Tag: Jose Aldo

José Aldo vs. Rob Font Targeted For December 4 Fight Night Card

José Aldo is set to make his return to the Octagon one more time this year, and he will have a very tough assignment in #4-ranked Rob Font. As initially reported by Combate, the bantamweight bout between Aldo and Font is being targeted to take place on the December 4 UFC Fight Night. New details […]

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José Aldo is set to make his return to the Octagon one more time this year, and he will have a very tough assignment in #4-ranked Rob Font.

As initially reported by Combate, the bantamweight bout between Aldo and Font is being targeted to take place on the December 4 UFC Fight Night. New details reveal that the fight is expected to serve as the card’s main event.

Aldo initially hoped to face TJ Dillashaw next after the Brazilian defeated Pedro Munhoz at UFC 265 via unanimous decision. However, with Dillashaw currently recovering from knee surgery and there being no reported traction on an Aldo/Dillashaw pairing, Team Aldo opted to move in the direction of the streaking Font instead.

The victor of four straight fights, Rob Font also eyed a potential fight with the #2-ranked Dillashaw. The winner of this bout could very well win the Dillashaw sweepstakes since the division is currently in turmoil with champion Aljamain Sterling still out with neck issues and #1-ranked Petr Yan up for a potential interim title fight at UFC 267 against an opponent yet to be determined.

In his most recent bout, Font put on a stellar performance in his victory over former champion Cody Garbrandt in May.

If finalized, here is what the current lineup for the December 4 Fight Night will look like:

José Aldo vs. Rob Font

Rafael Fiziev vs. Brad Riddell

Brad Tavares vs. Brendan Allen

Bryan Barberena vs. Matt Brown

Chris Gruetzemacher vs. Claudio Puelles

Montserrat Conejo vs. Mallory Martin

Who do you favor in this reported bantamweight bout between José Aldo and Rob Font?

Continue Reading José Aldo vs. Rob Font Targeted For December 4 Fight Night Card at MMA News.

Jose Aldo Rules Out Fighting Dominick Cruz, Wants TJ Dillashaw Next

Jose AldoJose Aldo has ruled out a fight between him and Dominick Cruz and is instead hoping to square off against TJ Dillashaw in a number one contender fight next. The former featherweight champion re-established himself as a player at bantamweight with a dominant decision win over Pedro Munhoz at UFC 265. Aldo is laser-focused on […]

Jose Aldo

Jose Aldo has ruled out a fight between him and Dominick Cruz and is instead hoping to square off against TJ Dillashaw in a number one contender fight next.

The former featherweight champion re-established himself as a player at bantamweight with a dominant decision win over Pedro Munhoz at UFC 265.

Aldo is laser-focused on the 135lb strap currently held by Aljamain Sterling who is set to put it on the line against Petr Yan at UFC 267 on October 30.

The winner of that match-up appears to be set to face Dillashaw who returned from his EPO-induced two-year layoff to pick up a razor-thin split decision win over Cory Sandhagen earlier this year.

During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Aldo revealed he is still hoping to face Dillashaw next despite the fact the former two-time bantamweight champion seems set for a title shot.

“I want to climb step-by-step,” Aldo said. “I may have bitten off more than I could chew [early in my bantamweight run] but it happens, you aim big and hit big. But it’s different now, we’re going step-by-step, adapting to the division. After this great fight, I want to put on another great performance by December.

“Dillashaw is the focus,” Aldo continued. “If it’s early next year, I can wait too. I’ll leave that up to ‘Dede’ [coach Andre Pederneiras] to deal with. I want to fight by December or January, tops. With another great fight and win, we can get closer to the belt.”

Aldo has heard people talking about a potential fight between him and bantamweight legend, Cruz, but he’s not interested and explained why.

“I heard some reporters talking about this fight [with Cruz] but I think we’re both going different directions,” Aldo said. “He’s more dedicated to [UFC] broadcasts than his own fighting career. I don’t think about fighting Dominick today. I respect him, I also like him for the fact he’s one of the greatest bantamweight champions, but right now I’m heading towards the title. There’s no reason why I’ll stop and do a fight that will take me nowhere. It’s more likely for me to fight Rob Font than Dominick Cruz.”

