Jose Aldo has no doubts that Charles Oliveira will be on top of the UFC lightweight division again.
As a former champion himself, Jose Aldo knows greatness when he sees it. He sees it now in Charles Oliveira. The sequence of events that led to Oliveira losing his lightweight strap was bizarre. He didn’t lose a fight to be stripped, instead, he missed weight for a title fight. Oliveira has not lost a fight in four years but because of the missed weight is sitting at home without a UFC championship belt.
Oliveira will however be receiving an opportunity to regain his lost gold. He will be taking on Islam Makhachev later this year in a title bout at UFC 280. The Brazilian seems to have the support of his entire country behind him, including Aldo, who is looking to regain a little hardware himself. He spoke recently to the Brazilian outlet, Canal Encarada about his countryman Oliveira.
“He is a guy that rises from the ashes and wins the fight,” Aldo said via Translate. “He is a guy that I root for, I have seen him change and gain the maturation of a champion over time. He is mentally strong today and motivated. He is aggressive when he has the opportunity to finish him If I were to bet my money, I will bet on Charles,”
Jose Aldo feels Charles Oliveira will return from his setback and win his fight against Makhachev
Jose Aldo knows what is like to lose a UFC title. He lost his to Conor McGregor back in 2015 and has been pushing to win another title ever since. He briefly held an interim belt but now has his focus set on a bantamweight championship. He has his next fight set already when he takes on Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 278. With a win on Saturday night, he could be setting himself up for the next shot at the belt.
The term “once a champion, always a champion” seems to fit well with both of these men. Oliveira is one fight away from winning the belt and the same should be said for Aldo. Aldo knows that Oliveira has the heart of a fighter and has been watching him progress in his career for many years. Aldo came to the UFC back in 2011 and defended his title seven times. Oliveira actually came to the UFC first back in 2010 but did not receive his first title shot until 2021. Although these two men have had very different paths in the UFC, they are now on a quest for gold at the same time.
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