MMA

Jose Aldo Hoping For #1 Contender Bout With T.J. Dillashaw: “Dillashaw Is The Focus”

Former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo wants to continue his ascension up the bantamweight rankings and wants a number one contender bout with former UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw.

Aldo spoke with MMA Fighting’s Guilherme Cruz and said he’s hoping for a December return to the Octagon, hopefully against Dillashaw. The Brazilian MMA icon is 2-2 since dropping to 135-pounds and is riding a two-fight winning streak currently, most recently defeating Pedro Munhoz via a unanimous decision at UFC 265. 

“I want to climb step-by-step,” Aldo said. “I may have bitten off more than I could chew [early in my bantamweight run] but it happens, you aim big and hit big. But it’s different now, we’re going step-by-step, adapting to the division. After this great fight, I want to put on another great performance by December. Dillashaw is the focus. If it’s early next year, I can wait too. I’ll leave that up to ‘Dede’ [coach Andre Pederneiras] to deal with. I want to fight by December or January, tops. With another great fight and win, we can get closer to the belt.”

He continued on to also give his feelings on a potential matchup with another former UFC bantamweight champion in Dominick Cruz, a matchup he doesn’t seem all that interested in currently.

“I heard some reporters talking about this fight [with Cruz] but I think we’re both going different directions,” Aldo said. “He’s more dedicated to [UFC] broadcasts than his own fighting career. I don’t think about fighting Dominick today. I respect him, I also like him for the fact he’s one of the greatest bantamweight champions, but right now I’m heading towards the title. There’s no reason why I’ll stop and do a fight that will take me nowhere. It’s more likely for me to fight Rob Font than Dominick Cruz.”

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