Jose Aldo is itching to get back inside the Octagon.
After getting knocked out of the Master International IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship at the quarter-final stage, Jose Aldo has switched his focus to his UFC return.
The former UFC featherweight king stated relatively recently that he was aiming to fight again in December or January, but he is now looking for a quicker turnaround.
Aldo revealed to Combate that the November is the latest he plans on competing in his first ever non-title fight since joining the UFC.
“I asked to fight again until November, tops, because in the past few years I’ve gone a long time without fighting and I think that hindered me a lot. But we’re already talking to them so that we can return until November. I think we will go by the rankings.”
Aldo has received a few fight offers since losing his belt to Max Holloway at UFC 212, most notably from Edson Barboza and Artem Lobov. However, Aldo has his sights set on a rematch against the man who comprehensively defeated ‘The Russian Hammer’ in his last trip to the Octagon.
“I think Cub (Swanson) is a great opponent that we can meet now in order to get back on a winning path.”
This fight actually makes quite a bit of sense, especially considering how their first fight went down in 2009. Aldo brutally knocked out Swanson with a flying knee just eight seconds into their featherweight title eliminator.
As well as the chance to exact revenge for the devastating loss, Swanson has the added incentive to take this fight in order to secure his position as the number one contender. Since it’s been all but confirmed that Frankie Edgar will fight Holloway next, Swanson would undoubtedly leapfrog Ricardo Lamas in the rankings by beating ‘Scarface’.
Swanson is riding a four-fight win-streak in the UFC which included that 2016’s Fight of the Year over Doo Ho-Choi. Meanwhile, Aldo is on the worst run of his entire career after going 1-2 in his last three.
