UFC Hall of Famer Jose Aldo ends retirement, meets Jonathan Martinez at UFC 301 in Brazil
“The King of Rio” will return in his home town at UFC 301 in May.
UFC Hall of Famer and former featherweight champion Jose Aldo is ending his MMA retirement and returning to competition against Jonathan Martinez on the May 4 card, which takes place at HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro (pay-per-view, ESPN+).
Aldo (31-8 MMA, 13-7 UFC) and Martinez (19-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) both confirmed the matchup on social media following an initial report from AgFight.
Aldo announced his retirement from MMA following a unanimous decision loss to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 278 in August 2022. He’s since competed in three boxing matches, but will now get back in the octagon for another fight on Brazilian soil at age 37.
He will face a tough task in the streaking Martinez, an honorable mention in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, who has five consecutive victories in the 135-pound weight class, including Adrian Yanez and Cub Swanson.
The latest UFC 301 lineup now includes:
Alexandre Pantoja vs. Steve Erceg – for flyweight title
Jose Aldo vs. Jonathan Martinez
Caio Borralho vs. Paul Craig
Joanderson Brito vs. Jack Shore
Kevin Borjas vs. Alessandro Costa
Drakkar Klose vs. Joaquim Silva
Dione Barbosa vs. Ernesta Kareckaite
Elves Brener vs. Myktybek Orolbai
Vitor Petrino vs. Anthony Smith
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 301.
jose-aldo-11.jpg
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-4.jpg
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-22.jpg
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-12.jpg
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-13.jpg
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-dana-white-14.jpg
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-23.jpg
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-18.jpg
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-29.jpg
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-27.jpg
Share this
image
gallery
ufc-156-jose-aldo-frankie-edgar-fight-video-featured.jpg
Jose Aldo vs. Frankie Edgar
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-frankie-edgar-ufc-156
Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar at UFC 156
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-19.jpg
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-21.jpg
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-urijah-faber.jpg
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-8.jpg
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-10.jpg
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-6.jpg
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-3.jpg
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-featured.jpg
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-7.jpg
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-2.jpg
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-frankie-edgar-featured.jpg
Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar before UFC 156.
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-17.jpg
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-26.jpg
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-30.jpg
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-chan-sung-jung.JPG
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-32.jpg
Share this
image
gallery
frankie-edgar-jose-aldo.jpg
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-chan-sung-jung-featured.jpg
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-33.jpg
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-34.jpg
Share this
image
gallery
ed-soares-jose-aldo.jpg
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-35-featured.jpg
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-chan-sung-jung-1.jpg
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-163
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ricardo-lamas-ufc-169
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo
Jose Aldo
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ricardo-lamas-ufc-169
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-169
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-169
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-169
Jose Aldo
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-169
Jose Aldo.
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-chad-mendes-ufc-179
Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-chad-mendes-ufc-179-1
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-179-1
Jose Aldo
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-chad-mendes-ufc-179
Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-179-post
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-179
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-179
Jose Aldo
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-fight-night-58-2
Jose Aldo
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-fight-night-58-3
Jose Aldo
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-fight-night-58-4
Jose Aldo
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-fight-night-59
Jose Aldo
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-conor-joker-poster
Jose Aldo
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-fight-night-59
Jose Aldo
Share this
image
gallery
conor-mcgregor-confronts-jose-aldo-video-1
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-conor-mcgregor-video
Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-conor-mcgregor-video-2
Jose Aldo, Dana White, Conor McGregor
Share this
image
gallery
conor-mcgregor-jose-aldo-toronto-screengrab
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-conor-mcgregor-dublin
Jose Aldo, Dana White and Conor McGregor
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-conor-mcgregor-dublin-2
Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor
Share this
image
gallery
derek-kronig-jose-aldo-ufc-169
Jose Aldo (left) and Derek Kronig (center)
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-media-day-aug2015-video
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-conor-mcgregor-go-big-2
Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor in 2015.
