Aldo returns to the octagon this Saturday. Photo: Reproduction / Instagram / UFC
Scheduled to return to the octagon next Saturday (28) against Jeremy Stephens, at UFC Calgary, José Aldo he may have counted on the help of fate to fight for the featherweight belt. After losing the title and the immediate rematch for Max Holloway, the Brazilian saw the Hawaiian with serious medical problems and the triumph in Canada could put the 'People's Champion' back on track to the top of the division.
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In an interview with the Combate channel's website, Aldo lamented the problem with Holloway, but made a point of highlighting that on the professional side, the champion's retirement shortened his path to regaining the title in the under-65,7 kg category.
“It's a very difficult situation, I don't know the details of what happened to Holloway. I support him a lot and I was happy to see him champion. He's a family guy, who has good thoughts... I don't see it as “I have to destroy this guy”. His situation is very difficult now, a person who always dreamed of being the champion and, now that he has won, he is not being able to do what he loves most, which is fight, defend the title. I hope for his improvement. Thinking about the professional side, his departure opens up space, because I think it would be very difficult to have a third fight between us now. I think I may have a faster belt route than I thought. I don’t know what the real situation is, suddenly if I win this fight well I can fight for an interim belt with Ortega”, said Aldo.
Despite considering the path to the title to be shorter, Aldo does not underestimate the duel against Jeremy Stephens. For him, the North American veteran of 42 fights is a fighter who wants to end his fights as soon as possible.
“He's an aggressive guy, who tries to end the fight as soon as possible, I respect him. I think for me he has several errors in the game, that's what I'm going to try to work on. At this point, I don't need to prove anything. I want to go in, fight and see where he makes mistakes. There’s nothing for me to say, I want to play my game”, he concluded.
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