”
Aldo returned for the primary time in practically two years to defeat Martinez on his dwelling turf in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was his first octagon look since dropping a call to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 278 in August 2022.
Regardless of dropping to Dvalishvili, who many imagine is the highest contender to face Sean O’Malley for the bantamweight title later this yr, Aldo can see a world the place he might probably skip the road to combat for the title ought to he re-sign with the promotion.
“That’s what [my manager] says — I can skip line, I can get in there, as a result of once we left, we had been very properly ranked,” Aldo mentioned. “I really feel blissful to be a part of this card. I believe we [are lucky to have ended up] right here in Rio, proper? As a result of after I began speaking with the UFC [in] January, there have been no plans of doing a UFC [event] in Rio, however thank God it labored.
“Not that I saved the cardboard, however with the ability to come right here and do an excellent present. I hope this could [help], can’t it? If we will skip the road, it could be nice. I believe that’s it. I’ll get some relaxation, and return to robust coaching, and new challenges will come.”
Aldo mentioned previous to his octagon return that he was supplied a combat on the upcoming Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing card on July 20 in Arlington, Texas. Whereas “The King of Rio” is open to that chance if it’s obtainable to him, the longtime featherweight champion will not be in any rush to make that call.
“Sure, it may be [boxing], like I advised you,” Aldo mentioned. “I obtained presents, I used to be despatched a contract [for the Paul vs. Tyson card], however I mentioned, ‘No, I’m with UFC, so I have to combat, I have to see how I’m.’
“Yeah, that’s an enormous one. It’s a window that opened to me. So, man, first, with all due respect, my life has all the time been right here. So I’ve to return and sit, and see what’s the finest path we will take.”
If Aldo sticks with the UFC, there are definitely compelling choices for him outdoors of a title combat — maybe in bouts with former champions Henry Cejudo and Dominick Cruz, or maybe a matchup with perennial contender Cory Sandhagen.
The truth is, Cejudo and Sandhagen had been names Aldo requested for previous to reserving his bout with Martinez.
“As unbelievable because it sounds, and I forgot to speak about this, I had requested to combat with Sandhagen, however [he] was damage, wasn’t he?” Aldo mentioned. “However earlier than that, I messaged Henry Cejudo speaking about this chance, however he had simply fought, and would undergo shoulder surgical procedure, man, in order that’s why it couldn’t occur right here in Rio both. That might have been Henry [or] Dominick, proper?
“So it was two guys we talked about lots for this to occur, however with Henry, I began [the process on my own], I texted him, I requested with all due respect [what] he considered doing this combat. Not right here in Rio, however anyplace else for me to return. And he mentioned no, he’s going by means of surgical procedure. In order that’s why it didn’t occur.”
