UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski has paid his respects to the recently retired Jose Aldo.
Volkanovski (25-1 MMA, 12-0 UFC), currently the UFC’s #1 pound-for-pound fighter, defeated Aldo by unanimous decision in May 2019. The win earned him a title shot against then-champion Max Holloway, whom Volkanovski would later dethrone and defend his title four times.
Although Volkanovski’s most recent run includes three wins over fellow tall featherweight Holloway and a win over Aldo among others, Volkanovski still sees Aldo (31-8 MMA, 13-7 UFC) as the greatest featherweight of all time in seven title defenses based on his resume.
“I still have him as the feathery GOAT just because he did for the sport,” Volkanovski said on his YouTube channel. “So many defenses and things like that. I come for this status. I’ll be honest I’m coming for it but yes he has it. He’s the man, he got a lot of us into the sport. I still remember watching him before I even started and he’s still been competitive up until now, still up there, crazy heritage.
“I often think about how many times people thought he was done and dusted. He would have a loss and then come back and just kick ass again and still look just as fast as ever. The reasons everyone loves him so much is that he is talented, very technical and competent, but he is very respectful. A true martial artist is what he is, a true martial artist. Very skillful, technical, explosive, very respectful. So a real martial artist and I think that’s why a lot of people always give him so much respect.”
Aldo retired with one fight remaining on his UFC contract last week. After losing to Volkanovski, Aldo made his bantamweight debut and managed to fight for the title but fell behind Petr Yan at UFC 251. He is leaving the sport after winning three of his last four, over Marlon Vera, Pedro Munhoz and Rob Font.
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