Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor were once bitter rivals, but the former featherweight champion says their relationship has been completely transformed and the two now exchange messages and share genuine goodwill.
Speaking to Jackpot City Casino, Aldo explained how things have changed in the years since their 13-second UFC featherweight title fight at UFC 194 in December 2015, a bout that ended Aldo’s historic championship reign and one that Aldo has spoken openly about as a moment where his hatred for McGregor cost him.
“What is my relationship with Conor like now? It’s very good,” Aldo said. “Not just with Conor, but with all my opponents, I’ve always had respect and a certain fondness for everyone. We exchange messages now and then. Recently I told him I was very happy he accepted Jesus as his saviour. I congratulated him and all that.”
McGregor has been open in recent months about a significant personal and spiritual transformation, discussing his faith publicly following trauma treatment. Aldo’s acknowledgment of that journey reflects a warmth toward his former rival that would have seemed unthinkable during the intensity of their 2015 lead-up.
“Brazilian fans feel strongly because of how our fight went and everything that happened. But I have a good relationship with him and I always wish him the best. I hope he continues on the right path and does great things in life,” Aldo continued.
On the subject of McGregor’s expected return against Max Holloway at UFC 329 on July 11, Aldo offered his view on why the matchup makes sense.
“If it happened now, I think it would be a great fight for both Conor and Holloway. Both are stand-up fighters, similar in age, it’s a great matchup and a great comeback opportunity for Conor.”
Aldo himself is expected to fight on the same UFC 329 card after being passed over for a spot on the UFC White House event.
Jose Aldo appeared during the main card of UFC Rio, as the UFC granted him the ability to make one more entrance into the Octagon as he laid the gloves down in the center.
This formalized the retirement of Aldo, who entered the UFC Hall of Fame in 2023 before a three-fight comeback between 2024 and 2025.
Aldo was joined by his family in the Octagon.
The King of Rio lays them down in front of the home crowd 👑🇧🇷
i love Jose Aldo. all my friends love Jose Aldo. what the UFC did to this man in terms of matchmaking when he went to BW is disgusting. this man could have been a two time champion 🐐
Aldo made his professional MMA debut in 2004, winning his first seven fights in a row. After a loss in 2005, Aldo would go on a longer win streak, collecting 18 consecutive victories between May 2006 and December 2015.
Aldo defeated Mike Brown at WEC 44 for the WEC featherweight title, going on to defend the belt against Urijah Faber and Manny Gamburyan. Aldo then joined the UFC following the WEC merger, starting out his time in the UFC as the inaugural UFC featherweight champion.
Aldo defended the UFC title seven consecutive times, defeating the likes of Chad Mendes, Frankie Edgar, and “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung-Jung, before losing the title to Conor McGregor at UFC 196. He’d then defeat Frankie Edgar at UFC 200 for the interim championship before being promoted back to undisputed champion — only to lose the belt to Max Holloway at UFC 212.
Aldo then dropped to bantamweight and fought Petr Yan for the then-vacant title at UFC 251, getting finished in the fifth round. Aldo’s career seemed to end after a loss to current bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 278.
In 2023, Aldo fought in a pair of boxing bouts, battling Jeremy Stephens to a draw and scoring a finish of Esteban Gabriel Espindola. Aldo then fought three times for the UFC, defeating Jonathan Martinez before losses to Mario Bautista and Aiemann Zahabi.
For the first time in a decade, the UFC arrived to Montreal, looking to bring the Bell Centre a night of memorable action with two title fights and some rising stars to watch out for.
It was the UFC’s first visit to the biggest city in the Canadian province of Quebec since UFC 186 in 2015 — a card that was headlined by Demetrious Johnson retaining the UFC flyweight title against Kyoji Horiguchui.
Though Canadian talent was featured during the course of the evening, the main event’s focus was on the welterweight championship clash between Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena.
Muhammad had entered UFC 315 on an unbeaten streak that stretched back to 2019. He had risen his way up the ranks and all the way up to the UFC championship, taking out names such as Demian Maia, Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, Sean Brady and Gilbert Burns. He captured the gold with a decision win over Leon Edwards at UFC 304.
Standing across the cage from him was Jack Della Maddalena — who was given this opportunity a couple of months ago when Shavkat Rakhmonov was still unable to make the walk due to injury. JDM hadn’t lost since dropping his first two bouts as a pro and was a perfect 7-0 in the UFC. It was also JDM’s first fight since defeating Burns at UFC 299 last year.
Gold was also on the line in the co-main event as Valentina Shevchenko looked to defend the UFC women’s flyweight championship against Manon Fiorot.
This was Shevchenko’s first fight not against Alexa Grasso since recapturing the 125-pound title in their trilogy fight back in September. Outside of the 20 months or so that Grasso was wearing the gold, Shevchenko had been dominating the division since winning the title at UFC 231 in December 2018. Most, if not all, challengers that came up against her were completely outclassed.
Like her title challenger counterpart on the evening, Fiorot hadn’t lost a fight since her own professional MMA debut. Fiorot had quickly made impressions since entering the UFC, taking out notable names in the division that included Mayra Bueno Silva, Jennifer Maia, Katlyn Cerminara, Rose Namajunas and Erin Blanchfield.
Who delivered in Canada? Who didn’t? Let’s go into it together with the hits and misses of UFC 315!
I had been in debate about whether or not to include this, given Bruno Silva being stretchered out at the end of this fight. But with Silva seemingly okay in the UFC’s updates, and “bonuses” misses I need to give, I’ve decided to give this a hit.
Marc-André Barriault had one of the earliest strong performances on the night, finishing Silva during the early prelims. After both men landed big early and Silva momentarily dumped Barriault to the mat, Barriault put Silva away with some vicious elbows in the clinch. They didn’t just do big damage, but one of them dropped Silva out cold.
It was an incredible and much-needed performance for Barriault. Coming into this fight off three straight losses, Barriault may have been facing the chopping block with a loss here. Instead, he gets to have a major knockout and memorable performance in front of a crowd in his home country.
Miss – Whatever Those Judges’ Scorecards Were
To quote commentary after Melvin Manhoef vs. Rafael Carvalho at Bellator 155, “The only thing more disappointing than that fight, was that horrendous decision.” Not only was Mondestas Bukauskas vs. Ion Cutelaba a letdown, but the nature of the bout’s decision left MMA fans either scratching their heads or filled with rage.
Though it wasn’t his most exciting performance, Cutelaba appeared to do enough over three rounds. He applied early pressured, delivered damaging calf kicks and had strong clinch work. Though Bukauskas had his moments — especially in the final round where he stuffed takedowns and landed counters — his overall output was inconsistent. Despite Cutelaba’s early work, the judges were split in baffling fashion.
— Pistol Van Buren 🇵🇸 (@pistolvonbrown) May 11, 2025
Even if you don’t consider this fight a robbery, the nature of the scorecards being all over the place is what is confusing. How do we get to a point where there is a 30-27 scorecard for one fighter and a 30-27 for the other? How the heck did Pasquale Procopio see all three rounds for Bukauskas anyway? There are more questions than answers, and we’re never going to get any (I have problems with two judges giving Belal Muhammad round one in his fight against Jack Della Maddalena, too, but I digress…)
Once again, coming out of an MMA card, we’re talking about bad judging. How is it 2025 and we’re still on this? It’s tiring, and if we’re not going to get the Global/PRIDE scoring system into the Unified Rules of MMA, then why can’t we at least hear from judges after controversial scorecards like these? Sadly, that’ll never happen.
Hit – Jasmine Jasudavicius On The Rise
I’ve been a fan of Jasmine Jasudavicius for a little while now, and it’s clear that she may be a future star in the flyweight division after the performance she put on in the win over former strawweight champion Jessica Andrade.
Using her physical advantages, Jasudavicius overwhelmed Andrade on the feet before taking her down with ease. She then swiftly transitioned into a rear-naked choke for the submission win.
JASMINE JASUAVICIUS SUBMITS JESSICA ANDRADE IN ROUND 1 👏
The performance was as emphatic as it was efficient, pushing Jasudavicius firmly into title contention. Will she be next in line for a shot at the title? No. But this fight has shown she’s ready for top competition. And it will be interesting to see what Jasudavicius can do against another notable contender in the division right now — be it former champ Alexa Grasso, Erin Blanchfield, Maycee Barber or Rose Namajunas.
Hit – Is Natalia Silva Ready For A Title Shot?
