Jose Aldo is widely considered the top featherweight to ever join the UFC and can further solidify his reputation with a victory in his upcoming bout against Jonathan Martinez.
Aldo has announced his return from retirement to face off against Martinez in a bantamweight bout. This fight marks the Brazilian’s first competition since his defeat to Merab Dvalishvilli in 2018.
The upcoming UFC 301 event will be Aldo’s 40th fight in his illustrious mixed martial arts career. The Brazilian legend is determined to secure a win in front of his home crowd in Brazil.
At the age of 37, the legendary fighter has solidified his status as the best in his weight class of 145 pounds, thanks to his extensive list of devastating knockouts, exceptional punching prowess, and a record in the world of MMA that is unmatched by many of his fellow fighters.
Table of Contents
- Rolando Perez, 2009
- Cub Swanson, 2009
- Mike Brown, 2009
- Chad Mendes, 2012
- Conor McGregor, 2015
- Max Holloway 1, 2017
- Max Holloway 2, 2017
- Marlon Moraes, 2019
- Petr Yan, 2020
- Pedro Munhoz, 2021
- Rob Font, 2021
- Merab Dvalishvili, 2023
Rolando Perez
At the beginning of his MMA career in the WEC (now the UFC), 22-year-old Aldo was already establishing a reputation for himself when he faced off against Rolando Perez in his 14th fight.
With only 49 seconds remaining in the first round, Aldo delivered a powerful knee that caused Perez to fall to the ground. From that moment on, Perez was unable to continue as Aldo relentlessly attacked, ultimately leading the referee to stop the fight.
Aldo’s matches, such as this one, contributed to his rise as a fan favorite while the promotion gained more recognition.
Cub Swanson, 2009
When facing an all-time great, it is not uncommon for their opponent to appear outmatched in the octagon. This was the case when Aldo and Cub Swanson faced off in 2009.
During this period, ‘Scarface’ was establishing himself as a notable figure in the former WEC promotion, having accumulated an impressive record of 14-1. In less than 10 seconds, his record improved to 15-1.
With grace, Aldo executed a knee feint and delivered a powerful left leg strike, securing a knockout and claiming victory in the WEC featherweight title eliminator match. This triumph propelled him to the opportunity to compete for the crown.
Mike Brown’s Discovery of 2009
Aldo’s fight against submission specialist Mike Brown in 2009 solidified his status as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time at the beginning of his career.
Aldo employed cunning feints that exposed Brown’s defense, making him vulnerable to a series of strikes that caused the current champion to desperately cling onto him.
Aldo quickly completed his domination over Brown. By winning the fight, he claimed the WEC featherweight title and successfully defended it nine times over the course of six years.
Athlete of the Year: Chad Mendes, 2012
When Jose Aldo faced off against Chad Mendes, it marked a significant moment in MMA history. Aldo showcased his exceptional skills in fending off Mendes’ numerous takedown attempts.
Following being wrapped up from behind by the California native, ‘Scarface’ executed a stunning maneuver, expertly spinning out of the clinch and delivering a brutal kick to Mendes’ face, resulting in a knockout.
As soon as the contest was halted, Aldo rushed into the stands where he was greeted by a massive crowd of ecstatic fans, celebrating his incredible knockout victory. The Brazilian successfully defended his title as the undisputed featherweight champion and lived to fight another day.
Conor McGregor, 2015
Despite being one of the most renowned UFC fights in history, Jose Aldo faced defeat in his bout against Conor McGregor, placing him on the losing end.
In just 13 seconds, McGregor delivered a powerful left cross to the current UFC featherweight champion as he charged towards him, securing a knockout victory for the Irishman.
Before the fight, McGregor’s trash talk was equally as captivating as his knockout, as he aimed verbal jabs at a photo of Aldo at a venue in Brazil, vowing to be just as precise with his punches in the octagon.
This surprising victory marked the start of McGregor’s ascent to superstardom, while Aldo’s defeat marked the start of his decline from his prime as the top contender in the division.
Max Holloway – 2017 Record
Despite losing the UFC featherweight title to Conor McGregor, Jose Aldo bounced back by winning the vacated belt in his subsequent fight and successfully defending it against Max Holloway in 2017.
The Brazilian jiu-jitsu artist established dominance early on by landing numerous precise strikes to Holloway’s face. However, the tide turned when ‘Blessed’ started to flaunt and brush off Aldo’s powerful attacks.
After successfully taking the champion to the ground, the Hawaii native delivered a barrage of strikes to Aldo’s head, ultimately causing the referee to stop the fight through TKO.
Max Holloway vs. Jose Aldo 2, 2017
Later that year, Aldo would have another opportunity to defeat Holloway in their rematch. Similar to their initial encounter, ‘Scarface’ was able to connect with powerful strikes in the early rounds. One notable moment was when Holloway confidently brushed off a fierce uppercut from Aldo.
The match had a sense of déjà vu as Holloway was able to withstand strikes from Aldo that would have knocked out most fighters.
A series of combinations from ‘Blessed’ knocked down the 30-year-old Aldo. Holloway then proceeded to attack the back of his head, resulting in a similar knockout to their first fight and allowing him to keep his undisputed featherweight title.
Marlon Moraes, 2019
Despite being considered a slight underdog, Aldo entered the UFC 245 fight against Marlon Moraes with a record of 22-6-1. While the match was slower-paced than his usual style, it did not hinder Aldo from showcasing his skills and performing at his best as ‘Scarface’.
The cunning Brazilian utilized precision as he aggressively pursued the elusive Moraes, while also effectively countering his well-rounded attacks.
Aldo’s confidence was shattered after two judges granted Moraes the split-decision victory, despite his belief that he had emerged victorious in the fight. With this defeat, the former champion’s record now stands at 28-6.
2020 Petr Yan
When Petr Yan faced off against Jose Aldo at UFC 251, it was clear that he was the superior fighter. With his impressive combinations and flashy spinning elbows, the Russian fighter dominated the match and easily secured a TKO victory over the Brazilian.
This disappointing performance marked Aldo’s third consecutive defeat, concluding a particularly rough period in his career. From his first loss to Holloway until his defeat to Yan, ‘Scarface’ only managed a record of 2-5.
Aldo’s title bout at UFC 251 would mark the final instance in which he competed for a championship within the company.
Pedro Munhoz
In his 2021 fight against Pedro Munhoz, Jose Aldo broke his own personal record for significant strikes landed by consistently delivering snappy straight right hands to the California native throughout the entire fight, setting a new high.
Munhoz was aware of his defeat even before the referee could officially declare Aldo as the winner. During a press conference prior to the fight, Munoz had stated, “I am a fighter who likes to engage, and so is Aldo. That’s the kind of fight I thrive in.”
Following the fight, Munoz admitted to Aldo that he was not at the same level. Despite Aldo’s humble response, the footage clearly showed that he was in a league of his own.
Rob Font, 2021
In 2021, Aldo faced a tough challenge against Rob Font, who held considerable height and reach advantages and frequently switched stances.
During the opening round, ‘Scarface’ carefully gathered information from the 5-foot-8 contender, taking his time to assess Font’s abilities.
During crucial moments, Aldo was able to capitalize and land punches that resulted in knockdowns in the first two rounds. As a result, he emerged victorious and his MMA record improved to 31-7.
Upcoming Fight: Merab Dvalishvili vs. 2023
Even though he was 35 years old, Aldo’s spryness and agility remained evident. He successfully prevented Merab Dvalishvili from taking him down every time the Georgian attempted to do so.
Despite his best efforts on defense, the former champion was unable to generate any offense during the fight.
Despite Aldo’s three-fight winning streak, Dvalishvili emerged as the aggressor and ultimately convinced the judges for a unanimous decision victory, causing Aldo’s streak to come to an end.
Despite not ending his MMA career on a high note, the final image of the Brazilian fighter did not tarnish his legacy in the UFC. He will always be remembered as one of the greatest fighters of all time.
Jose Aldo’s MMA Record
Aldo’s professional record boasts 31 wins and 8 losses in a total of 39 career fights. Out of those 31 victories, 17 were achieved by knockout and 1 by submission.
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