Alexander Volkanovski pays ‘full respect’ to José Aldo and nicknames his former featherweight enemy GOAT

José Aldo’s featherweight career won’t be forgotten anytime soon.

Since its creation in 2011, only five fighters can say they have been UFC Featherweight Champions: José Aldo, Conor McGregor, Max Holloway, Alexander Volkanovski and most recently Ilia Topuria. Each of the top four has their own argument for being the best fighter to come out of the weight class, but “The Great” Volkanovski is not one to toot his own horn.

Volkanovski was 13-1 at 145 pounds with five successful title defenses. He ended up losing the belt to Topuria in February. It’s hard to deny the former champion’s resume with three wins over fellow great Holloway, as well as a unanimous decision effort over Aldo in 2019, which ended up being the Brazilian’s last appearance at featherweight.

READ MORE: UFC 301: Watch José Aldo collide with Jonathan Martínez in an intense confrontation

While Aldo may have packed his bags for bantamweight, where he returns this weekend against Jonathan Martinez at UFC 301, Volkanovski still holds his old foe in high regard. Instead of choosing himself in the featherweight ‘GOAT’ conversation, the Australian would give the nomination to Aldo.

“That’s for other people to decide, but if you ask me, I’ll say Aldo,” Volkanovski said. Fox Sports Australia. “Because, you know, he was a champion for a long time. Obviously, people will look at the competition and all that, but to be a champion for that long, things go wrong. Fights injured… there are so many things that can go wrong. and being a champion for so long, that’s saying something. Man, he was also very dominant as a champion, so all my respect to Aldo.”

From the WEC to the UFC, “The King of Rio” remained undefeated for 10 years until he ran into a counterattack by Conor McGregor, ruining his first title reign in 2015. In total, Aldo won eight title fights in the category of weight. with wins over the likes of Frankie Edgar (twice), Chad Mendes (twice) and “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung.

Former featherweight champion and current BMF champion Max Holloway went 2-0 against Aldo, ending his second title reign in 2017, etching his own name in the history books. But like Volkanovski, the Hawaiian fighter also made sure to give his honor to Aldo as the best featherweight of all time.

“The guy got eight title fights, I got five title wins,” Holloway said of Aldo’s career at UFC 276 media day back in 2022. “Until someone can surpass his records as champion, with eight title wins, then they can consider themselves. the GOAT at featherweight. I have five to beat here against Alex to get my sixth title. This is the icing on the cake. “It’s going to be incredible… José Aldo is the best featherweight of all time.”

READ MORE: UFC 301: José Aldo reveals motivation behind his return and rejects $1 million promotion offersyes

Having closed the door on featherweight years ago, José Aldo comes out of retirement to compete for one last bantamweight title this weekend at UFC 301.

Who is the featherweight GOAT in your book?

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