Jasmine Jasudavicius may be still another couple of fights away from a title shot. Natalia Silva, on the other hand, may be next in line after her strong win over former champion Alexa Grasso.
Silva utilized her speed and sharp strikes to control all three rounds against the former champion. Silva repeatedly found success with leg kicks, quick combinations and slick footwork, while Grasso struggled to find openings and momentum.
Silva has now scored victories over two former UFC champions in Jessica Andrade and Grasso. And the kind of performance she put on against the very woman who interrupted Valentina Shevchenko’s dominance at 125 might be enough to make her next in line for the gold. If not, a title eliminator against another top-5 ranked performer isn’t out of the question — and a win there would make it undeniable.
Hit – A Wild Third Round Between Jose Aldo And Aiemann Zahabi
Jose Aldo’s MMA career might not have ended with a win or a tribute video package. But it did end with an exciting bout against Aiemann Zahabi that included a final round that could be up for Round of the Year nominations in any MMA End of Year awards.
Aldo’s forward pressure and combinations had brought him an early edge in the fight, but a strong performance in the second round from Zahabi made the fight close. The third round, however, saw wild momentum swings. Aldo dropped Zahabi early but couldn’t find the finish. A fatigued Aldo when saw Zahabi capitalize, unloading punches, elbows, and ground-and-pound as he looked for a finish of his own. In a fight that saw so close, Zahabi’s late momentum in the final two rounds earned him the nod in a fight that could have been scored either way.
Though Zahabi is 37, this win continues a string of success he has been on for the last five years now. People will have their opinions on how he’d perform against the best contenders in a stacked bantamweight division, but it can’t be denied that he’s at least earned the opportunity to fight a top-10 contender at 135 now.
Hit – A Tribute To A Legendary Career
I could focus on Aldo’s weight issues entering this week. I could focus on his gas tank emptying out during the flurry in the third round. But I’m not going to do any of that.
I’m instead going to take the time and pay my respects to one of the greatest careers this sport has seen. Jose Aldo is one of the reasons we talk about the lighter weight classes in the modern day and age of MMA. During the times when the UFC wasn’t hosting fights below 155 pounds, people like Jose Aldo were making a killing and showing their talents. Aldo dominated the featherweight scene in the WEC, and that continued when he became the inaugural UFC featherweight champion, pulling off victory after victory before competing against Conor McGregor at UFC 194 — one of the industry’s most memorable and highly publicized title fights.
The King of Rio is hanging up the gloves🇧🇷👑
Congratulations on a great career inside the Octagon @JoseAldoJunior 👏
From Cub Swanson to Urijah Faber, from Chad Mendes to “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung-Jung, from Frankie Edgar to Max Holloway, Jose Aldo has been in the cage with some of the greatest to ever be in this sport. And not only did he dominate in his prime, but Aldo even showed he could still go as he nears 39 years of age.
A happy retirement to the legend and UFC Hall of Famer! A toast to his memorable career!
Hit – One Step Closer To The Next Women’s Superfight?
There were plenty of questions about Valentina Shevchenko heading into this fight. In spite of winning back the women’s flyweight title in September, the interruption to her reign, combined with Manon Fiorot’s size and winning streak, led to Shevchenko being pegged as the underdog heading into this fight despite being defending champ.
But Shevchenko proved how oddsmakers sometimes just don’t get it.
Shevchenko started strong with sharp striking and a takedown in the first round, but Fiorot took control in the middle rounds with clinch control and increased aggression. Shevchenko tried to take momentum back in the fourth with powerful body kicks, a takedown, and a knockdown in the closing seconds. The fifth round remained tight, but Shevchenko’s consistency and impactful moments throughout earned her the unanimous decision on all three scorecards.
So, what’s next for Shevchenko? There are still a couple of names in contention (like the aforementioned Silva and Jasudavicius). But, of course, the fight plenty of people want to see is a superfight between Shevchenko and women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang. Zhang will probably still have to deal with Virna Jandiroba, then depending on if the UFC matchmakers want Silva as the next flyweight challenger or not, a Zhang win there could mean there can’t be another fight but it.
Hit – JDM Turns Opportunity Into Gold
Jack Della Maddalena would have gotten the opportunity to be a champion tonight. He was supposed to be fighting in the main event of UFC London a couple of months ago, taking on Leon Edwards. But with Shavkat Rakhmonov still on the sidelines, JDM was granted the chance to challenge Belal Muhammad. Now, after 25 minutes in the Octagon, JDM has managed to turn a sudden chance into a jackpot, walking out of UFC 315 the new UFC welterweight champion.
JDM largely dictated the pace with technical striking. Muhammad held his own early and even managed to secure some positional control late, including a takedown and brief back control in round four. JDM’s striking volume and accuracy, as well as his ability to stuff takedowns, however, kept him in control for most of the fight. Despite Muhammad’s best efforts in the fifth, including a moment where he appeared to wobble his challenger in the fifth and landed ground control, JDM consistently rebounded and reasserted his rhythm, likely sealing a close but clear decision win and the championship.
You have to feel good for someone like JDM completing his rise toward the gold. This opens up a lot of potential options for what could be next at 170, and here’s hoping that this injects some excitement in the division.
On that note of what could be next, however…
Miss – No Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria?
A longstanding belief heading into this past weekend’s card was that a JDM win would result in Islam Makhachev moving up to 170 to challenge him for the UFC welterweight championship. That very well may still be the case even though there’s no official announcement yet.
Time to become a double champion #inshaAllah Let’s go
But it those are the plans, then unfortunately JDM’s victory brings us a monkey’s paw scenario. As it would mean a lightweight title fight between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria would be off.
Let me state this for the record: I was not a fan of Topuria’s decision to vacate the featherweight championship. Though he won the belt and retained it once against two of the greats in, respectively, Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway (the former of whom has now regained the title), there were still fights to be had for Topuria at 145. He didn’t clear the division; Diego Lopes and Movsar Evloev were chomping at the bit for title opportunities. Topuria’s reign was supposed to present us with fresh ideas for the division.
That said, if we don’t get to see Topuria vs. Makhachev, it will be a disappoint. These two are without question two of the best athletes in the sport. And in a time when we say MMA is in a recession, in a time when Jon Jones seems to not want to unify the heavyweight title with Tom Aspinall, in a time in which the sport’s biggest star ever in Conor McGregor appears to be out of the picture for good now (for better or worse [maybe and instead of or]), and when one of the UFC’s other pound-for-pound names in Alex Pereira appears to be having negotiation issues with the promotion, a major fight like Topuria vs. Makhachev is a welcome sight.
Topuria vs. Oliveira and JDM vs. Makhachev are solid fights, but it will be a case of “what could have been” if this is the case. And if Topuria vs. Makhachev does ever end up getting booked, we’d hope it’s not a case of “[insert timeframe here] too late.”
But on that note…
Miss – STILL No UFC 317 Main Event?
UFC CEO Dana White promised us an answer to the questions regarding a UFC 317 main event (including the situations seen above) following UFC 315. But lo and behold, UFC 315 has come and gone, and we still don’t have an answer.
White didn’t even appear at the press conference. Instead, Dave Shaw, the UFC’s Senior Vice President of International Operations, was there and promised an answer would be delivered in the coming week.
From the time of this piece’s publication, we are 47 days out from UFC 317, which is this year’s International Fight Week card. It’s had it’s fair share of shake-ups to main events in its history, but it’s always an event UFC puts a lot of stock into.
And with just under seven weeks to go, an event that has all these attached events to it — a Hall of Fame induction ceremony, fan expo, etc. — has no announced main event. Even UFC 318 to be held the following month has a main event announced.
UFC 315 was supposed to give us answers. Right now we’re still left with questions, and if we don’t get answers in a few days time, the UFC needs to be given even more flack.
After coming out of retirement almost exactly one year ago, UFC Hall of Famer Jose Aldo hung up the gloves again at UFC 315, following a loss in a highly competitive battle with Aiemann Zahabi.
During his Octagon interview, Aldo reflected on how he didn’t have the heart for competing in MMA anymore.
He reiterated these points on social media on May 11, while simultaneously desiring more time to be with his family and giving thanks to the UFC and Dana White.
This may have been my last time inside the Octagon. This week, I faced one of the biggest battles of my life, and it wasn’t against an opponent, but within myself.
