For Jose Aldo, UFC 301 showed that he could still go inside the Octagon.
The former champion scored a decision victory over Jonathan Martinez in the co-main event from Rio de Janerio, Brazil.
For the 37-year-old, it marked his first win since 2021 when he topped Rob Font. Aldo left the sport following a 2022 loss to Merab Dvalishvili.
While a sight to see compete once again, Aldo made it known that he could be ready to make another run at the title.
“My next step is sitting with (UFC) and we’ll see where it goes,” Aldo said during the post-fight interview. “I still have the physique and I’m at the age I can still fight.
“I see that I can still go for it. Maybe we can come back and become the champion.”
Aldo fought for the title back in 2020, suffering a fifth-round TKO loss to Petr Yan. He was also unsuccessful vs. Max Holloway for the belt in 2017, having won the interim title in 2016.
Jose Aldo Fighting The Elite Might Not Be Right Move
With all due respect to Martinez, he is far from the top of the division.
The 30-year-old had reeled off six consecutive wins, with a pair of them coming via finish, before the loss. However, they came vs. the likes of Adrian Yanez, Vince Morales and Alejandro Perez.
Aldo, meanwhile has not scored a significant win of his own since besting Frankie Edgar for that interim title in 2016. Edgar was moving down from lightweight.
His last big featherweight win came over Chad Mendes in 2014, almost 10 full years ago.
Aldo has mentioned competing inside the boxing ring. Maybe as far as his future fighting career goes, that is the best move. He also lost to Yan and Marlon Moraes at bantamweight while besting Font, Pedro Munhoz and Marlon Vera.
Would you give the former champion much hope vs. Cory Sandhagen? How about Deivson Figueiredo? Or Song Yadong for that matter?
More must-reads: