UFC bantamweight contender Jonathan Martinez is set to fight former featherweight champion and UFC Hall of Famer Jose Aldo, who retired in 2022, in a match on May 4 in Brazil.
Jonathan Martinez was just hanging around, waiting for his next UFC fight call. Then, out of the blue, his manager dropped a bombshell on him last Friday.
The name he heard? Totally unexpected.
Martinez, a 29-year-old bantamweight contender, is currently on a roll with a six-fight winning streak. He’s been hoping for a higher-ranked opponent, especially after his recent jaw-dropping victories. Remember when he took down Cub Swanson and Adrian Yanez with a flurry of leg kicks? Yeah, that’s him.
But when his manager mentioned Jose Aldo, Martinez was taken aback. He’s not one to shy away from a fight, no matter who the opponent is. But Aldo? That was a surprise.
“I think it was after sparring, my manager called me and he was like, ‘Do you want to fight Jose Aldo?’ And I was like Jose Aldo?” Martinez shared with MMA Fighting. “I even asked who’s that? [He said] ‘Jose Aldo!’ And I was like, ‘Oh damn, yeah, I want to fight him.’”
Aldo, a former featherweight champion and UFC Hall of Famer, retired from active competition back in 2022. Martinez hadn’t even considered him as a potential opponent.
“It was pretty crazy – I had to let it sink in a little bit,” Martinez admitted. “I was ready to fight soon. I was telling my manager, and Jose’s name came up. It is a huge name. The fight’s good, and I know he’s been boxing and stuff. I feel like he’s gotten better. When people get older, they start going down, but he’s been looking good. I’m excited to see that version.”
Despite the initial shock, Martinez doesn’t idolize Aldo. After all, they’re going to fight on May 4 in Brazil.
He respects Aldo and his achievements, sure. But he also recognizes the rare opportunity ahead. They’re the co-main event on a pay-per-view card like UFC 301.
“I don’t get excited like that,” Martinez said. “When I fought Cub Swanson, the same thing. You put that in front of me, it’s kind of going to mess with my head, so it’s just another guy in there. I’ve just got to go in there and show I’m better than him.”
Martinez is grateful for the opportunity. It’s a career boost, and it shows that the UFC isn’t trying to give Aldo an easy pass in his return from retirement.
Aldo may end up being a sizable underdog considering his time off and Martinez’s impressive run.
“To me, I think they like this matchup because me and him, it’s the two kickers in the division,” Martinez said. “Out of all the [bantamweights], I kick a lot and he used to kick and maybe he’ll bring it back this time.
“I’m going to try to mix everything up. He’s really good everywhere, so I’m going to do everything. It’s mixed martial arts so some fights I throw kicks, some fights I don’t. We’ll see.”
Martinez is ready for the hostile environment in Rio de Janeiro. Aldo’s celebrity status in his home country guarantees a raucous reception. But that’s something that excites Martinez. For the first time in over three years, he’ll actually have thousands of fans at his fight.
“Boo me or cheer for me, it doesn’t bother me,” Martinez said. “Them booing me, it doesn’t really get in my head or nothing like that. I’m actually going to have some noise, which is way better than fighting in the quiet [UFC] APEX.”
Aldo’s long layoff came after he lost a decision to Merab Dvalishvili. It was a fight that could have put him back in line for another title shot. He decided to call it a career, but was still ranked near the top of the division at 135 pounds when he retired.
Aldo remains a massive name thanks to his long list of accomplishments. Martinez expects that beating him will make a bigger impression than facing off with an unranked bantamweight.
“I’m excited for that,” Martinez said. “Honestly just to show them my skill and show that I do belong in the top five. I go get him out of there, he’s going to bring a lot of eyes. So that’s my goal, to go in there and get him out of there.”