Jose Aldo teases possible return to combat sports in February as he asks fans to 'save the date'
Jose Aldo, the UFC's inaugural featherweight champion, was granted the freedom to pursue opportunities in other sports despite having one fight left under his contract last year. Aldo has expressed interest in trying his hand at boxing and fans can expect to see the Brazilian back in action as early as next month.
According to several reports from earlier this year, Aldo will make his professional boxing debut on February 10 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The 36-year-old had also revealed to the MMA Fighting podcast Trocação Franca in October last year that competing in boxing was a potential next chapter in his storied combat sports career:
“It [competing in boxing] was always a dream I had in my life, I never hid that from anyone. It was always a dream. But let’s see. Everybody says I’m still young, that I have a few years left.”
Although the details of the fight, including Jose Aldo's opponent, the number of rounds, and the weight class, remain unknown, the Brazilian recently teased his boxing debut on social media. On Instagram, Aldo wrote:
"Save the date, we gon’ run this town. 10.02"
Save the date: 10/02 👀
Jose Aldo announced his retirement from mixed martial arts after Merab Dvalishvili ended his three-fight winning streak at UFC 278. Most recently, during the broadcast of UFC 283, it was announced that the former WEC and UFC featherweight champion will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame Class of 2023.
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Conor McGregor, Max Holloway react to Jose Aldo's induction into the UFC Hall of Fame
Jose Aldo will be enshrined in history during the 2023 UFC Hall of Fame ceremony in July. The announcement was made during the broadcast of UFC 283, and Aldo, who was in attendance, was moved to tears by the organization's recognition.
Watch @JoseAldoJunior react to being the first member of the 2023 #UFCHOF class 🏆
[ Presented by @ToyoTires ] https://t.co/gMQeRIiLIQ
Aldo is slated to join the Fighter Wing of the UFC Hall of Fame, home to legends such as Georges St-Pierre, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Daniel Cormier, Michael Bisping, Ronda Rousey, and B.J. Penn.
Former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway, who has shared the octagon twice with Jose Aldo, defeating him both times via TKO, reacted to the Brazilian receiving the distinguished honor on Twitter. 'Blessed' tweeted:
"Congrats to the King of Rio on the hall of fame! Please celebrate with açaí and cashews for me @josealdojunior #UFChallofFame."
Congrats to the King of Rio on the hall of fame! Please celebrate with açaí and cashews for me 🤙🏻 @josealdojunior #UFChallofFame
Conor McGregor, who Aldo shared a memorable rivarly with, also took to Twitter to congratulate 'The King of Rio'. The Irishman simply tweeted "earned" reacting to Aldo's Hall of Fame induction.
Earned! twitter.com/TheMacLife/sta…