Jose Aldo still interested in boxing, but currently focused on reclaiming UFC title

Former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo currently only has four fights left on his UFC contract. In the past, the former champ has said that he will move to boxing when this current UFC contract expires.

“He’s training boxing because he has this dream of competing in professional boxing,” Aldo’s coach Andre Pederneiras told MMAFighting last year. “If it was up to him, he’d fight all of his UFC fights (left on the contract) in three months and go box. He wants to box professionally.”

Now, however, Aldo seems to be changing his tune a bit. Speaking on Brazil’s “Giro Combate” show, Aldo explained that his current focus is reclaiming the UFC featherweight title, and defending it multiple times.

“As soon as the contract ends, I’ll decide whether we go to boxing or stay in MMA,” Aldo said (h/t MMAJunkie.com). “But my dream, right now, is to get the title back. That’s what I’m focused on. That’s what I’m talking to [Pederneiras] about.”

“That’s what I told my coaches that I want. That’s why I’m training again and keeping everyone motivated. I know I have a chance, I have the skill, and I want to win (the title) again.”

Over the last week, Aldo has expressed interest in a UFC 224 showdown with surging featherweight knockout artist Jeremy Stephens. If this bout with Stephens occurs, it’ll be Aldo’s first non-title fight in aeons.

“It’s different,” Aldo said. “But I think I’ve been so used to it for so long, that I kind of miss it a little bit. But, of course, I’m a fighter. We’d prepared for that possibility. I’m training to do three rounds now. But, hopefully soon, with a win, I can move up slowly and fight for that title again.

“And then things will get back to how they should be: Me being champion and then defending the title multiple times again.”

Do you think Jose Aldo can reclaim the UFC featherweight title?

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 3/11/2018.