Jose Aldo addresses odd matchmaking in second UFC run: 'No regrets'
Jose Aldo addresses odd matchmaking in second UFC run: 'No regrets'
Jose Aldo insists he was satisfied with the UFC's matchmaking before calling it a career.
In Aldo's second UFC run, many questioned the type of matchups the "King of Rio" was drawing. Aldo's last three fights came against rising bantamweight contenders Jonathan Martinez, Mario Bautista, and Aiemann Zahabi. He went 1-2, most recently losing a close decision to Zahabi at UFC 315 earlier this month.
However, contrary to most people's opinions, Aldo (32-10 MMA, 14-9 UFC) wasn't targeting fellow former UFC champions such as Dominick Cruz. His goal was to take fights that would help him re-enter the title picture.
"So, no regrets," Aldo said through an interpreter on "The Ariel Helwani Show." "I'm only thankful and grateful to Sean (Shelby) for the matchmaking, because it's always going to be a show regardless of the opponent. Whether it's a young, up-and-coming (fighter), I'm always going to be ready. I don't worry about myself or what I can do. I know I can deliver, and I was always prepared for the fights. I always told Dede (Pederneiras) about this. If I'm getting superfights against older dudes, that means I'm not there.
"That means the dream of being a champ – I trained and dreamed and worked and wanted to be a champion. That means if I fought a guy like Cruz, maybe people would just see it as these are older dudes that are just putting the fight on for people to watch. That's outside of that dream of wanting to be a champion and training for that. ... Basically I told people, if I don't beat the up-and-comers, if I don't get through those challenges, then why am I here? Why compete?"
A former two-time UFC featherweight champion, Aldo was recently inducted in the UFC Hall of Fame. He holds notable wins over the likes of Urijah Faber, Cub Swanson, Chad Mendes, Frankie Edgar, and Chan Sung Jung throughout his WEC and UFC career.
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