Jose Aldo Eyes UFC Bantamweight Title Ahead of UFC 315

Montreal, Quebec, Canada — UFC Hall of Famer José Aldo is preparing for his 42nd mixed martial arts fight as he aims for the UFC bantamweight title at UFC 315 on Saturday. Aldo, renowned for his illustrious career as the former UFC featherweight champion, is seeking to add new championship gold to his collection.

Now in his 21st year as a professional fighter, Aldo has had 22 bouts inside the Octagon. At 38 years old, he believes he can bring his diverse skill set back to the top tier of UFC competition. He is set to face Canadian fighter Aiemann Zahabi, who is ranked 15th in the bantamweight division.

Aldo reflected on the generational gap he faces while competing against younger fighters. “Yeah, it’s funny,” he said. “Sometimes I’m hanging around, doing interviews, then a young guy says, ‘Man, I’m your fan. I used to watch you fight as a kid.’ And I think, ‘Wow, I’m getting old, huh?’”

Despite the longevity of his career, Aldo insists that his motivation remains sky-high. “I believe motivation is always sky-high,” he said, emphasizing his love for the sport. He shared his aspirations of becoming a UFC champion again, stating, “It’s always been my dream to be UFC champion and fight here.”

In his most recent fight, Aldo lost by a close split decision against Mario Bautista at UFC 307. He expressed frustration over that loss, committing to improve for his upcoming bout. “I can’t go in there, after everything I’ve done, and freeze up in the fight,” he admitted. “It doesn’t matter if I win or lose, I have to get in there and fight.”

Aldo feels that his wealth of experience in the sport meets each challenge head-on. “Everyone knows who I am. They all study me,” he remarked, confident that his extensive background is a major asset. “With everything that I’ve got, why should I worry about my opponent?”

As he approaches fight night, Aldo is satisfied with his training and nutrition, noting that he feels better than ever. “It’s funny. A little while ago I said it’s like wine, it gets better with age,” Aldo explained. He highlighted his commitment to healthy living, saying, “You’ve never seen me fat and out of shape. I’ve always been in shape and training hard.”

UFC 315 will take place at Bell Centre, where Aldo hopes to showcase his skills in front of a lively crowd. “I know the fans will go wild and cheer, and that’s what motivates me,” he concluded.