‘I would accept it’ – Jose Aldo reveals why he would fight Sean O’Malley after UFC 307
Jose Aldo has discussed fighting Sean O’Malley after his clash at UFC 307.
Aldo faces Mario Bautista on the main card of UFC 307, which takes place tonight in Salt Lake City, Utah.
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The 38-year-old has won 32 of his 40 professional MMA fights, having fought for World Extreme Cagefighting from 2008, before debuting with the UFC in 2011.
Aldo’s first-ever professional MMA loss came at the ends of Conor McGregor, when the Irishman infamously knocked him out inside 13 seconds at UFC 194 in 2015.
The Brazilian was the inaugural UFC featherweight champion, a title he inherited in 2010 as the reigning champ in WEC.
WEC was bought by the parent company of Dana White’s promotion, meaning all fights on its roster moved to the UFC.
O’Malley is coming off the biggest defeat in his professional career to date.
He lost his bantamweight title to Georgia’s Merab Dvalishvili at the Las Vegas Sphere for UFC 306 in September.
“I think as a fight, yes, I like that,” Aldo said, speaking to ESPN about O’Malley ahead of his UFC 307 clash.
“I think this is a fight – obviously getting to fight Merab for a world title is the same thing – the two of us, myself and Sean [O’Malley], two people that carry weight, there is a cache to what we do.
“I think it would be two great names in the division and it would be a great fight. Obviously, I would accept it.”
Aldo signed a new contract with the UFC this year amid speculation that he would move on to another organisation, or go into boxing after UFC 301 when his deal expired.
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‘The King of Rio’ confirmed that he asked Dana White twice to include a boxing clause in his new contract, but it was swiftly denied.
O’Malley is ranked as the No.1 contender in the UFC’s bantamweight division, nine places ahead of Aldo.
Bautista, Aldo’s opponent tonight, is one position below him, so it is likely that the Brazilian would have to go on and beat a higher-ranked opponent before he would get near O’Malley.
O’Malley, on the other hand, probably has higher expectations than a fight with Aldo next.
Dvalishvili is the division’s current champion and No.2 ranked Umar Nurmagomedov is the favourite to contest him for the belt.
UFC 307 also sees Alex Pereira defend his light heavyweight title against Khalil Rountree Jr in the main event.
talkSPORT.com has you covered for everything UFC 307. The main card is set to begin at 3am for UK fans.
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