Jose Aldo went undefeated in the sport of mixed martial arts for around nine years, but in his last three fights, he’s lost twice. I’m here to answer the question everybody is asking, what’s next?
18 straight wins, nine straight title defenses (WEC and UFC), and nine years of dominance, Jose Aldo was renowned as the greatest featherweight of all time, but it all came unhinged in one night, with one punch.
UFC 194 was one of the biggest, if not the biggest event 2015. There had been over a year of build up for the biggest featherweight championship fight of all time, Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor. It was finally time for the fans to see what McGregor is really about; will he be able to back up the talk? Is he really as good as he says he is? What happens if he actually wins?
They were just some of the questions that many wondered prior to fight night. Many picked the Irishman to win, many expected him to become the new champion, but nobody predicted a first round, first punch, thirteen second knockout. Aldo was no longer the champion, but instead a laughing stock.
It seemed impossible for the Brazilian to come back from this, a 13-second knockout to the man who’s been ridiculing him for over a year. He did come back, and faced Frankie Edgar for a second time at UFC 200. Aldo looked explosive, powerful, dangerous, and reinvented; he walked away with a decision victory, and was crowned the interim featherweight champion.
The 30-year-old was later promoted to undisputed featherweight champion, after McGregor was forced to vacate the title in favor of a move to lightweight. That’s when a fight with Max Holloway was announced. Holloway faced Anthony Pettis for the interim title, and won the belt, while Aldo was ‘real’ champion.
Not complicated at all, right?
The pair fought, Aldo looked good early on, and then Holloway began to take over. The Hawaiian dropped Aldo with a right hand and scored a third round TKO victory. Now, let’s get to the reason were here. What is next for Jose Aldo?
Most people are suggesting a move to 155, or a fight with Cub Swanson or another 145lbs contender, but so far, I have seen nobody call for a rematch.
I think Aldo, if he wants it, should be given a rematch. Why? Well, he is one of the greatest of all time, and all three judges had him two rounds up going into the third frame, where he was finished.
Holloway didn’t completely dominated the third round and then finish Aldo, but rather just landed a sweet right hand (or two) and finished from there. If the rematch is not on the table, there is so many more fun options.
Firstly, one that I mentioned before, Cub Swanson; these two men have met before, with Aldo scoring a quick, but brutal knockout, but since that time they have both improved tremendously. Swanson is coming off a five round dismantlement over Artem Lobov, and has won his last four straight, including a three round Fight of the Year win over Doo Ho Choi.
Another option which I saw being thrown around, was a move to lightweight, and when I thought about it, a certain fight tickled my fancy.
Listen closely, concentrate, and ready yourself… Jose Aldo vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov. Am I right or am I right? What a fight! Khabib is a wrestling heavy fighter that has some of the best takedowns in the UFC, while Aldo loves to strike, whilst being able to stop almost every wrestler he’s faced.
There is many more fights at 155lbs for Aldo, including the likes of fellow Brazilian Edson Barboza, Tony Ferguson, or maybe even Eddie Alvarez.