Who do you think Jose Aldo should fight next?

José Aldo Aiming For T.J. Dillashaw Before Considering Cruz Fight

Former UFC featherweight champion José Aldo has set his sights on a fellow former champ in T.J. Dillashaw. “Junior” recently made an Octagon appearance in August against the #9-ranked Pedro Munhoz. The former champion was featured on the UFC 265: Lewis vs. Gane PPV and reminded everyone of his intentions for another title run. The […]

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Former UFC featherweight champion José Aldo has set his sights on a fellow former champ in T.J. Dillashaw.

“Junior” recently made an Octagon appearance in August against the #9-ranked Pedro Munhoz. The former champion was featured on the UFC 265: Lewis vs. Gane PPV and reminded everyone of his intentions for another title run.

The timing of his win was unfortunate, as T.J. Dillashaw took massive damage in the process of scraping past the rangy striker Cory Sandhagen in July. In the middle of an early scramble, the former two-time champ admits he got lazy and let Sandhagen rip up his knee while briefly stuck in a heel hook.

According to our initial report on Aug. 9, Dillashaw mentioned that he believes a viable return to training is possible after three months. It appears the time frame may line up for Aldo, who is fixated on a pairing with Dillashaw.

“Dillashaw is the focus,” Aldo told MMA Fighting. “If it’s early next year, I can wait too. I’ll leave that up to ‘Dede’ [coach Andre Pederneiras] to deal with. I want to fight by December or January, tops. With another great fight and win, we can get closer to the belt.”

Aldo seems willing to wait and has expressed patience, as the match-up has the makings to be an epic battle. After hearing reporters talk about a potential fight with two prominent WEC legends in Dominick Cruz and Aldo, “Junior” was cold to the idea. Then, insisted that Rob Font would sooner be a better fight than the 36-year old Cruz.

“I heard some reporters talking about this fight [with Cruz] but I think we’re both going different directions,” Aldo said. “He’s more dedicated to [UFC] broadcasts than his own fighting career. I don’t think about fighting Dominick today. I respect him, I also like him for the fact he’s one of the greatest bantamweight champions, but right now I’m heading towards the title. There’s no reason why I’ll stop and do a fight that will take me nowhere. It’s more likely for me to fight Rob Font than Dominick Cruz.”

The Brazilian legend in his heyday ran up an 18-fight winning streak at 145 pounds before losing in dramatic fashion to the supernova Conor McGregor in 13 seconds. Despite the setbacks he’s endured in the UFC, he is relentless in his pursuit to wear gold around his waist just one more time.

Would you rather see José Aldo fight Dominick Cruz or TJ Dillashaw?

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Gaethje Claims “Emotional” Aldo’s Loss To McGregor Was “90% Mental”

UFC lightweight Justin Gaethje has suggested that José Aldo’s 2015 loss to Conor McGregor was 90% as a result of of the Irishman’s mental warfare. After defeating Chad Mendes to claim the interim UFC featherweight Championship, McGregor met the dominant Aldo in a unification bout at UFC 194. After bringing out some of the most […]

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UFC lightweight Justin Gaethje has suggested that José Aldo’s 2015 loss to Conor McGregor was 90% as a result of of the Irishman’s mental warfare.

After defeating Chad Mendes to claim the interim UFC featherweight Championship, McGregor met the dominant Aldo in a unification bout at UFC 194. After bringing out some of the most memorable trash talk of his career, the Irishman knocked “Junior” out after just 13 seconds when it came time to fight. The brutal left hook ended the seven-year WEC and UFC 145-pound title reign of Aldo, and in doing so, snapped the Brazilian’s 18-fight win streak.

McGregor built upon the fastest KO in UFC title fight history, going on to become the UFC’s first simultaneous two-division champion. Aldo, meanwhile, was never the same. And despite recording back-to-back wins at bantamweight over the past nine months, not many believe the 35-year-old can make it back to the top.

The UFC 194 headliner remains one of the most talked about fights in the promotion’s history. And despite McGregor sleeping Aldo with a picture perfect left hook while on the back foot, a lot of the discussion has surrounded the mental aspect of the Irishman’s attack.

