Jose Aldo has parked his retirement plans, for the time being at least.
The former UFC featherweight champion, 32, had suggested that 2019 was to be his last year as an active fighter and had even drawn up a list of opponents that he would like to face before he hangs up his gloves.
However, as per a report by ESPN, Aldo is understood to have signed a new deal with the UFC prior to his UFC 237 loss to Alexander Volkanovski in Rio de Janeiro. It is understood that the Volkanovski bout was the first of what is a new 8-fight contract with the UFC.
Aldo had previously stated that he wanted to fight three times in 2019 — all of them in Brazil — before hanging up his 4oz gloves in favour of pursuing a career in professional boxing. The Brazilian defeated his compatriot Renato Moicano in February (following a July 2018 win against Jeremy Stephens) before his loss to Australia’s Volkanovski.
If Aldo completes the terms of his deal, it will mean he will become one of the UFC’s longest serving fighters with 21 appearances inside the octagon. The Brazilian is considered to be a legend within the UFC’s featherweight fold, holding wins over Frankie Edgar (x2), Chad Mendes (x2), Chan Sung Jung, Ricardo Lamas, Kenny Florian and others.
He held the UFC 145-pound title between September 2010 and December 2015, where he was defeated in 12 seconds by a Conor McGregor left hand.