Over the past few years, I rekindled the dream of becoming a champion once again. I trained as I always did, gave… pic.twitter.com/Cv9FVWsLt7
“Over the past few years, I rekindled the dream of becoming a champion once again. I trained as I always did, gave more than I ever had. But while cutting weight, something inside me said: “You don’t need to do this anymore.” And I listened.
“It’s time to move forward. To live for my wife, for my kids. To celebrate the story I wrote with every war, every belt earned through blood and faith.”
Jose Aldo Says He’s Listening To Inner Self In Choosing To Retire
Aldo and Zahabi were originally scheduled to compete in a bantamweight bout. Aldo, however, reportedly had difficulties in making the weight, and the decision was made to change the fight to a featherweight one on the day of UFC 315 weigh-ins.
Aldo seemed to get the better of Zahabi’s slow start early on, working his combinations on the rising contender. But Zahabi picked up momentum toward the end of the round, and the second frame was a back-and-forth, 50-50 battle.
Aldo appeared to stun Zahabi during the third round and rushed for the finish. Aldo, however, seemed to gas out, resulting in Zahabi taking over and going on to win the fight via a controversial unanimous decision.
Aldo came out of retirement last year at UFC 304, defeating Jonathan Martinez. Aldo then dropped another controversial decision, this time against Mario Bautsita, at UFC 307.
Aldo, the longtime former UFC and WEC featherweight champion, had originally retired in September 2022, the same day his son was born and one month after dropping a decision to current bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 278.
Jose Aldo’s UFC comeback ends at three fights, but he gets to go out after an entertaining battle with Aiemann Zahabi — albeit one he came up short in controversially — in a featured contest at UFC 315.
Zahabi was slow to come out of the gate, and Aldo took advantage of that. Aldo worked combinations and brought about the forward pressure, clearly out-pacing, and in some cases overwhelming, Zahabi. Zahabi did have a strong rush at the end of the first round, and he looked to bring that momentum into the second round. The result was a better round, but nothing dominant from either man. The second saw both men have their moments in terms of striking, a back-and-forth battle that could have fallen either way.
The momentum took major swings in the third round. Aldo connected with a right hand and a knee that dropped Zahabi. Aldo swarmed on a retreating Zahabi, looking to get a finish. Zahabi survived, however, and it appeared that Aldo had gassed himself out. Zahabi stringed punches together, landing a series of shots on the MMA legend. Aldo went for a takedown but got nothing but Zahabi going on top and laying ground-and-pound into him, including some elbows in the fight’s final minute. The elbows busted Aldo open in the final minute of the fight. Zahabi slammed Aldo a couple of times in the closing seconds, but the horn would sound.
Jose Aldo has fought: – Conor McgGregor – Cub Swanson – Petr Yan – Merab – Alex Volkanovski – Renato Moicano – Max Holloway 2x – Chad Mendes 2x – Korean Zombie – Frankie Edgar – Urijah Faber – Ken Flo
Maybe one of the worst decisions of the sport mma was Aldo getting back to the ufc after he retired!!! Unbelievable the last 2 fights!!! Fucking robbery!! #ufc315
This comes as both fighters, who dominated their respective featherweight divisions in Bellator and UFC for years, find themselves under the same promotional banner.
Pitbull, with a stellar 24-6 record in Bellator, sees the fight as a resolution to a long-standing “what if” scenario.
“I don’t have this desire to fight Aldo, nothing like that, but for the context, if an offer comes from the UFC, I would be happy to take it,” Pitbull stated to MMA Fighting.
While Pitbull doesn’t believe a victory over Aldo would definitively crown him the greatest featherweight of all time, he recognizes its significance in settling a long-debated topic. He feels that there’s a bias towards UFC fighters in these discussions.
“For Aldo and people in the UFC, everybody is sure he’s the best featherweight of all time,” Pitbull said, “But some people that know fighting [say], ‘There’s also Patricio, and maybe he could be fighting for the title of who’s the greatest.’”
He proposes that a fight would provide a tangible answer, even if it wouldn’t fully define their legacies.
“We know it wouldn’t determine who was the best or who has done more, but in a fight we would at least have an answer, we’d know who catches fire first, and the winner would leave a great mark.”
Pitbull’s career boasts titles in both Bellator’s featherweight and lightweight divisions, including a victory over RIZIN’s featherweight champion Kleber Koike. His attempt to capture the bantamweight title from Sergio Pettis was unsuccessful, but he remains open to exploring different weight classes within the UFC.
“Depending on the challenge, we’d do it,” Pitbull said, indicating his willingness to compete from 135 to 170 pounds. He emphasizes the importance of the opponent’s history and experience, suggesting he’d be more inclined to fight a seasoned veteran.
The potential fight between Pitbull and Aldo carries significant weight, representing a clash of two eras and promotions. It would serve not only as a spectacle for fans but also as a means to settle a debate that has persisted for years. Pitbull’s entry into the UFC and his openness to this matchup have added an intriguing layer to the promotion’s landscape, generating anticipation for what could be a historic encounter.
According to UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili, neither the man from whom he took the title nor the one he recently defended it against come close to being among his toughest opposition.
Dvalishvili has been on a tear in recent years, winning 10 straight to finally earn a shot at the 135-pound gold on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage, capturing it from Sean O’Malley, and retaining it at the expense of previously undefeated Dagestani Umar Nurmagomedov.
Prior to his championship bouts, the Georgian got past a trio of former champions in José Aldo, Petr Yan, and Henry Cejudo. And interestingly, Dvalishvili places all three above “Suga” and Nurmagomedov in terms of opponent difficulty.
The reigning champion recently ranked his past five foes from easiest to hardest in a video uploaded to X by @judobetter995. He placed the man he defeated at UFC 311 this year, Nurmagomedov, in fifth. The bantamweight he dethroned inside the Sphere last September didn’t fare much better, coming in at fourth.
Merab ranks his last 5 fights from easiest to hardest
5. Umar Nurmagomedov 4. Sean O’malley 3. Henry Cejudo 2. Petr Yan 1. Jose Aldo pic.twitter.com/ckQycPjxMD
Judging by the list, Dvalishvili’s toughest bout of the five came in August 2022, when he outpointed Aldo at UFC 278 in Salt Lake City. The manner of victory was widely criticized, and perhaps contributed to the Georgian having to defeat both Yan and Cejudo before getting his opportunity at the strap.
The return of legendary former UFC featherweight champion José Aldo is set for the upcoming May pay-per-view in Canada.
Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is heading back to “The Great White North” later this year to stage a numbered event inside Montreal’s Bell Centre, where championship defenses for Belal Muhammad and Valentina Shevchenko will headline.
A number of notable names are slated to compete on the undercard, including the likes of Alexa Grasso, Gilbert Burns, and Jéssica Andrade. And this week saw another former champion added to the equation, with Aldo (32-9) scheduled to face Aiemann Zahabi (12-2) in enemy territory.
For the #11-ranked Aldo, the contest marks his third since returning from a short-lived retirement. The Brazilian has gone 1-1 thus far, defeating Jonathan Martinez at UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro last May but falling short against Mario Bautista five months later in Salt Lake City.
#13-ranked contender Zahabi, meanwhile, has won five straight fights to climb the ladder at 135 pounds. The Canadian 37-year-old most recently outpointed veteran Pedro Munhoz in Edmonton last November.
With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at UFC 315 in Montreal on May 10 are as follows:
Belal Muhammad (C) vs. Jack Della Maddalena (welterweight championship)
Valentina Shevchenko vs. Manon Fiorot (women’s flyweight championship)
José Aldo vs. Aiemann Zahabi (bantamweight)
Alexa Grasso vs. Natália Silva (women’s flyweight)
Gilbert Burns vs. Michael Morales (welterweight)
Jéssica Andrade vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius (women’s flyweight)
Mike Malott vs. Charles Radtke (welterweight)
Marc-André Barriault vs. Bruno Silva (middleweight)
Brad Katona vs. Bekzat Almakhan (bantamweight)
Hailey Cowan vs. Nora Cornolle (women’s bantamweight)
Whether he’s coming off of a win or not, the name of MMA legend José Aldo is always going to carry significant weight in the UFC. His recent loss to Mario Bautista at UFC 307 didn’t seem to hurt the stock of the Brazilian icon at all, partly due to the controversial outcome.
Aldo is always going to be a big draw, especially at home in Brazil, and that makes it easy for him to jump right into big fights even when his last two opponents have been Bautista and Jonathan Martinez.
