“King of Rio” is back! What should Jose Aldo accomplish at UFC 301?

To be clear, I'm very happy about it. Jose Aldo will be back in action this weekend (Saturday, May 4, 2024) at UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The Brazilian Hall of Famer didn't leave at the absolute pinnacle of his game, but that's because his pinnacle is one that mere mortals simply cannot reach. No, even in the youth division at 35 years old, Aldo walked away from his UFC career after barely losing. Merab Dvalishvili in a title eliminator matchup. Before that, Aldo defeated three ranked fighters in a row to build a better case for a title shot. TJ Dillashaw And his imploding shoulder.

In my experience, there is a direct correlation between how long you have been a fan of a sport and how much respect you have for Jose Aldo. Longtime fans, those who remember his World Extreme Cage Fighting (WEC) blue cage, hold Aldo on a pedestal. He's the Goat…or at least the clear choice for the best featherweight of all time. Watching Aldo's entire career is like watching an incredible athlete defeat numerous top contenders in a variety of styles and fashions. Aldo reinvented himself three or four times, and each reinvention was better than most others.

New fans don't have that perspective.

Some see his losses as Max Holloway and alexander volkanovsky (13 and 15 years into their professional careers, respectively) as a disqualification from greatness. Other people are conor mcgregor He has a knockout loss and is probably tired of hearing about how great his low kicks used to be.

Now, Aldo is back in the cage at 135 pounds, a career move that initially seemed like a death sentence, but Aldo is back on track for a title shot and top-five status in perhaps the deepest division in mixed martial arts (MMA). obtained. After two years away, where does Aldo fit in the division and what are his overall goals upon his return?

Jonathan Martinez It's a tough challenge for the bantamweight division.

He has won eight of his last nine fights and hasn't lost in over three years. The fact that he's not in the top 10 is indicative of the depth in this division, but Aldo's opponents who are ranked higher would certainly have an easier time (like No. 8). there is a possibility. rob font). This isn't as classic a match as “Aldo vs. Cruz,” but it's a litmus test for whether Aldo is still among the bantamweight elite. Because that's what it takes to beat the Dragon at this stage of the game.

But if Aldo beats Martinez, what should he accomplish at bantamweight? He has two paths to take. Chasing the title or traditional match-up. The former seems unlikely. Sean O'Malley It's a brutal style match for Aldo, with lots of speed, lots of momentum, and lots of volume. Alternatively, Dvalishvili could become champion by the end of the year, but no one is clamoring for that rematch.

The other path seems more fun.

If Aldo really wants to come back and earn a paycheck. without it Put him in the cage with a big-name opponent for a title shot.of Dominic Cruz The fight is evergreen, but I would like to consider a match against a former champion. Daveson Figueiredois also very interesting.

What happens if Aldo loses? For the first time since 2008, Aldo will not be ranked among the world's top 10 while competing. A Cruz fight could still happen – in Evergreen – but unless Aldo is fighting at a significantly higher level, it's hard to see Aldo wanting to continue fighting.

Perhaps this return is a one-off, or perhaps the beginning of Aldo's next iteration. Either way, UFC 301 should provide some insight into the legend's future.

live! Watch UFC 301 PPV on ESPN+ here!

Laucas is coming back to Rio! The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will be held once again on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at the Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with the flyweight champion, alexandre pantojaDefending the belt against an undefeated challenger, steve arseg, in the evening's pay-per-view (PPV) main event. “The King of Rio” will appear in the co-main event of UFC 301. Jose Aldoreturns to the bantamweight division for the first time in almost two years and takes on the challenge. Jonathan Martinez. UFC 301's PPV main card (see here) also features anthony smith versus Vitor Petrino, Michelle Pereira versus Ihor poti area etc. This is a must-see action! UFC 301 Scheduled start time 6pm Eastern Time (preliminaries) and 10pm Eastern Time (PPV).

Don't miss a second of the epic face punching action!

please remember MMAmania.com The entire event will be broadcast live round-by-round. UFC 301 fight card right herestarting with the initial one ESPN+ The online “Prelims” match will be played on ESPN2 at 6:00 PM ET (8:00 PM ET) prior to the pay-per-view (PPV) main card start time of 10:00 PM (6:00 PM ET). It is scheduled to begin on simulcast. ESPN+).

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