After nearly two years of retirement, Jose Aldo is set to return to UFC 301, where he will face Jonathan Martinez in a bantamweight bout on May 4 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Well, well, well. Look who’s back in the octagon. Jose Aldo, folks. After a nearly two-year hiatus, he’s making a comeback at UFC 301. And guess who he’s squaring off against? None other than Jonathan Martinez. This bantamweight bout is set for May 4, smack dab in the heart of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
This juicy piece of news? Got it from MMA Fighting. They spilled the beans on Saturday. An initial report from AG Fight got the ball rolling. And Aldo? He confirmed the bout himself on Instagram. Yeah, you heard it right.
Now, this is a shocker. Aldo hung up his gloves in 2022. A loss to Merab Dvalishvili dashed his dreams of another title shot at 135 pounds. Post that fight, Aldo, a UFC Hall of Fame inductee in 2023, switched to boxing. He’s had two fights in the past year, including a showdown with UFC vet Jeremy Stephens.
What made Aldo return to MMA? Beats me. But he’s back, alright. And he’s got a fight lined up in May.
Now, here’s the thing. Under the UFC’s anti-doping program, Aldo should be tested for drugs for six months before he can compete again. But it seems like they’re gonna let that slide this time. He’ll be fighting at UFC 301. And guess what? Aldo hasn’t been tested under the anti-doping program since 2022.
As for Martinez? The guy’s on fire. The 29-year-old has been on a winning streak with six consecutive victories in the UFC. He’s been crushing it against Adrian Yanez, Said Nurmagomedov, and Cub Swanson recently. He’s been steadily climbing the bantamweight ranks, and now he’s a major hurdle for Aldo, who’s stepping into the MMA ring for the first time since September 2022.
UFC 301? It’s happening on May 4. Flyweight champ Alexandre Pantoja is also on the card. He’ll be defending his title against Steve Erceg. So, mark your calendars, folks.