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-conor-mcgregor-go-big
Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-conor-mcgregor-ufc-194-press-conference
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-conor-mcgregor-ufc-194-1
Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-194
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-197-pre
Jose Aldo
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-194-weigh-in
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-200-pre-video
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-frankie-edgar-ufc-200-press-conference
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-frankie-edgar-ufc-200-weigh-ins
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-200-weigh-ins
Jose Aldo
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-200
Jose Aldo
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-212-onsale
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-max-holloway-ufc-212-onsale-belts
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-212-onsale
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-212-interviews-video
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-max-holloway-ufc-212-media-day-face-offs
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-max-holloway-ufc-212-media-day-face-offs-belts
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-212-media-day
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-212-official-weigh-ins
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-max-holloway-ufc-212-ceremonial-weigh-ins
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-212-ceremonial-weigh-ins
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-november-2017-media-day
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-max-holloway-ufc-212
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-212
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-218-pre
Share this
image
gallery
ufc-218-embedded-3-jose-aldo
Share this
image
gallery
max-holloway-jose-aldo-ufc-218-pre
Share this
image
gallery
max-holloway-jose-aldo-ufc-218-pre
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-218
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-218
Share this
image
gallery
max-holloway-jose-aldo-ufc-218
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-218
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-212
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-on-fox-30-open-workouts-video
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-jeremy-stephens-ufc-on-fox-30-media-day
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-on-fox-30-official-weigh-ins
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-jeremy-stephens-ufc-on-fox-30-ceremonial-weigh-ins
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-on-fox-30-ceremonial-weigh-ins
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-on-fox-30-2
Jose Aldo at UFC on FOX 30. (USA TODAY Sports)
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-on-fox-30
Jose Aldo
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-on-fox-30-1
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-on-fox-30-5
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-on-fox-30-6
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-media-scrum-rio
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-fortaleza-weigh-ins-1
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-post-ufc-fortaleza
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo-ufc-fortaleza-weigh-ins-3
Share this
image
gallery
UFC Fight Night: Aldo v Vera
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 19: (R-L) Jose Aldo of Brazil punches Marlon Vera of Ecuador…
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 19: (R-L) Jose Aldo of Brazil punches Marlon Vera of Ecuador in a bantamweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on December 19, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC)
Share this
image
gallery
Jose Aldo UFC 265 Press conference
Share this
image
gallery
jose aldo vs. pedro munhoz ufc 265 ceremonial weigh-in
Share this
image
gallery
MMA: UFC 265-Aldo vs Munhoz
Aug 7, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Jose Aldo (red gloves) fights Pedro Munhoz (blue gloves) during…
Aug 7, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Jose Aldo (red gloves) fights Pedro Munhoz (blue gloves) during UFC 265 at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
MMA: UFC 265-Aldo vs Munhoz
Aug 7, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Jose Aldo (red gloves) fights Pedro Munhoz (blue gloves) during…
Aug 7, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Jose Aldo (red gloves) fights Pedro Munhoz (blue gloves) during UFC 265 at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
MMA: UFC 265-Aldo vs Munhoz
Jose Aldo
Share this
image
gallery
Jose Aldo
Share this
image
gallery
UFC Fight Night: Font v Aldo Weigh-in
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 03: (L-R) Opponents Rob Font and Jose Aldo of Brazil face…
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 03: (L-R) Opponents Rob Font and Jose Aldo of Brazil face off during the UFC Fight Night weigh-in at UFC APEX on December 03, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Share this
image
gallery
UFC Fight Night: Font v Aldo
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 04: (R-L) Jose Aldo of Brazil punches Rob Font in their…
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 04: (R-L) Jose Aldo of Brazil punches Rob Font in their bantamweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on December 04, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Share this
image
gallery
jose-aldo–ufc-278-ceremonial-weigh-ins
Jose Aldo
Share this
image
gallery
UFC 279 jose aldo, merab dvalishvili faceoff
Share this
image
gallery
MMA: UFC 278- Aldo vs Dvalishvili
Aug 20, 2022; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Jose Aldo (red gloves) fights Merab Dvalishvili (blue…
Aug 20, 2022; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Jose Aldo (red gloves) fights Merab Dvalishvili (blue gloves) during UFC 278 at Vivint Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
MMA: UFC 278- Aldo vs Dvalishvili
Aug 20, 2022; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Jose Aldo (red gloves) fights Merab Dvalishvili (blue…
Aug 20, 2022; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Jose Aldo (red gloves) fights Merab Dvalishvili (blue gloves) during UFC 278 at Vivint Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery