RIO DE JANEIRO — Jose Aldo talked about in late April that he was excited by being a part of the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing card on July 20, and it seems he was supplied a bout on the present earlier than reserving his UFC return.
Aldo, who faces Jonathan Martinez within the remaining bout of his present contract at UFC 301, stated at Wednesday’s media day that he was supplied a spot on the boxing present, however in the end settled on combating this Saturday.
“It’s not a matter of eager to [box],” Aldo stated in Portuguese. “First, I gotta do that combat Saturday. I used to be supplied [a match on the Paul vs. Tyson card], opponent and all. Earlier than I used to be on the UFC Rio card, earlier than [the UFC] even despatched me a reputation and received something achieved, it was agreed [to box]. After all, I current the provide to the UFC and so they must authorize me to combat. However that was agreed already.”
Aldo has boxed thrice since dropping a choice to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 278 in August 2022, successful a pair of choices in Rio de Janeiro sandwiched between a majority draw towards Jeremy Stephens. Since Aldo had one bout left in his UFC contract, he needed to ask the MMA promotion for permission to field. The previous UFC champion insisted that being free from that contractual obligation will not be the explanation why he agreed to face Martinez.
Aldo was victorious in three fights at bantamweight over Marlon Vera, Pedro Munhoz, and Rob Font earlier than his setback versus Dvalishvili. He selected to return towards a prospect in Martinez to see the place he’s at, competitively talking.
“I’ve been coaching onerous as a result of that [boxing] match was already agreed,” Aldo stated. “Once we switched plans to combat within the UFC, all I did was change my coaching. It’s not like I used to be doing nothing, fats and retired in my farm, after which [said], ‘I wish to combat once more.’ No, I used to be already pushing onerous.
“I can’t say actually all the pieces [that went on] in any other case ‘Dede’ [manager and coach Andre Pederneiras] kills me,” Aldo added with amusing.
The UFC Corridor of Famer dominated out boxing social media influencers as a result of “I’m a aggressive man and solely wish to combat one of the best,” and has one title in thoughts for a dream match.
“We had been actually near going through Floyd [Mayweather], he additionally agreed to combat in Saudi Arabia, however I don’t know why it didn’t occur,” Aldo stated. “However we’ve additionally been in talks for a very long time to face Manny Pacquiao. To me, that may shut my profession, you realize? I might be actually blissful [to face him] for the eagerness I’ve for boxing and the eagerness I’ve for him, watching him field. It will be nice if that occurs.”
