8 things that you may not know about Jose Aldo Jr.
Jose Aldo Jr. the man is as interesting a study, if not more, as the fighterBefore the dust has even settled surrounding Ronda Rousey’s head kick knockout at the hands(or should i say feet?) of Holly Holm at UFC 193, fight fans around the globe have been afforded little leeway to catch their breath, given that the hugely anticipated clash between Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor at UFC 194 is only around the corner.While UFC 193 was as assertive, a confirmation as one could hope to receive about the utter unpredictability of MMA, perhaps in hindsight, it was indeed a blessing in disguise that the fight between Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor did not come to pass at UFC 189.That being said, while the fanfare and hype surrounding the build-up to their encounter has been second to none, it still beguiles as to how exactly Conor McGregor has been listed as the odds-on favourite for the fight ahead of the reigning, defending UFC Featherweight Champion of the World, Jose Aldo.Regardless, for anyone who has seen Jose Aldo fight, the laid back attitude and soft-spoken nature that he displays outside of the octagon merely serves as the perfect foil for his uncontained explosiveness inside it.Ranging from highly debilitating leg kicks to blitzing flurries of combinations, Aldo has been proving himself as a fighter par excellence for the last decade but Jose Aldo the man hardly advertises himself unlike his upcoming opponent.With that in mind, here are 8 things that you may not know about Jose Aldo Junior, the human being behind the champion.
#1 Rags to riches
Without being cliched, Jose Aldo’s life story could just as easily have been lifted off a movie script, and quite rightly is taking the form of one in Brazil given his meteoric rise from the impoverished streets of Manaus into global superstardom.
Borne of a father who grappled with his drinking problems and a mother who left home when he was just 14, unable to bear the abuse, Jose Aldo’s journey from obscurity into being considered as one of the pound-for-pound best fighters in the world has not been without its overt share of challenges, but also stands testament to the man’s ability to embrace the grind.
Growing up in a neighbourhood where travelling to the capital of the country, Rio de Janeiro, was considered to be a dream that was realistically out of reach, it wouldn’t be inappropriate to single out Jose Aldo as a true inspiration to the kids littering the streets of Brazil.
Too often have fighters been described as inspirations, but Jose Aldo’s story can genuinely and rightfully stake its claim; after all, a true tale of rags to riches in every sense is painstakingly rare in today’s world.