However, “Suga” also stated that if this fight doesn’t materialize, getting to share the Octagon with a legend like Aldo would be “f****** crazy”. There is ten spots in the bantamweight rankings between them but given their name value and the match-up, O’Malley vs. Aldo would be a fight that a lot of people would pay to see.
Reacting to an article posted by MMA News about O’Malley’s comments, Aldo made it clear in very few characters that he’s also open to this match-up.
The former featherweight king posted on X, quoting the article and adding two simple emojis to let his fans know what he thinks about the idea of standing across the cage from O’Malley once the former champ is fully recovered from his recent surgery.
Across three rounds, the 31-year-old achieved that feat, extending his winning run to seven and securing a rise to #9 in the rankings by falling on the right side of a split decision verdict in Utah.
Bautista Claims Aldo Could Have Escaped Positions At UFC 307, Opted Not To
During a recent interview on MMA Junkie Radio, Bautista reflected on his successful display in Salt Lake City on Oct. 5, which saw his record’s win column receive its biggest addition to date.
“I just wanted him to keep on working. I just wanted him to break out of the clinch, use that energy to get out. And then just kind of stay stuck to him. Keep him working, working,” Bautista said. “I just didn’t really think he was going to — I don’t know, I guess just stay on the wall.
“I thought he was going to get out. … There were points where like, yeah he was defending the takedown and maybe he could have circled off, but he just chose to stay there,” Bautista continued. “Yeah, I was holding him against the cage. But at the same, I think he did have opportunities to circle off, it’s just he chose not to. … Maybe that’s his resting area. … ‘Maybe the ref will separate us and I’ll be able to get my strikes off,’ and this and that.”
Bautista went on to say that, as a fan of the sport himself, frustration in that situation should always be toward the fighter who is unable to break the clinch and circle away.
In addition to the portions of the fanbase giving him stick, Bautista also hit back at one specific individual on social media post-fight, taking aim at Henry Cejudo for the former champ’s negative assessment of his UFC 307 performance.
You already turned down the fight pre Aldo! My performance? You haven’t won a fight in 4 years and your last two you got beat at your own game! Got out wrestled and pretty much got teched your last one..”champ” https://t.co/atAb4iaXJm
Former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw doesn’t have much sympathy for José Aldo after he came up short in Salt Lake City this past weekend.
Aldo returned on the main card of the UFC 307 pay-per-view on Oct. 5, making his second appearance inside the Octagon since bringing his short-lived retirement to an end in Rio de Janeiro earlier this year.
While the Brazilian immediately forged a path back into the rankings at 135 pounds by getting the better of Jonathan Martinez, Mario Bautista was able to spoil his plans for a late-career title shot in Utah.
Dillashaw differed from many with his take on Aldo vs. Bautista. He insisted that the ex-featherweight kingpin could have done much more to avoid granting Bautista such a long period of control in round three, which ultimately proved to be the difference.
“It surprises me…there’s techniques like this that (Aldo) doesn’t like — get off the cage,” Dillashaw said. “The loss for him, like with the fight cards, they thought Aldo should’ve won. I don’t know. He kept himself there (against the cage). Like, I’m not too mad. He lost the fight himself.”
It remains to be seen what comes next for Aldo, who was hoping to defend his spot inside the bantamweight top 10 in Salt Lake City before focusing on those above him.
Renato Moicano is arguably at the prime of his career in terms of momentum and popularity. His four-fight win streak as a UFC lightweight includes popular names like Jalin Turner, Benoit Saint-Denis, and Drew Dober, and he’s eyeing to fight the biggest stars in the division now.
Many fans believe Moicano to be a rising prospect because of his charisma on the mic. However, he’s been in the UFC since 2014 and has fought the best of the best in the UFC featherweight division until moving up a weight class.
Moicano faced José Aldo in the biggest match of his career in 2019. He lost via second-round TKO but claims he could’ve emerged victorious with a game plan similar to Mario Bautista…
Renato Moicano Claims Mario Bautista Will Benefit From Beating José Aldo Like Alexander Volkanovski And Merab Dvalishvili Despite Controversy
Moicano, Gilbert Burns, and Matty Betts discussed all things UFC in the latest episode of Show Me The Money podcast on YouTube. Interestingly, Burns believes Aldo lost the fight because Bautista could hold him against the cage. The UFC welterweight instead blamed the referee for allowing the stalling.
Moicano understandably had a completely different concern. In 2019, he was definitely fighting a much better version of the Brazilian legend and a victory could’ve helped him secure a title shot. After UFC 307, Moicano believes he should’ve held Aldo against the cage as well but admitted that he wasn’t aware of the strategy.
“I’m so mad that I lose to José Aldo because if I knew that he could not escape to the cage, I would do the same thing. Because, when I was like, supposed to fight José Aldo, I say, okay, I’m not taking this motherf****r down because he has a 100%…90% takedown defense ratio. But, he cannot escape the cage, unbelievable! Because Mario Bautista is not strong, he doesn’t look strong.”
The Brazilian fighters did acknowledge that Aldo might’ve been less active in the clinch because of fatigue. It is important to note that the fight took place in Salt Lake City, Utah, a venue notorious for affecting athletes’ cardio because of altitude.
The UFC lightweight contender also went against the masses and claimed that having Aldo on his resume will benefit Bautista in the long run. The likes of Merab Dvalishvili and Alexander Volkanovski were criticized for how they beat the former UFC featherweight champ too but over the years, their wins aged like fine wine.
“You know, once you beat a guy like José Aldo. Remember Merab or Volkanovski, everybody was talking s**t about the performance back in the day. Nobody cares anymore. Everybody say he beat Aldo, you know, and I think it’s going to be exactly the same. People forget.”
Moicano didn’t agree with Burns and stated Aldo was robbed at UFC 307, though. He just identifies several positives for Bautista as well and thinks that the American bantamweight contender can still turn his career around for good.
Mario Bautista has taken a lot of criticism following the biggest win of his career at UFC 307 this past weekend.
He knew that it was always going to be tough for him to get support from the majority of the fan base when you’re going up against a legend of the game like José Aldo. However, it wasn’t just that he defeated a beloved fighter, it was the way that the contest ended up playing out.
Mario Bautista Believes He’s Getting Hate From The Fans For Ruining Their Bets
In a recent interview with James Lynch for Sportskeeda, Bautista spoke about some of the intense messages that he has received from fans that are annoyed about his win. Though the conversation about the scorecards and his method of victory hasn’t helped proceedings, he also believes that there is another factor.
Bautista said that many of the messages he has been recieving reference the fact that a lot of people lost money on this fight because they bet on Aldo and felt like he should have won. “The King of Rio” closed the fight as the underdog, meaning that he will have been a staple of many parlays, especially considering his performance earlier this year.
“I would get hate no matter what, win or lose so and I do think that’s a big part too because I was a favorite coming into that and I know people are just going to put their money on Aldo for sure so I know people lost a lot of money, quite a bit of people it seems like. Even like in the messages and stuff, they say that. ‘You made me lose my parley,’ and this and that and they say a bunch of other stuff too but I think the main thing behind it is losing those bets.”
Fans didn’t seem happy with Bautista keeping the former UFC featherweight champ in a clinch. The rising bantamweight prospect couldn’t secure a single takedown despite ten attempts and even during the clinch, he prioritized control over damage which was unusual.
Bautista belongs to the same team as Sean O’Malley and the latter’s coach Tim Welch backed his fighter for trying to win the fight. However, he was instantly called out for doing so…
Sean O’Malley’s Coach Explains Why Mario Bautista Played It Safe Against José Aldo At UFC 307
While reacting to UFC 307 on his YouTube channel, Tim Welch looked elated for Bautista winning his seventh fight in a row. With a couple more wins, he can aim to enter the top five and eventually fight for the UFC bantamweight title.
To be fair, Bautista has always been an active fighter inside the Octagon. His wins over Ricky Simón and Jin Soo Son are great examples of the same. He possesses several tools, including shoulder strikes and knees that work like a charm during a clinch.
According to Welch, the American fighter kept it safe against Aldo to make sure he won the fight and got the full pay. While this is an understandable take, the coach was instantly called out for heavily criticizing Merab Dvalishvili’s wrestling-heavy game plan against O’Malley.
“People are pissed about it. But you got to remember, Mario’s got a family and if he loses the fight, he makes half the amount of money he would’ve if he would win the fight. He’s not going to make a crazy amount of money, a big win bonus, if he goes and sits and slugs it out and potentially gets KO’ed by one of the nastiest strikers ever. He went in there with good game plan, he came in in shape, he did what he had to do to win the fight and if you were in that position, you’d probably do the same.”
