“The King of Rio” returns to his roots.
It’s a mirror match at UFC 301 as striking specialists Jose Aldo and Jonathan Martinez cross paths in a bantamweight bout. Aldo, the former featherweight champion, remerges from a two-year retirement that saw him cross over to the boxing world. The 37 year-old steps out of the ring to finish his UFC contract and possibly pursue another title run, with a win here.
Martinez, ranked #12 in the world, defends his spot in the busy bantamweight division. “The Dragon” has rolled out a six-fight win streak with two stoppages by way of leg kicks, one of Aldo’s greatest weapons.
We’ll see which sharpshooter comes out on top in the co-main event of UFC 301, live from the Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Round 1:
Aldo gets his offense going to begin the opening round. Aldo throws a body shot that just misses. Martinez fires leg kicks with Aldo checking the moves. Aldo lands to the body with Martinez rushing in for a takedown but the attempt is quickly shrugged off by Aldo. The Brazilian fires a combo. Aldo lands a body shot. Aldo repeats it, but follows it up by going upstairs with a punch. Martinez eats a sharp right hand from Aldo. Aldo lands beautifully to the body and then to the head of Martinez. Leg kick lands for Aldo. Martinez takes another leg kick from Aldo before the end of the round.
Christopher De Santiago scores the round: 10-9 Aldo
Round 2:
Aldo fires a leg kick. Aldo tags Martinez with a punch to the body. Aldo partially lands a combo of punches. Martinez attempts a takedown on Martinez against the cage but Aldo’s legendary takedown defense holds up against the younger contender. Martinez presses Aldo in the clinch and the referee steps in to separate the bantamweights for a reset on the feet.
Aldo stuns Martinez with a right hand and follows it up with a head kick. Aldo lands a hook before going for another leg kick. Martinez tries to get to work behind the jab but not to much avail though. Martinez eats a leg kick from “The King of Rio”. Aldo reaches far out for a body punch that lands. Aldo pedals around the cage. Martinez fires a few shots in the pocket that land.
Christopher De Santiago scores the round: 10-9 Aldo
Round 3:
The bantamweights hug it out before going right back to work on the feet. Martinez lands a teep kick to the body. Martinez and Martinez both push the pace, meeting in the middle for striking exchanges. Aldo eyes a takedown but lets it go. Aldo fires a right hand and continues to pour it on Martinez with even more strikes. Martinez mixes it up, throwing elbows and straight punches as Aldo is on the back foot. Aldo hits Martinez with a right hand. Aldo rocks Martinez with strikes and swarms the ranked contender with a flurry of punches from all angles. Aldo continues his attack but on the ground as he takes Martinez down in the final stretch of the fight. With less a minute to go in the round, Aldo works from top position with punches but so does Martinez who lands a few from the bottom.
Christopher De Santiago scores the round: 10-9 Aldo (total score: 30-27 Aldo)
Official result: Jose Aldo defeats Jonathan Martinez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Check out the highlights below:
THE KING OF RIO RETURNS 👑 #UFC301 pic.twitter.com/amY3arhrG9
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) May 5, 2024
🗣️JOSE ALDO JUNIOR #UFC301 | @BruceBuffer | @JoseAldoJunior pic.twitter.com/lMqmJitRJV
— UFC (@ufc) May 5, 2024
Respect between Aldo and Martinez after their fight 🤝 #UFC301 pic.twitter.com/pGig0dZ5IA
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) May 5, 2024
👑👑👑#UFC301 | @JoseAldoJunior pic.twitter.com/eBvEj2ZbOW
— UFC (@ufc) May 5, 2024
