Jose Aldo’s run as the best of the best featherweight G.O.A.T isn’t fading away any sooner. A former UFC/WEC featherweight titleholder, Aldo is also a proud Hall of Famer. Now, former 145-pound king Alexander Volkanovski gives his nod to the Brazilian being the best in the field ahead of UFC 301.
UFC 301 sees Jose Aldo recant his MMA retirement to face off against Jonathan Martinez in the co-main event. Aldo has had a decent run since moving down to bantamweight in 2019. During a preview of UFC 301 on Fox Sports’ Mainevent show, Alexander Volkanovski talked about the G.O.A.T featherweight.
I'm going to say Aldo [for G.O.A.T] because you know, he was a champion for a very long time...to be champion that long, things go wrong, you fight injured, there's so many things that can go wrong and to be champion that long, it's saying something...Alexander Volkanovski during the Fox Sports’ mainevent Preview Show (@mainevent)
In conversation with Josh Culibao & Niko Pajarillo, the Aussie weighed in on how things can go wrong due to injury during a long championship run. Alexander Volkanovski went undefeated as a UFC featherweight before losing his title at UFC 298. He was riding on a 12-win streak until his first loss to Islam Makhachev at UFC 284. Aldo is on the ledge of his contractual run; however, that does not dull his resolve.
Volk also discussed his experience fighting Aldo at UFC 237 and the difficulty of defeating such a technical fighter. Jose Aldo (31-8 MMA, 13-7 UFC) ends his retirement for one more fight. Moreover, he trains in Capoeira – an Afro-Brazilian martial art with a BJJ black belt and remains a national hero of MMA in Brazil. Hence, it’s unsurprising that this isn’t the only time Volk has praised him as an all-time great.
Alexander Volkanovski does not mind competing once more against another featherweight GOAT candidate
Alexander “The Great” Volkanovski recently sat down to discuss the upcoming UFC 301 card on Fox Sports’ Mainevent show. In the main event, Brazilian flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja tests his mettle against Volk’s Aussie peer, Steve Erceg. He also touched on Jose Aldo springing into action at least one last time and his place as the greatest possible 145lber.
Furthermore, Volk also discussed UFC 300’s epic card and events. His focus switched to rival Max Holloway during the discussion. Holloway recently bagged the BMF title from Justin Gaethje at UFC 300. Volk was impressed by how Holloway traded punches in the last ten seconds and delivered the knockout blow. As such, he did not oppose a fourth fight against ‘Blessed.’
Our rivalry...he was starting to do 'that'...but then obviously didn't work well against me. But with other fighters, you could really see him using them tools...[ on facing him again] I mean, now that he's got a BMF, uh we might have to do this [points to the ground] you know...[145 or 155?] 155, anyway...BMF is something I haven't touched before, so...Legacy [too] maybe...Alexander Volkanovski during the Fox Sports’ mainevent Preview Show (@mainevent)
Volkanovski owns a 3-0 resume against Holloway with a last dominant decision win at UFC 276. The Aussie failed on both counts to rise to 155 pounds for two-division glory aspirations. However, he has never even once gunned for the silver strap.
Despite the recent change in guard, he’s still the #1 featherweight, undefeated against the rest of the roster, including ‘Blessed.’ So, he can legitimately challenge the Hawaiian phenom for his belt. If Holloway wins against Ilia Topuria, Volk hints at going back for his legacy belt as well. Only time will tell if the duo will meet for a 4th time.
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