Some fans also pointed out that Dvalishvili was more active than Bautista. The UFC bantamweight champion not only secured several takedowns at UFC 306 but also remained active on the ground. So, Welch favoring Bautista after rejecting Dvalishvili didn’t sit well with many.
Image: Tim Welch on YouTube
It is worth noting that Welch has recently admitted to “Machine” having a great game plan against O’Malley at UFC 306. However, it seems like most people in the MMA circle still remember him trying to claim “Suga” won and rooting for damage-based scoring in fights.
UFC 307 took place tonight from the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights!
In the main event, Alex Pereira put his light heavyweight title on the line against Khalil Rountree. While in the co-main event, Raquel Pennington looked to defend her women’s bantamweight title against former champ Julianna Peña.
UFC 307 Results: Main Card
Light Heavyweight Championship: Alex Pereira def. Khalil Rountree via TKO: R4, 4.32
After Kevin Holland sustained a rib injury, the ringside doctor deemed him unfit to fight and therefore Roman Dolidze was awarded a TKO win at the end of the first round.
José Aldo came close but ultimately fell short in a decision at UFC 307, losing to Mario Bautista.
Bautista looked to take control of the action right away, bringing out a heavy leg kick attack — landing 23 of them in the first round. Additionally, Aldo seemed inactive outside of a few late shots, with the American landing his fair share and pinning the former featherweight champion against the fence more than once.
Aldo, however, landed a pair of harsh jabs, one of which busted Bautista open around one of his eyes. The Brazilian started to work his jabs and combinations. The 31-year-old, however, continued to bring forward pressure and looked to tire Aldo out further with his wrestling-based attack.
Bautista continued to bring his pressure into the third round. And while Aldo tried to get anything going, the #11-ranked contender continued to go for takedowns and use a wrestle-heavy approach, forcing Aldo to defend.
Mario Bautista Stalls Title Plans Of Former Champion José Aldo Via Split Decision At UFC 307
Also stop matching him up with up-and-comers like Martinez and Bautista? Utter waste of his last few years. He needs to be fighting guys like Cruz, Cejudo… Fun legacy fights with guys of his vintage. https://t.co/ETYcffLMex
After initially retiring in late 2022 following a loss to current UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili, Aldo returned to the Octagon at UFC 301 this past May, defeating Jonathan Martinez. “Junior,” a former UFC featherweight champion, was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2023.
Bautista, meanwhile, entered tonight on a six-fight win streak, most recently defeating Ricky Simón at the UFC Apex in January.
After capturing the gold in November 2023 and withstanding challenges from Jamahal Hill and Jiří Procházka this year, “Poatan” is next tasked with stalling the championship ambitions of Khalil Rountree to continue his reign atop the 205-pound mountain.
Title stakes will also be present for the co-main event, which will see Raquel Pennington make her first defense of the bantamweight belt opposite returning ex-divisional queen Julianna Peña.
Elsewhere on the UFC 307 card, the legendary José Aldo looks to continue his pursuit of a late-career title shot after a successful return from retirement this past May, Kayla Harrison makes her second Octagon outing, the always entertaining Kevin Holland shoots for the middleweight top 10, and former two-time strawweight queen Carla Esparza enters the cage for the final time.
Ahead of the event, all 24 fighters successfully made weight. With that, every fight has remained intact, and all that remains on Friday night is for the athletes to face off one final time at the UFC 307 ceremonial weigh-ins!
Check out a live stream via the official UFC YouTube channel below, commencing at 6 p.m. ET.
Two titles will be on the line at the top of the card, with Alex Pereira defending his light heavyweight belt against Khalil Rountree and Raquel Pennington staking the women’s bantamweight gold opposite Julianna Peña.
Also on the main card will be returns for UFC legend José Aldo, two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison, and fan favorite Kevin Holland.
UFC 307: Pereira vs. Rountree Weigh-In Results
UFC 307 takes place Saturday, October 5 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT.
See above for a replay of the UFC 307 Weigh-In Show, and check out the full results below!
Main Card:
Light Heavyweight Championship: Alex Pereira (205lbs) vs. Khalil Rountree (205lbs)
Women’s Bantamweight Championship: Raquel Pennington (135lbs) vs. Julianna Peña (134.5lbs)
Bantamweight: José Aldo (136lbs) vs. Mario Bautista (136lbs)
Middleweight: Roman Dolidze (185.5lbs) vs. Kevin Holland (185.5lbs)
Women’s Bantamweight: Ketlen Vieira (136lbs) vs. Kayla Harrison (136lbs)
Preliminary Card:
Welterweight: Stephen Thompson (171lbs) vs. Joaquin Buckley (170.5lbs)
Women’s Strawweight: Marina Rodriguez (115.5lbs) vs. Iasmin Lucindo (116lbs)
Lightweight: Austin Hubbard (156lbs) vs. Alexander Hernandez (156lbs)
Middleweight: César Almeida (185.5lbs) vs. Ihor Potieria (185.5lbs)
Early Preliminary Card:
Light Heavyweight: Ryan Spann (205.5lbs) vs. Ovince Saint Preux (205.5lbs)
Women’s Strawweight: Carla Esparza (115.5lbs) vs. Tecia Pennington (115lbs)
Welterweight: Court McGee (170lbs) vs. Tim Means (171lbs)
Topping the lineup will be reigning UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira, who is tasked with getting the better of surprise challenger Khalil Rountree if he’s to record a third successful title defense in 2024.
Also set to make the walk on Saturday night will be the likes of UFC legend José Aldo, two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison, and the always entertaining Kevin Holland.
Ahead of the event, you can get some help from the group of experts at MMA News by checking out their predictions for the UFC 307 main card here.
UFC 307: Pereira vs. Rountree Betting Odds
Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC 307 (as of 10/4), courtesy of DraftKings.
Main Card:
Alex Pereira (-455) vs. Khalil Rountree (+350)
Raquel Pennington (-166) vs. Julianna Peña (+140)
José Aldo (+124) vs. Mario Bautista (-148)
Roman Dolidze (+130) vs. Kevin Holland (-155)
Ketlen Vieira (+700) vs. Kayla Harrison (-1100)
Preliminary Card:
Stephen Thompson (+180) vs. Joaquin Buckley (-218)
Marina Rodriguez (+164) vs. Iasmin Lucindo (-198)
Austin Hubbard (+130) vs. Alexander Hernandez (-155)
UFC bantamweight contender Mario Bautista has no doubt that he’ll be able to stay focused on the task at hand when he shares the Octagon with José Aldo this weekend.
Bautista has earned the right to be Aldo’s second opponent since returning from a short-lived retirement this past May, with the pair set to collide on the main card of Saturday’s UFC 307 pay-per-view.
In Rio de Janeiro earlier this year, the former featherweight king got the better of a Jonathan Martinez who admitted the Brazilian’s aura and legend status put him off on fight night.
When it comes to that danger, Bautista has little doubt about his ability to eliminate any and all admiration he has for Aldo when the cage door closes behind him…
Bautista Not Affected By Facing Legend Like Aldo
During a recent interview for UFC.com, Bautista looked ahead to the opportunity to secure the biggest scalp of his career to date in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The #11-ranked bantamweight noted that he used to enjoy watching Aldo during his WEC days and has fond memories of his UFC battles with Chad Mendes.
But while those remarks could perhaps arise worries of Bautista falling to the same fate as Martinez, the 31-year-old dismissed that as a concern.
“I don’t think it’s going to be like that,” said Bautista. “I’ve never really felt like that. Yeah, it’s going to be my first time, but I think someone trying to knock me out and fighting me, I’m not going to let it just happen. I’m not that type of person. So I don’t care who you are, if you’re trying to fight, I’m always willing and ready.
“Hey, we’re in there to fight. You’re trying to take my money. We’re fighting for the same spot. It’s my turn now. You’ve had your turn,” Bautista continued. “I’m sorry. That’s just the way I look at it. Maybe I’ll feel differently afterwards, but, as of now, I have to break him.”
We’re deep into UFC 307 fight week, meaning it was recently time for the fighters set to be in action on October 5 to take to the stage and answer some questions.
Setting the stage for the headliners will be another title fight, with reigning bantamweight queen Raquel Pennington looking to record a first successful defense at the expense of returning former champ Julianna Peña.
