Like many Brazilian fighters, Alessandro Costa's career was heavily influenced by Jose Aldo. And while he's just days away from sharing a card with the MMA legend, Costa has no problem fanboying the moment.
Costa (13-4 MMA, 1-2 UFC) will face Kevin Borjas (9-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) on Saturday in the opening round of UFC 301 in Brazil – Aldo The same card that makes his long-awaited return to MMA. Former UFC and WEC featherweight champion Aldo returns from MMA retirement to face up-and-comer Jonathan Martinez in the card's co-main event at the Rio Arena in Rio de Janeiro (pay-per-view, ESPN2, ESPN+).
This is a special moment for Costa. Costa can't believe he shares the same card as the man who started his martial arts journey 14 years ago.
“For me, this is a dream come true,” Costa told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “When I first started training Jiu-Jitsu at age 14, I was talking to my coach about how crazy it would be to one day compete with Jose Aldo in the UFC. I got a lot of motivation to start fighting. He has a movie called. Mas forte que o mundo It depicts his life and he inspired me a lot as a person and as an athlete.
“So when I heard he was fighting on the same card, it was just an unbelievable feeling. I've never met him. I don't know him, it was great to meet him. This is my first time. Interestingly, we are both from Manaus, from the same city. In fact, my first amateur fight was at his academy, where he first started training.
Costa's dream almost never came true, in fact, it seemed impossible just a few months ago.
Aldo retired from MMA in September 2022 after losing a decision to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 278. He then resumed his boxing career, but it was clear that MMA was the finished chapter. However, things changed in March when it was reported that Aldo would be returning at UFC 301.
“This is a dream,” Costa explained. “When he retired, I thought, 'Oh my God. That's not happening.' But then there was this match in Brazil, and it just so happened that my idol was coming back on the same card. This is very cool. I'm very happy to be able to compete in Brazil and have the opportunity to share the card with someone I respect.”
In addition to sharing the card with Aldo, this will be the first time Costa will fight professionally in his home country. The 28-year-old, who trains with Brazil's Warriors and Mexico's Lobo Gym, has only fought in the United States and Mexico.
In every way, this is a memorable moment in Costa's career.
“I started my MMA career in Mexico. My whole career has been there,” Costa said. “I'm interested in how the public treats me. I'm not very well known in Brazil. My whole career was in Mexico and now I'm in the UFC and people in Brazil treat me. I'm just starting to know. I'm happy to be fighting in Brazil because my dad is coming and I'm bringing my friends who started this whole thing for me as well. But most of all, it's going to be very special to be fighting on the same card as Jose Aldo, who is one of my idols.
For more information on the card, visit MMA Junkie's UFC 301 event hub.
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