Jose Aldo, one of the biggest names in MMA today, has completed his contract with the UFC and is poised to become one of the hottest free agents in the sport.
The former UFC and WEC champion made his long-awaited return to the Octagon this Saturday, defeating bantamweight contender Jonathan Martinez in the co-main event of UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro. This was Aldo's return to action after retiring from MMA in 2022, and was also his last fight under his UFC contract.
Now, after proving he still has power at age 37, many are wondering what Aldo will do next.
“When I first offered this fight, they were talking about[fighting for the title]and I said, ‘No, calm down. “Let's fight first,'' Aldo told MMA Fighting and other reporters at the UFC 301 post-fight press conference. “'Let me fight first. I have to see first. Let's not rush things. So let's go slow, let's get there, let's fight, and let's perform, and I'll… You'll know what the situation is.”
“So, that's what I tried to do. I wanted to fight here first, and now I can sit down with Dana (White) and think about what is the best path for us to take. ”
Aldo (32-8 MMA, 14-7 UFC) plans to continue fighting and is interested in fighting for the UFC title again at 135 pounds. He also revealed that the UFC has a matching period to match any offers before he becomes a fully free agent.
Aldo hopes to meet with UFC CEO Dana White to discuss his future. He hasn't ruled out re-signing with the UFC, but a return to boxing is also possible.
Asked about the possibility of boxing against Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao, Aldo replied, “Yes, that's a possibility.” “I got an offer. They sent me a contract and I turned it down. I'm (still) in the UFC, so I need to fight to see where I stand. It's a big deal for me. It was a big window. …My life has always been here (UFC), so I had to come here and sit down with them and figure out what's the best path I can take. No.”
For more information on the card, visit MMA Junkie's UFC 301 event hub.
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