The main card will also see the always entertaining Kevin Holland making the walk, as he shoots for the middleweight top 10 against Roman Dolidze.
As is customary during major fight weeks, the athletes took to the stage on Thursday for the pre-fight press conference. The UFC 307 edition saw every fighter set to make the walk on the main card in two days’ time with mic in hand.
Check out a full replay of the presser below via the UFC’s official YouTube channel, followed by all the highlights and faceoffs.
The main event will see Alex Pereira attempt to record his third successful title defense of 2024. Following on from knockout wins over Jamahal Hill at UFC 300 and Jiří Procházka at UFC 303, “Poatan” will headline another PPV, this time against a surprise challenger in #8-ranked light heavyweight Khalil Rountree.
Co-headlining will be another titleholder in Raquel Pennington, who returns nine months on from her crowning to defend the women’s bantamweight belt against fellow TUF 18 competitor Julianna Peña, who has been out of action for over two years.
Elsewhere on the main card, the legendary José Aldo kicks off a new UFC contract, Kayla Harrison makes her sophomore Octagon appearance against the #2-ranked Ketlen Vieira, and Kevin Holland shoots for the middleweight top 10 opposite Roman Dolidze.
UFC 307: MMA News Staff Predictions
Ahead of Saturday’s UFC 307 event, Kyle Dimond, Ryan Jarrell, Thomas Albano, Pranav Pandey, and Aakrit Sharma have provided their picks for the five matchups set for the main card.
Below, you can check out the current leaderboard through six cards.
Thomas Albano (23-6)
Ryan Jarrell (17-12)
Kyle Dimond (15-14)
Andrew Starc (8-11)
Pranav Pandey (4-6)
Aakrit Sharma (2-3)
And with that, it’s time for the team’s predictions for UFC 307.
Middleweight: Roman Dolidze vs. Kevin Holland
Images: UFC.com
Kyle Dimond: Holland up at middleweight against a grappler just seems like a recipe for disaster. Considering that Dolidze has fought up at light heavyweight, that only makes me more confident in him being able to take Holland down and hold him there. Enough said. (Prediction: Roman Dolidze)
Ryan Jarrell: This is a tricky fight to pick because I can see paths both men have to a victory here. I think Holland is the more polished striker and could be able to get the better of Dolidze on the feet. But the Georgian is a wild man and can mix things up and make it very dangerous for Holland. I expect Dolidze to have the bigger moments in this fight. I want to say he wins via TKO but Holland is tough, so the pick is Dolidze by decision. (Prediction: Roman Dolidze)
Thomas Albano: After his win over Anthony Smith, questions emerged about Roman Dolidze: will he try to go for another fight among the middleweight contender scene (after a loss to Nassourdine Imavov)? Or will he try his hand at 205 pounds again? Ultimately, he chooses the 185 route, replacing an injured Chris Curtis against Holland. “Big Mouth” has lost four of his last seven, though he enters off a win over Michał Oleksiejczuk at UFC 302.
Nothing to say about this one other than striker vs. grappler – simple as that. If this fight gets to the ground, Holland is in trouble. Even if he’s improved his takedown defense game, Dolidze will be able to control the fight there. If Holland keeps the fight on the feet, then he’ll be able to pick Dolidze apart. Admittedly, this is a coin flip, but I think Dolidze will have the chin and endurance to outlast Holland’s strikes – and enough strength to take Holland to the ground. (Prediction: Roman Dolidze)
Pranav Pandey: From what I can gather, this matchup promises to be a true 50/50 affair, with both fighters showcasing their unique and dynamic styles that have consistently led them to success. Dolidze seemed a bit derailed after suffering the first back-to-back losses of his career, but “The Caucasian” rebounded spectacularly with a dominant performance against Smith at UFC 303. The Georgian packs some serious power in his hands and is equally adept in grappling.
As for Holland, he enjoys a notable reach advantage and displays impressive fluidity in his footwork, complemented by solid takedown defense. However, my only concern with “Trailblazer” is that, in his recent fights, he hasn’t appeared fully invested in competing and hasn’t looked as sharp as he once did. Despite this, you can never count Holland out. That said, I believe Dolidze will take this matchup, successfully keeping Holland at bay while leveraging his strengths. (Prediction: Roman Dolidze)
Aakrit Sharma: There are ways for both Holland and Dolidze to emerge victorious here. Dolidze can utilize his size and wrestling to shut down his opponent’s offense, while Holland can rely on his speed and movement to overwhelm the Georgian on the feet. Holland has only suffered one TKO loss in his career, while Dolidze has never been finished via strikes or submission. I’m predicting the fight goes the distance and Holland wins via decision. Even if he gets taken down, “Trailblazer” has the potential to pull out a submission. (Prediction: Kevin Holland)
Consensus: 4-1 Roman Dolidze
Women’s Bantamweight: Ketlen Vieira vs. Kayla Harrison
Images: UFC.com
Kyle Dimond: I struggle to see how Vieira is able to make this fight competitive once Harrison gets hold of her. The big question ahead of her debut at UFC 300 was making bantamweight and, sure, it likely wasn’t an easy cut, but she made the weight and looked good inside the Octagon. The bantamweight division needs a big performance from her and a just as important post-fight interview. I don’t see anyone causing her too many problems in this division right now. I predict she’ll find a second-round TKO in Utah. (Prediction: Kayla Harrison)
Ryan Jarrell: The odds in this fight make it pretty hard to go against the American. We all know the insane skillset that Harrison possesses. I do think Vieira is a live underdog here, and I can see her surprising the masses and pulling off the upset. But that doesn’t mean I feel confident enough to pick her to beat the two-time Olympic gold medalist. Give me Harrison to win via second-round submission. (Prediction: Kayla Harrison)
Thomas Albano: There are plenty of people who feel Harrison should have been the one challenging for the women’s bantamweight title this weekend. But Peña played her cards right and it paid off. So Harrison, just in her second UFC fight, has to go against another dangerous name in the women’s 135-pound division in Vieira. The Brazilian, meanwhile, has won three of her last four, though she hasn’t fought since the summer of 2023. Viera’s most recent win came against Pannie Kianzad, and her other victories were decisions over Holm and Miesha Tate. Her only loss in this span? Raquel Pennington – the current champ.
Stylistically, this could be a really good fight considering Vieira, with her own skillset in judo and jiu-jitsu, could try to have a grappling battle with the two-time Olympic gold medalist – or try to use striking to counter Harrison’s game. That said, Harrison is just so good all around, putting that on display against Holm after building herself up with a pair of title wins in the PFL (and coming just short of a third). Harrison should be able to win this one and lock up a guaranteed shot against the Pennington vs. Peña winner. (Prediction: Kayla Harrison)
Pranav Pandey: I think this could be one of the most lopsided matchups we’ll witness on Saturday night. Vieira is undeniably tough and has a solid grappling foundation, but the real question is whether she can keep someone like Harrison grounded — and if so, for how long? In my opinion, Harrison’s sheer dominance is likely too overwhelming for the Brazilian to manage, making it an uphill battle for Vieira from the start. The two-time Olympic gold medalist will bring a fierce intensity no matter where the fight unfolds. Whether it’s on the feet, on the mat, or anywhere in between, her dynamic style is set to take control at every turn. (Prediction: Kayla Harrison)
Aakrit Sharma: Now that we know Harrison can make weight for the UFC women’s bantamweight division, I do not doubt she’ll be champion by the end of 2025, especially in Nunes’ absence. Harrison should rely on the same game plan that helped her win her UFC debut against Holly Holm, the wrestling. However, fighting at altitude following a brutal weight cut could be a problem for the Olympian and she should avoid trading shots with Vieira as the Brazilian possesses decent power and accuracy on the feet for the division.
