For a couple of years now, former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo has been looking to retire from MMA and pursue a career in boxing. Now down to two fights left in his UFC contract, these plans are becoming clearer for the 32-year-old Brazilian.
“My plan is to fight Alexander Volkanovski on May 11,” Aldo told ESPN in an exclusive interview. “Then I’ll have only one fight left in my [UFC] contract, which I plan to have. But I already have another thing in mind: boxing.
“I want to push myself. I’m not here for a specific match. I won’t call anyone out. I want to start from the bottom, really push myself, get ranked and who knows ... fight for the title one day. Of course, my name already puts me ahead of lots of guys.”
Aldo says he is not shutting off the possibility of competing in MMA in the future, as long as the right deal will be put in place.
“Everything is about the negotiation. We are open to discuss,” he said. “We can always have a conversation and try to find the best possible way to do it. I don’t see a problem in [re-signing with the UFC and being able to box].
“I don’t see myself fighting MMA elsewhere but the UFC.”
Aldo and Volkanovski will face each other at UFC 237, which takes place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.