Jonathan Martinez vows to spoil Jose Aldo’s Brazil return at UFC 301: “It doesn’t faze me”

UFC bantamweight contender Jonathan Martinez is ready to spoil Jose Aldo’s return.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that the former UFC featherweight champion was ending his retirement. Jose Aldo famously retired after a loss to Merab Dvalishvili in August 2022, feeling that his title hopes were over for good. However, just two years later, the Brazilian is set to return against Jonathan Martinez in May.

According to various reports, the promotion was attempting to book Jose Aldo vs. Dominick Cruz. However, instead, it will be Jonathan Martinez welcoming the Brazilian back to the cage at UFC 301 later this year. ‘The Dragon’ enters the bout riding a stunning six-fight winning streak, with wins over the likes of Cub Swanson and more.

Speaking with MMA Today on SiriusXM, Jonathan Martinez discussed the UFC 301 booking. There, the bantamweight contender admitted that he never expected to be fighting Jose Aldo. While he hoped to one day face the Brazilian, he believed that the contest could never happen thanks to his retirement.

So, when the UFC called him with the offer to face the Hall of Famer, he was stunned. However, he quickly accepted and is excited to face Aldo in Brazil. While Martinez is aware that he will be heavily booed in May, it won’t matter in the end. Especially considering that he’s used to fighting at the UFC Apex, any noise will be nice to him.

RELATED: ALEXANDRE PANTOJA VS. STEVE ERCEG OFFICIAL FOR UFC 301 IN BRAZIL

Bantamweight contender Jonathan Martinez opens up on UFC 301 fight with Jose Aldo

“I was a fan, I used to watch him.” Jonathan Martinez stated in the interview, discussing his UFC 301 fight with Jose Aldo. “My parents used to watch him when he was in the WEC. I wanted to fight him before he retired too, but then he retired. That was it. Then one day they asked if I wanted to fight him and I said yeah, I didn’t hesitate at all. I said yeah, let’s do it.”

He continued, “Yeah [the UFC could’ve given me Aldo’s fight because they believe in me], it could be that too. There’s a lot of things [that go into it]. But I’m just ready to go in there and show that I’m with the top guys… Yeah, it’s pretty cool I’m actually waiting for that [Brazilian crowd]. All the boos and all that, the boos is going to be like their cheering for me. In the Apex, I don’t hear anything at all, it’s just quiet. So I’m going to have some noise.”

“Even if they boo me, I’ll have some noise. All the crowd and all that could be booing,” Jonathan Martinez concluded. “But it’s just going to be me and him in that cage. So it doesn’t really matter, it doesn’t really get to my head. It doesn’t faze me, nothing.”

What do you make of these comments from the UFC bantamweight? Are you excited for Jose Aldo’s return against Jonathan Martinez?