Although Vieira boasts 93 percent takedown defense in the UFC, she’s yet to face someone as powerful and experienced as Harrison. Thanks to the constant takedown threat, Vieira might not be as comfortable and fluid on the feet as well, helping Harrison get an unexpected KO victory. (Prediction: Kayla Harrison)
Consensus: 5-0 Kayla Harrison
Bantamweight: José Aldo vs. Mario Bautista
Images: UFC.com
Kyle Dimond: Bautista has looked impressive on this winning streak but the Aldo that showed up against Jonathan Martinez looked like he hadn’t lost a step. I still think he’s going to be too much for the guys that aren’t in the top tier of the division — guys like Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili that he has already lost to. I haven’t seen anything from Bautista to make me think he’s at that level yet. (Prediction: José Aldo)
Ryan Jarrell: Father Time has a pretty good track record unless your Tom Brady. But this is not football, and Bautista is a hungry, young Lion looking to make his mark against the legend in Aldo. This fight will be very competitive and Aldo will have his moments, but I believe Bautista is diverse enough to win a decision in what could be Fight of the Night. (Prediction: Mario Bautista)
Thomas Albano: Just when we thought Aldo’s time in the Octagon was done, he comes back earlier this year to put on a solid performance against Martinez. Now, Aldo gets a lower-ranked contender in Bautista. Despite the Brazilian’s age and brief retirement, he has won four of five fights he’s had since December 2020. The only loss in that span came against current bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili. Bautista, meanwhile, is sporting a six-fight win streak that includes submissions of Brian Kelleher and Benito Lopez, as well as a decision over Ricky Simón in his most recent outing.
While I won’t argue much with anyone who feels Bautista’s ranked status, along with him being the younger fighter, leads to their prediction for him. But for me, it’s hard to pick against the “King of Rio” when he continues to put on the showings that he does and competes with the best in the game still. Aldo may likely never be a UFC champion again, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a top-quality fighter anymore with the way he’s performing. Add that this is a big step up for Bautista, and it’s hard for me to go against Aldo here. (Prediction: José Aldo)
Pranav Pandey: There’s no slowing down the “King of Rio.” After his return at UFC 301 following a hiatus, Aldo reminded everyone exactly why he’s held in such legendary esteem. The Brazilian icon masterfully dismantled Martinez, showcasing his trademark distance control and fluid in-and-out striking, leaving his opponent with little room to counter. Despite entering the sunset years of his illustrious career, the former 145-pound kingpin remains fully engaged, showing no signs of losing his edge. But while it’s tough for me to go against Aldo, Bautista presents a serious challenge.
The American brings a well-rounded grappling game, seamlessly blending feints with takedowns, and has been on an impressive run lately. The real question, though, is whether Bautista can apply enough pressure to disrupt Aldo’s rhythm. I believe he can. Bautista’s youth, freshness, and relentless pace, coupled with the potential impact of Utah’s altitude, could very well wear Aldo down and make it difficult for him to keep up with such a high-octane style. (Prediction: Mario Bautista)
Aakrit Sharma: This is my FOTN contender for UFC 307. The Bautista that showed up in the third round against Simón was truly special. The pace, the volume, the accuracy, and the timing would trouble anyone in the UFC men’s bantamweight division. Bautista is dangerous because he has several tools in his arsenal. He can kick, strike, and most importantly, hurt you with knees and elbows. For the rising American prospect, the path to victory should be to keep Aldo in the clinch and land in the pocket as much as possible. He has a great ground game and takedown defense, but it’s unlikely to work against Aldo, who also boasts one of the highest takedown defense rates in UFC history.
The “King of Rio” can shut Bautista down if he maintains distance and keeps attacking the legs. Stylistically, I don’t think Aldo is a good matchup for Bautista and I’m picking the Brazilian to win via decision. Fighting one of the best fighters of all time after beating your first ranked opponent in a division is a huge bump in competition, and Bautista might suffer a fate similar to Martinez, Rob Font, Pedro Munhoz, and Marlon Vera. (Prediction: José Aldo)
Consensus: 3-2 José Aldo
UFC Women’s Bantamweight Title: Raquel Pennington vs. Julianna Peña
Images: UFC/Zuffa LLC
Kyle Dimond: This one is a really tough one to call. I think Peña at her best is probably better than Pennington, and I think I’d lean that way if it was over three rounds. This is one I’ve gone back and forth on and I can totally see another grinding performance from Pennington to retain the title. But, I’m gonna back Peña. My major concern is that she doesn’t have a win over anyone in the UFC righ tnow. However, many of Pennington’s wins haven’t been massively impressive either, so maybe that will level things out. (Prediction: Julianna Peña)
Ryan Jarrell: The dislike these two ladies have for one another will add to the build-up of this fight. However, I think the bout itself will be somewhat of a snooze fest. Mostly, because I believe Peña will dominate the wrestling and grappling exchanges and spend a lot of time in top control. I expect “The Venezuelan Vixen” to win a decision here. (Prediction: Julianna Peña)
Thomas Albano: It’s not the most popular choice of fight, but there’s credit that has to be given out. The unpopular manner Pennington won the women’s bantamweight championship at the start of the year does not fall all on her. And though Peña has not fought since UFC 277, and has complained about not receiving a trilogy fight with Amanda Nunes, she’s got another opportunity at the title now. In fairness, Peña did score one of MMA’s greatest upsets when she finished Nunes at UFC 269. There is certainly merit to her game. Pennington, meanwhile, was pretty dominant when she won the then-vacant title at UFC 297 in a fight with Mayra Bueno Silva that went the distance – a fight that honestly showed Bueno Silva did not belong there.
These two ladies are two of the best that the UFC’s 135-pound division has to offer. Both these two also have history with one another as members of Team Tate during season 18 of The Ultimate Fighter – which Peña won, with Pennington falling in the semifinals. Pennington is the defending champion and is on a six-fight win streak, but I feel that Peña just has more power, a better well-rounded skillset, and better wins and experience in terms of competition. That may probably play out on Saturday night with “The Venezuelan Vixen” getting the gold back. (Prediction: Julianna Peña)
Pranav Pandey: This matchup between Pennington and Peña is one that, in my view, could swing in either direction at any moment. Pennington, the reigning champion, comes in riding the wave of a five-fight win streak. Known for her relentless pace, “Rocky” brings a high-volume striking game that methodically wears down her opponents over the course of a fight. However, Pennington’s lack of knockout power often pushes her bouts to go the distance, which could be a disadvantage against someone as tough and relentless as Peña.
“The Venezuelan Vixen” is a durable powerhouse with an unwavering pace, constantly pressuring her adversaries with ceaseless activity. She’s not the type to let her opponents settle into their rhythm easily, and against someone like Pennington, she’ll be looking to turn this into a gritty war. The way I see it, Pennington will undoubtedly have her moments of success, but Peña possesses the full arsenal needed to prevail and reclaim the championship. (Prediction: Julianna Peña)
Aakrit Sharma: As a women’s UFC fighter, it’s hard to have a bigger flex than beating Nunes. However, the rematch being a complete shutout definitely hurt Peña’s brand, with many questioning this title shot against Pennington. I do believe Peña to be tough and skilled enough to grab the belt from “Rocky,” though.
“The Venezuelan Vixen” should benefit greatly from setting the pace of the fight early on and mixing things up, as taking down the UFC women’s bantamweight champion won’t be an easy task. She’ll have to give the champ several things to worry about for winning on the scorecards as I don’t think either of them will be finished. My pick for this one is Peña winning by decision. (Prediction: Julianna Peña)
Consensus: 5-0 Julianna Peña
UFC Light Heavyweight Title: Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree
Images: UFC.com
Kyle Dimond: I like watching Rountree a lot. His striking style is tons of fun to watch. He also certainly has the power and skill to knock anyone in this division out. I would have liked to have seen the Jamahal Hill fight first, though, because frankly, I’m not sure I could back anyone to beat Pereira when their best win is Anthony Smith.
Rountree is dangerous, but when you’re talking about Pereira, you’re talking about an all-time great in kickboxing. “Poatan” could get caught if he’s overly aggressive, but I think he’ll pick Rountree apart before ending it in the second. (Prediction: Alex Pereira)
Ryan Jarrell: I’m excited for this fight. We all know the power that both of these guys possess. It should make for an exciting finish one way or another. As much as I like Rountree, I just don’t see him as a champion. I think the four-inch reach advantage that Pereira has will be the difference in this fight. Give me “Poatan” via second-round TKO. (Prediction: Alex Pereira)
Thomas Albano: I don’t want to come off like a Rountree hater – he has seemed like a cool dude in the interviews that he does. And stylistically, this fight can be fun considering how these two can be creative and powerful as strikers. Having said that (and yes, I know the UFC’s ranking system is skewed, but nevertheless…) why is the #8 contender getting a title shot? I truly feel that the UFC probably wanted Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway for this card. But with that fight moved to UFC 308, and the UFC probably wanting a better headliner than Pennington vs. Peña, they called up Pereira to save their butts (again).
