Former featherweight kingpin Jose Aldoreturns to the Octagon on February 2nd 2019 at UFC in Fortaleza, Brazil againstRenato Moicano.
Brazilian Jose Aldo(27-4-0) was on an 18-fight win streak before losing his UFC Featherweight belt toConor McGregor(21-4-0) at UFC 194 in December 2015 – the infamous 13 second KO. AfterMcGregorwas forced to relinquish his featherweight belt when he took the Lightweight championship fromEddie Alvarez(29-6-0, 1NC) at UFC 205 in November 2016, the belt was returned toAldo.
But at the same time,Max ‘Blessed’ Holloway(20-3-0) held the Interim Featherweight championship. The two clashed at UFC 212 in July 2017 to determine the true featherweight champ andHollowaycame out victorious, earning a TKO overAldoin the late third round.
Hollowaywas due to defend his belt for the first time againstFrankie Edgar(23-6-1) at UFC 218 in December 2017 but Edgar, unfortunately, had to pull out. A last minute replacement was found –Jose Aldo.
In their first fight,Aldowas holding his own on the feet in the opening rounds but the tables turned and a long, brutal ground-and-pound fromHollowayfinished the fight. When debating the greatest featherweights,Aldoand Hollowayare usually the names that come up. So a second fight to truly determine who is the best out of these two was welcomed by MMA fans.
The second fight went more or less the same way as the last – Hollowaywinning by TKO in the late third round. Having had his character destroyed on a global platform byMcGregorand then being unable to reclaim his featherweight crown, many thought that could be the end forAldo.
In July 2018, AldofoughtJeremy ‘Lil Heathen’ Stephens(28-15-0) and won by TKO in the first round – a devastating liver shot againstStephensset up the TKO finish. This first round finish reminded us that perhapsAldo still has more to give.
How many more fights do you thinkAldohas in him? And can he reclaim the featherweight belt before retiring? Have your say in the comments below.
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