Justin Gaethje has now suggested that McGregor’s trash talk played the biggest part in his victory. Speaking during a recent episode of UFC Unfiltered, “The Highlight” put Aldo’s crushing defeat down to the Brazilian’s pre-fight emotions.

“90 percent mental, 10 percent physical. I mean, Conor McGregor, you know, some of his success was his ability to make people fight certain fights. You know, not necessarily José Aldo. José Aldo didn’t go out there and fight José Aldo’s fight. You know, he was emotional and if you are fighting emotionally you will not win. You know, you will not be your best.” (h/t Sportskeeda)

According to Gaethje, carrying emotions into the cage is one of the cardinal sins of the fight game. The former interim 155-pound champ went on to say that preventing his opponent from getting into his head is of top priority before entering into the Octagon.

“As much as it’s, like, such an emotional experience, you really have to be void of any emotion in the fight…and then my number one rule is never let somebody affect my thoughts or emotions or, you know, the way that I process my feelings.”

Gaethje will look to maintain that rule when he enters the Octagon for the first time in 2021. Having not fought since his championship loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 254, “The Highlight” will make his first appearance in over a year when he faces Michael Chandler at UFC 268.

Given that the pair have already exchanged some words, Gaethje will be keen to avoid falling foul to a similar situation as Aldo at UFC 194.

Do you agree with Justin Gaethje? Did Conor McGregor get the better of José Aldo through his mental warfare?

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Conor McGregor Admits Jose Aldo Deserved A Rematch

Conor McGregorConor McGregor says he wanted to rematch Jose Aldo and thinks the Brazilian deserved a second shot at him after UFC 194. After months of epic build-up, McGregor needed just 13 seconds to end Aldo’s insane 18-fight winning streak. As the two men stood in the middle of the Octagon waiting for the official decision […]

Conor McGregor

Conor McGregor says he wanted to rematch Jose Aldo and thinks the Brazilian deserved a second shot at him after UFC 194.

After months of epic build-up, McGregor needed just 13 seconds to end Aldo’s insane 18-fight winning streak.

As the two men stood in the middle of the Octagon waiting for the official decision to be read, ‘Notorious’ told his featherweight rival that they’ll run it back.

Of course, that didn’t happen. McGregor moved up in weight and hasn’t competed 145lbs since. Aldo managed to rally back to become interim featherweight champ before losses to Max Holloway (x2) and Alexander Volkanovski triggered his move down to bantamweight.

McGregor and Aldo have recently been exchanging pleasantries through the media. The Irishman continued to praise his old rival during a recent chat with a Brazilian reporter, McGregor even admitted Aldo “deserved more” and should’ve been granted an immediate rematch in 2015.

“It was good to see (Jose) Aldo had a good win the other week. I’m very happy to see that,” McGregor said. “I’ll tell you what, what a warrior that man is. It was an honour to share the Octagon with him. I would’ve love to have done it again. He deserved more, I thought. But, you know, a lot of respect for Jose Aldo and Brazilians.”

‘Scarface’ recently ruled out the prospect of a rematch with McGregor.

“No, I don’t see myself fighting Conor,” Aldo told MMA Fighting. “That’s not the path. I root for him today, I hope he recovers from the injury and fights again at the highest level, and becomes champion again because that way he and I will always be together. No matter if I’m down and he’s up or the other way around, people will always put out names together, and that way we carry each other up.”

Do you still want to see Conor McGregor vs. Jose Aldo II?

José Aldo Explains Why He’ll Never Fight McGregor Again

Despite their history, José Aldo has explained why his rivalry with Conor McGregor is in the past and even claimed a fight between the two will never happen. On December 12, 2015, Conor McGregor shocked the world after dethroning long-reigning featherw…

Despite their history, José Aldo has explained why his rivalry with Conor McGregor is in the past and even claimed a fight between the two will never happen. On December 12, 2015, Conor McGregor shocked the world after dethroning long-reigning featherweight champion, José Aldo, with a knockout within the first 13-seconds of their title fight. […]

Continue Reading José Aldo Explains Why He’ll Never Fight McGregor Again at MMA News.