Pereira has retained the light heavyweight title against Jiří Procházka and Jamahal Hill. Rountree’s win streak, meanwhile, has seen him go through the likes of Smith, Chris Daukaus, and Karl Roberson. This will be a calculated kickboxing-style matchup as both men look for the key opportunity to land a devastating shot on the other. Unfortunately for Rountree, Pereira’s strikes are just too powerful, and he’s dominated against much stronger competition. You’ll see a frenzy if Rountree gets the win (lest anything else in the second half of 2024 UFC be crazier), but Pereira should probably take this in the first six minutes or so. (Prediction: Alex Pereira)
Pranav Pandey: From where I stand, this clash is one of the most direct and explosive matchups on the UFC 307 card. With both Pereira and Rountree being strikers, I don’t foresee any room for grappling or takedowns coming into play. Rountree has proven time and again that he can weather the storm against elite-tier kickboxers, and respond with even greater force. “The War Horse” boasts a lethal kicking arsenal, complemented by knockout power in his fists. However, ‘Poatan’ is far from an ordinary kickboxer, having carved a path through several former champions during his brief yet immensely successful tenure in the Octagon.
“Poatan’s” exceptional fight IQ and thunderous striking ability allow him to methodically dismantle his opponents. Rountree will need to close the distance early to nullify Pereira’s reach, but doing so may leave him dangerously exposed to Pereira’s counters, particularly his devastating left hook. I believe Pereira’s significant reach advantage, along with the unrelenting ferocity in his attacks, will overwhelm Rountree and make it incredibly difficult for him to land his best shots. The Brazilian’s calculated pressure and ability to dictate the fight’s tempo will likely cause Rountree to unravel under the onslaught. (Prediction: Alex Pereira)
Aakrit Sharma: Yes, Rountree can pull off a huge upset against Pereira if he lands a good shot. Will he, though? “Poatan” just looks unstoppable at the moment, and it seems to be a matter of time before he finds his opponent’s chin one way or another. Considering Glover Teixeira corners and trains Pereira, I actually won’t be surprised if the UFC light heavyweight champ shoots for a takedown and showcases some of his wrestling. Considering he’s already mastered striking and kickboxing, I’m sure Pereira focuses a lot on filling the holes in his game to prepare for opponents like Magomed Ankalaev.
Rountree’s a great striker and his momentum through a five-fight win streak is undeniable. “The War Horse” can trouble the champ with leg kicks and powerful shots, but I simply don’t see anyone taking out Pereira on the feet. (Prediction: Alex Pereira)
Consensus: 5-0 Alex Pereira
That’ll do it for our UFC 307 staff picks! What do you think? Do your picks look similar? Let us know in the comments section! Also, you can check out the full UFC 307 card below.
Main Card:
Light Heavyweight Championship: Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree
Women’s Bantamweight Championship: Raquel Pennington vs. Julianna Peña
Bantamweight: José Aldo vs. Mario Bautista
Women’s Bantamweight: Ketlen Vieira vs. Kayla Harrison
Middleweight: Roman Dolidze vs. Kevin Holland
Preliminary Card:
Welterweight: Stephen Thompson vs. Joaquin Buckley
Women’s Strawweight: Marina Rodriguez vs. Iasmin Lucindo
Lightweight: Austin Hubbard vs. Alexander Hernandez
Middleweight: César Almeida vs. Ihor Potieria
Early Preliminary Card:
Light Heavyweight: Ryan Spann vs. Ovince Saint Preux
Women’s Strawweight: Carla Esparza vs. Tecia Pennington
Welterweight: Court McGee vs. Tim Means
Be sure to keep it right here on MMANews.com for all the results, highlights, and updates on UFC 307!
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.
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.
In the co-main event of UFC 307, reigning women’s bantamweight champion Raquel Pennington puts her title on the line against former 135-pound queen Julianna Peña.
Pennington is set to make her first title defense since capturing the belt by unanimous decision against Mayra Bueno Silva at UFC 297 in January. The title was vacant at the time, following Amanda Nunes’ retirement.
Meanwhile, Peña is making her long-awaited return to the Octagon after an extended hiatus of over two years. She famously pulled off a major upset with a second-round submission victory over “The Lioness” at UFC 269, only to fall short in their rematch seven months later at UFC 277, losing by unanimous decision.
The undercard of this pay-per-view spectacle will feature an intriguing welterweight showdown between the seasoned Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson and the surging Joaquin Buckley. Thompson last competed at UFC 296, where he suffered a second-round submission loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov. On the other hand, “New Mansa” is riding a wave of momentum with a four-fight win streak since dropping down to 170 pounds. His most recent victory came by decision against Nursulton Ruziboev at UFC Fight Night St. Louis this past May.
Elsewhere on the card, Kevin Holland is slated to face Roman Dolidze in an intense middleweight showdown. Announced earlier this year, meanwhile, was a clash between undefeated featherweight Movsar Evloev and former bantamweight titleholder Aljamain Sterling.
With these additions to the card, the current fights expected to take place at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City on Oct. 5 are as follows:
Alex Pereira (C) vs. Khalil Rountree (light heavyweight championship main event)
Two major names are reportedly set to be in action at the UFC 307 pay-per-view, targeted for Salt Lake City, Utah, on October 5.
Legendary former featherweight champion José Aldo and two-time PFL title winner Kayla Harrison have their returns in the works for the numbered event, with the former being lined up to face Mario Bautista and the latter expected to share the Octagon with Ketlen Vieira.
Aldo returned from a short-lived retirement on home soil this past May, outpointing Jonathan Martinez at UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro. Having fought out his contract, uncertainty surrounded “Junior’s” status and future plans.
But in spite of boxing talk, Ag. Fight reported this week that the Brazilian has committed to another outing inside the Octagon.
BREAKING! UFC encaminha Jose Aldo vs Mario Bautista para o dia 5 de outubro
The outlet also corroborated a previous report from Super Lutas’ Léo Guimaraes, who was the first to reveal plans for Harrison and Vieira to collide at UFC 307.
EXCLUSIVO: Ketlen Vieira x Kayla Harrison sendo trabalhado para acontecer. Expectativa é que seja em 5 de outubro, UFC 307 pic.twitter.com/CqG6RBCybE
— Léo Walker Guimaraes (@leoguimaraesmma) July 26, 2024
Aldo Targets Second Win Since Return, Harrison Looks For Second UFC Win Since PFL Switch
Should these two matchups be confirmed, both Aldo and Harrison will be looking to build on strong outings in the first half of this year.
Aldo (32-8) originally brought his MMA career to an end after his pursuit of a second bantamweight title shot was stalled by Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 278 in August 2022. Prior to that, he’d reeled off three straight wins over Marlon Vera, Pedro Munhoz, and Rob Font.
The ex-featherweight kingpin, who fell short of two-division glory opposite Petr Yan in the summer of 2020, went on to compete in three boxing matches, winning two and fighting to a majority draw against fellow UFC vet Jeremy Stephens.
He subsequently made his successful comeback to the cage in Rio this year, returning to the rankings at #8 as a result. He’s next tasked with defending his position on the ladder against the #12-ranked Bautista (14-2), a teammate of champion Sean O’Malley’s who has had his hand raised in six consecutive bouts. His most recent triumph came at the expense of Ricky Simón this past January.
Image: Alexandre Loureiro/Zuffa LLC
Harrison (17-1) transitioned from judo, a sport in which she collected back-to-back Olympic gold medals in 2012 and 2016, to mixed martial arts and joined the PFL. After winning two lightweight seasons, her bid for a third title came to a halt in the final opposite Larissa Pacheco.
After returning with a victory over Aspen Ladd last November, the Ohio native committed to a UFC switch and a venture down at bantamweight. That foray got underway in strong style this past April, where she thrilled the UFC 300 crowd by submitting a former champion in Holly Holm.
Having entered the title picture at #3, Harrison will need to get through the #2-ranked Vieira (14-3) if she’s to book her first championship opportunity in the UFC. The Brazilian is coming off a decision victory over Pannie Kianzad in July 2023, a result that saw her bounce back from a narrow defeat at the hands of now-champ Raquel Pennington.
With these additions, the fights currently expected to take place at UFC 307 on October 5 are as follows:
Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling (featherweight)
José Aldo vs. Mario Bautista (bantamweight)
Chris Curtis vs. Kevin Holland (middleweight)
Ketlen Vieira vs. Kayla Harrison (women’s bantamweight)
Marina Rodriguez vs. Iasmin Lucindo (women’s strawweight)
