UFC legend José Aldo is set for more bouts inside the Octagon, and that's despite the promotion rejecting the possibility of him being able to box simultaneously.
Aldo returned from a short-lived retirement at UFC 301 this past May, fighting out his contract with another victory in front of his compatriots in Rio de Janeiro.
After the Brazilian got the better of Jonathan Martinez, considerable uncertainty surrounded his future, with a possible re-signing with the UFC sitting alongside remaining ambitions inside the boxing ring.
But the allure of adding further gold to his trophy cabinet on MMA's biggest stage proved too much to resist for "Junior," who will make the walk again this weekend to face Mario Bautista at UFC 307.
Freedom To Box, Three Times More Pay Not Enough To Overtake Aldo's UFC Ambitions
During a recent fight week interview with ESPN MMA's Brett Okamoto, Aldo looked ahead to his return to action on Saturday night, which will kick off a new multi-fight deal for the Brazilian veteran.
Aldo admitted that he had attempted to include the freedom to box in the contract, but had that request firmly shut down. Nevertheless, with another stint as UFC champ remaining his ultimate ambition, he still put pen to paper on a continued stay inside the Octagon.
After that fight (at UFC 301), that's when we sat down and thought, 'Okay, now let's hear the proposals that you have.' Afterwards, when we saw the proposals for the new contract, I chose the UFC," Aldo said, before being asked whether the new deal allows him to box. "No, not at all. Listen, I've asked for it twice. There were a couple of events I tried to get in and twice I got a, 'No!' So now, with all these fights on the contract, I'm really not fighting boxing.
My dream has always been to be champion in the UFC. ... That was my ultimate goal. Thinking about the contract now, looking forward with this opportunity, if anything else came about or any other proposals, I knew that was going to be locked in with the UFC," Aldo continued. "This is my ultimate goal. I want to continue to do it and be a champion.
Aldo added further context behind those remarks by revealing he turned down up to three times more money offered by other promotions in order to stay put in the UFC in pursuit of continuing to enhance his already stellar legacy.
If he's to ensure that decision turns out to be fruitful and better his chances of a late-career title shot, Aldo must first get the better of another young up-and-comer in Bautista this weekend at UFC 307.
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