One of the greatest Featherweight ever Jose Aldo has shown interest in fighting the bantamweight great Dominick Cruz.
After coming back to the win column after almost two years with a victory over Marlon Vera this past December, Aldo told MMA Fighting that he wants to face former fellow WEC champion Dominick Cruz sometime in 2021.
Jose Aldo wants Dominick Cruz, says will become Bantamweight champion soon
Both legends are former WEC champions, Aldo and Cruz were the inaugural titleholders in the UFC featherweight and bantamweight divisions, respectively, and now they compete at 135 pounds.
“It’s a big fight to make, Dominick and me, because of our importance [in the sport],” Aldo said. “We were both WEC champions and then came to the UFC as champions, so it’s a big fight to make.”
Aldo called out T.J. Dillashaw moments after his victory over Vera this past December and then flirted with the idea of battling Cody Garbrandt, but neither came to fruition.
Dillashaw is currently booked versus Cory Sandhagen on May 8, while Garbrandt battles Rob Font on May 22. Sean O’Malley could also be a name of interest for Aldo, the Brazilian star said, but doesn’t expect the UFC to pair them up right now.
“[Garbrandt] asked for the fight and I agreed right away, but the UFC shot it down,” said Aldo, who was “surprised” by the decision. “[Garbrandt] and I had already agreed, it was all set, and the UFC didn’t think it was a great fight, they wanted him to fight Rob Font.
“We ended the [Vera] fight last year and asked for Dillashaw and Garbrandt and now I have none. I’m on the dance floor without a dancing partner [laughs]. But we’ve been asking for Dominick Cruz for a while now and that’s a fight everybody asks for. We’re expecting to fight him. But I don’t know if it will happen, right?”
Jose Aldo also knows he has what it takes to make a title run at bantamweight which is why he’s interested in Cruz. Dominick Cruz is one of the best to ever do it. When he was in his prime he made champion-level fighters swing and miss and no one could touch him. Aldo knows if it wasn’t for injuries Cruz would have been in sitting at the top of the division till now.
Much like Aldo, Cruz recently snapped a losing skid in the octagon, defeating Casey Kenney via a split decision in March. Throughout his legendary MMA career, “The Dominator” has defeated the likes of Dillashaw, Urijah Faber (twice), Demetrious Johnson, and Joseph Benavidez (twice).
“He’s a great fighter, has always had great performances,” Aldo said. “If it wasn’t for his injuries he would still be competing for titles at the top. Injuries have been an issue for him, he hasn’t been in the UFC what we were used to seeing from Dominick Cruz.”
“I’ll always see myself as a title contender, there’s no escape,” he continued. “Becoming the champion is all I think since the moment I moved down to this division. I’m ranked No. 5 now and I want to fight more often. You can be sure that sooner or later we’ll grab that belt.”
Purchase the UFC merch here.
To bet on an MMA event click here.
SHARE
