‘My Dream Was To Become Champion’

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Jose Aldo has plenty of fight left in him.

The 37-year-old legend didn’t miss a beat in his return to action at UFC 301 two weekends ago (May 4, 2024). Tasked with Bantamweight contender, Jonathan Martinez, Aldo kept turning back the clock as he picked apart his foe en route to a clear unanimous decision win. Despite retiring from mixed martial arts (MMA) in 2022, Aldo had to fight out his UFC contract with this last appearance.

The former two-time UFC Featherweight champion is now in the midst of free agency negotiations. Aldo says he has “several offers on the table,” but is just now starting to speak with UFC and see what they’re willing to give.

“It all depends now what they will present me and what the plan for the future is,” Aldo said on The MMA Hour. “I don’t think money is the matter now, we’re not thinking about that. We’re thinking about what I can do and where can I go. That’s what we have to see now. My dream was to become champion and I’ve trained for that, my body is prepared for that. Everyone saw what I did in my return, I did a bit of everything. I was a complete MMA fighter. I’m feeling great to do even more. Who knows, to be the champion in the future.”

Aldo has had three boxing matches between his previous two MMA fights. Two were professional with the other as an exhibition. The Brazilian legend won two via unanimous decision and went to a majority draw against Jeremy Stephens in his initial pro match.

A boxing match against Neeraj Goyat was admittedly agreed to by Aldo before his Martinez fight came together. The match would have taken place at the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson event in Arlington, Texas on July 20, 2024.