According to a report by MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin, José Aldo will make his return to the UFC cage to face Mario Bautista at UFC 307 on October 5th in Salt Lake City. Although formal contracts have not yet been signed, verbal agreements for the bout are in place. Aldo, who retired from MMA for nearly two years, marked his successful return in May with a unanimous decision victory over Jonathan Martinez at UFC 301.
Mario Bautista enters the upcoming fight on a hot streak, having won six consecutive matches. His most recent victory was a unanimous decision over Ricky Simon at UFC Vegas 84 in January.
Bautista’s impressive run includes three straight submission wins, highlighting his submission skills and earning him a Performance of the Night against Benito Lopez. This matchup will pose a significant challenge for Aldo, who aims to reclaim his status in the bantamweight division.
Aldo had mentioned to CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri in April that his fight against Martinez was the last on his current UFC contract, but he expressed a strong desire to compete for another UFC title.
Through an interpreter, Aldo shared that his time off helped him recover and reignite his ambition to fight for the championship and become the best in his division. His return to the cage is fueled by his goal to once again be a title contender.
Aldo’s illustrious career includes defending his featherweight title seven times, earning him a spot in the UFC Hall of Fame. Although he came close to capturing the bantamweight title in 2020, he was defeated by Petr Yan via TKO.
His recent win at UFC 301 may have positioned him among the top ten bantamweight fighters, but facing Bautista, one of the division’s rising stars, will be crucial for his path forward.
In addition to Aldo vs. Bautista, UFC 307 will feature other notable fights. According to MMA Fighting’s Jed Meshew, the event will include a bantamweight matchup between Kayla Harrison and Ketlen Vieira, and a featherweight bout between Aljamain Sterling and Movsar Evloev. Although the official venue has yet to be announced, it is expected to take place at the Delta Center in Utah.
