While Jose
Aldo’s UFC
301 win over Jonathan
Martinez was undoubtedly impressive, bantamweight contender
Cory
Sandhagen disagrees with the idea of awarding the former
champion a title shot next.
Although Aldo had hung up his gloves following a unanimous decision
loss against Merab
Dvalishvili in August 2022, “Junior” recently ended his
retirement to co-headline UFC
301 UFC 301 in Brazil. Aldo denied the odds to score a shut-out
unanimous decision victory at Farmasi Arena on May 4.
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While Aldo’s fight against Martinez was the last on his
Ultimate Fighting Championship contract, the Brazilian is open
to re-signing with the promotion if they match his best offers.
“King of Rio” is also hoping to jump the queue for a title shot
straight away.
Jose Aldo said
at the post-fight presser that he has completed his UFC deal but
the promotion still has the option to match whatever offer he gets
so he will sit with Dana White to discuss his future. He liked the
idea of skipping the line straight for the bantamweight title.— Guilherme Cruz (@guicruzzz)
May 5, 2024
However, Sandhagen believes Aldo’s win over No.12-ranked Martinez
is just not enough to warrant a title shot next.
“Oh no way [should Aldo fight Sean
O’Malley next] man. I love Aldo; Aldo’s the absolute man. But
you don’t get to come back from retirement, beat a guy way down in
the rankings, and then just fight for the belt,’ Sandhagen said on
The MMA Hour. “I like Aldo but definitely not.
There’s too many good guys in the division for that to be the
case.”
No.1-ranked Merab
Dvalishvili is expected to get his long overdue title shot
against O’Malley next. Meanwhile, Sandhagen is scheduled to take on
undefeated contender Umar
Nurmagomedov (17-0) in a title eliminator at
UFC Abu Dhabion Aug. 3.