mma / Columns

Jose Aldo: The Overlooked GOAT

June 1, 2017 | Posted by Jeremy Lambert

Jose Aldo fights Max Holloway on Saturday night in Brazil in the main event of a rather unimpressive card. It’s been 17 months since Aldo lost his UFC featherweight title to Conor McGregor in 13-seconds. In those 17 months, Aldo has fought once, defeating Frankie Edgar by unanimous decision at UFC 200.

Prior to December 12, 2015, Jose Aldo was the consensus greatest featherweight of all-time and one of the greatest fighters to ever step foot in the cage. He was on a 15-fight WEC/UFC win streak, dispatching opponents with a variety of kicks, punches, and knees at lightning precision and quickness. He knocked out Cub Swanson with a double flying knee, he kicked Urijah Faber’s leg out of his leg, he gave Mark Hominick an extra forehead. He was one of the most exciting and dominant champions in the sports history.

13-seconds after the bell sounded to start Aldo vs. McGregor, none of that mattered.

In the aftermath of that 13-second bout, people have forgotten about Jose Aldo. They lauded him for continuing to chase a rematch with McGregor. They rolled their eyes when the UFC awarded Aldo the featherweight strap following McGregor’s inactiveness in the division. They chastised him for being boring in his title defensives and for pulling out of fights. Basically, everyone regurgitated what McGregor said prior to the Aldo fight, after the Aldo fight.

Aldo’s nearly flawless performance against Edgar last July didn’t silence anyone. He was still, “the guy who lost to Conor in 13-seconds.” He was still laughed at for wanting a rematch with McGegor. “You lost in 13-seconds. You don’t deserve a rematch” said everyone parroting Conor and Dana White.

This weekend’s bout against Max Holloway is a pick em on most sports books. Holloway is coming off a victory over Anthony Pettis and has won 10 straight UFC bouts against stout competition. He’s only 25 and looks better with each passing fight. Holloway is an outstanding fighter with a very real chance to defeat Aldo on Saturday.

But have we forgotten just how good Jose Aldo is?

Since June 1, 2008, Aldo has starched everyone in his path, bar one man. In the 15 fights prior to McGregor, Aldo dropped maybe six rounds against some of the best featherweights in the world. He beat Edgar when Edgar should have been the lightweight champion after a controversial loss to Ben Henderson. He beat Chad Mendes, twice. He annihilated Urijah Faber and Mark Hominick in front of their family and friends. He picked apart Kenny Florian and put The Korean Zombie on the shelf.

Before Conor made it cool to move up and challenge the lightweight champion, Aldo attempted to do it against Anthony Pettis. It was Pettis, not Aldo, who pulled out of the original fight and then decided to coach on The Ultimate Fighter against Gilbert Melendez when they tried to remake the bout.

This was the most feared lightweight fighter on the planet for nearly ten years. He made it look easy when he was in the cage. Aside from Anderson Silva, no one was on the same level as Aldo when it came to striking and defense. There was no wasted movement. Everything was calculated.

He lost to McGregor when he over-extended himself and got caught. It happens. But it shouldn’t diminish everything Aldo accomplished and could still accomplish in the sport.

Anyone who thought the left hand of McGregor would set Aldo back were sadly mistaken at UFC 200. He looked better than ever against Frankie Edgar. I’d call it a return to form, but I don’t think a 13-second loss means you’re a shot fighter with nothing left to give. Getting thoroughly outclassed by Conor, the way Aldo thoroughly outclassed every other opponent put in front of him, would have been far more telling.

That loss, and the fact that multiple parties are unwilling to give him a rematch, shouldn’t define Aldo’s career. He’s still the best featherweight in the sport and, pound for pound, one of the best fighters of all-time. Max Holloway has beaten a lot of good fighters. But he’s never faced someone on the level of Jose Aldo. Because among active fighters, there is no one on the level of Jose Aldo.

Follow me on twitter so you can make fun of me if Holloway wins on Saturday. @jeremylambert88

article topics :

Jose Aldo, UFC, Jeremy Lambert