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Exclusive Q&A: Former UFC featherweight champion José Aldo aims for a second belt
For the fans’ delight, former UFC featherweight champion José Aldo makes his comeback at UFC 315. The MMA legend is not done yet and is determined to keep going.
He spoke exclusively with DAZN News.
DAZN News: You will fight on May 10 at UFC 315 against Aiemann Zahabi. How is your training camp going?
José Aldo: We're training hard. Since my last fight, I took two weeks off to rest, and then I immediately focused on preparing for the next fight. Once the opponent’s name was confirmed, we started studying them closely. But the preparation, just like for all the other fights, is always done in the best way possible to step in there and put on a great performance.
DN: Zahabi is on a five-fight winning streak, he is ranked, and he trains with his brother Firas, former coach of GSP. What do you think of him?
JA: Regarding the sequence, I don’t see any problem at all. I think everyone always aims to rank higher, so I have no issue with that. And about training with his brother, it’s part of the game. I think they’re focusing on GSP’s training now. So for me, that’s not a problem at all.
DN: Any prediction?
JA: For me, he’s just another opponent. It doesn’t matter where he trains or who he’s training with. If it’s meant to be, I’ll step in there and always do my job in the best way possible.
DN: You are an MMA legend. I recently interviewed Alexandre Pantoja, and he told me that every time you fight, it’s a special event. That it’s a privilege to watch you compete again. You will be fighting in Montreal, but the whole world will be behind the King of Rio. In the end, won’t you be fighting at home?
JA: I can fight anywhere in the world today because of the name I’ve built and the history I’ve made in MMA. I will always feel at home, with the fans always supporting me. So I always have a strong crowd behind me, but it’s normal, it’s my first time fighting in Canada. I know I have thousands of fans there, and I can only be grateful for all the love from the Canadian people.
- Read next | Alexandre Pantoja ready for his next fight
DN: You have already fought the champion, Merab Dvalishvili. How good is he?
JA: Yes, I’ve fought against a champion before. It was a very close fight, and many saw me winning against Merab. But that’s in the past now. I think he deserves credit, he worked hard to get where he is and to keep winning his fights.
DN: You are 38 years old, this will be your 42nd professional fight. How long do you plan to keep going?
JA: Yes, I think I’m at a good age. I’m about to enter my 42nd professional fight, but I don’t see a problem with that. I train hard every day to be the champion, and that’s why I’m still here, trying to win this second belt. For me, this next fight means a lot. I won’t talk about giving up because I want to put on a great performance. I want to show who I’ve always been, aggressive, stepping into the ring, and getting the fights done.
DN: Do you want to stay in the MMA world once you retire?
JA: I think that after I retire, I’m not sure if I’ll stay in MMA. My close friends know. It’s all about my family. I want to live for my family. I want to make my daughter’s and my son’s dreams come true. So, I think it will be very difficult for me to be in MMA once I retire. I might help a friend, or go to an event, but 100% no. I think I’ll focus on helping my daughter, I’ll help her, and my son as well, in his career, I want to support him.
DN: After your first retirement, you moved to boxing. Could we see you put on the gloves again after your MMA career?
JA: After my retirement, and not now, I don’t plan to fight anymore. I think I came back for a reason, for a calling. That’s why I’m training hard, dedicating myself a lot. And no, when I retire, I will stop for good. I don’t want to do boxing or anything else anymore. At most, I’ll return to my roots, which is jiu-jitsu. So I’ll go back to training my jiu-jitsu, which I’ve always enjoyed. There’s no doubt about it. So, when I stop, it will be more of a hobby training than anything related to competition.
DN: You are not only a UFC legend but an MMA legend in general. How do you reflect on your career?
JA: When I look back and see the legend I’ve become in the global scene, it always reflects positively for me. I think I’ve had a great career, where I was able to be the champion, make several defenses, and achieve these goals. So, I hope that tomorrow, when I retire, I’ll be able to talk about my second belt. I’m really happy with everything I’ve built. I think today, the world can be my fan because of everything I’ve done.
DN: Who would you like to fight next if you win?
JA: So, once I win the next fight, I think I always want to fight against big names, right? I think that’s my goal. I always ask for big names. It was really close for us to fight now, but it didn’t work out with a big name. But let’s see. I think the first step now is to focus on the next fight and do a great job. Then, I’ll be able to call any other opponent who’s highly ranked and can bring me closer to my goal.
DN: Is the belt somewhere in the back of your mind?
JA: Yes, the belt is always on my mind, as I mentioned before, I train and wake up thinking about it. So, when I go to the gym, I’m thinking about winning the belt. I know I’m still far from it, but I know what needs to be done. I know my potential, and I believe in my abilities to do a great job and become a champion. So, it never leaves my mind, and I think that’s what keeps me fighting to this day.
