Combat sports retirements are frequently just pauses in a fighter’s career, and this axiom proves true yet again with the announcement of former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo’s return to the Octagon.
After nearly two years since his last UFC appearance, Aldo is set to make his comeback at May’s UFC 301 event in Brazil, his home country. He will face Jonathan Martinez in a bantamweight showdown. Martinez, riding a six-fight win streak in the 135-pound division, poses a formidable challenge for Aldo.
News of Aldo’s return initially surfaced through AG Fight and was later confirmed by Aldo himself on social media. Aldo’s most recent UFC bout was in August 2022, where he faced Merab Dvalishvili in a bantamweight title eliminator, ending in defeat. Prior to that setback, Aldo had secured three consecutive victories against Rob Font, Pedro Munhoz, and Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera.
During his hiatus from the UFC, Aldo ventured into professional boxing, participating in two matches. One notably ended in a draw against fellow UFC veteran Jeremy Stephens, while the other resulted in a unanimous decision win over Esteban Gabriel Espindola in July of the previous year.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Martinez has been making waves in the bantamweight division with notable wins over Adrian Yanez, Said Nurmagomedov, and Cub Swanson in recent contests.
Aldo’s return to action adds significant intrigue to the UFC 301 pay-per-view card, which had faced criticism for its perceived lack of star power. The event’s headline bout features flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja defending his 125-pound title against the relatively inexperienced Australian Steve Erceg, who boasts just three UFC fights to his name.
