Jose Aldo has no regrets over his performance at UFC 251.
The former UFC Featherweight Champion took on Petr Yan for the vacant bantamweight title at the pay-per-view and the MMA veteran was beaten in the fifth-round via TKO. Coming in, many questioned why Aldo was given a title shot ahead of contenders like Ajamain Sterling and Cory Sandhagen as the 33-year-old was in the midst of a two-fight losing streak.
Despite the criticism, Aldo gave up one of hell of a fight in the first three rounds; however, the last two rounds saw Yan dominante the former champion. Even though Aldo came out on the losing end of the match-up, the Brazilian is proud of his performance against Yan, thought he admits to making a mistake in the final two rounds:
“Pretty much everything worked out,” Aldo said to MMA Fighting. “Everything we thought would happen in the fight happened. It was a very tough fight. We were basically tied going into the fifth round, but the main factors in the fight were a kick that landed on him and his punch that got me in the first and affected me. I thought it would be a tough fight, but I would be able to control it.
“We fought smart for two rounds. When I came back to the fourth, I don’t know why I changed my strategy again. I should have kept it, controlling the distance, but it’s his merit for imposing his rhythm, coming forward and controlling until the fifth. We thought about fighting [the way I did in round one], but he connected a good punch, and I went down and stayed there for a while trying to recover and couldn’t fight until the end.
“But, like I said, I’m very happy. I was able to land kicks, I was able to land punches. I think I should have done more combinations with my hands. I think it was a good performance regardless. I think it’s more of his merits for being able to neutralize some areas we had in mind than me not doing something.”
The veteran isn’t dwelling on his past performances as he understands that MMA is about either winning or losing:
“The performances I had against Marlon, where I did well and undoubtedly won the fight, even if the result says otherwise, and Petr Yan… he’s an up-and-comer, and nobody wants to fight the guy. But I volunteered to do it and put on an excellent performance. That’s the sport, you either win or lose. It’s time to get my head back in place, set a new strategy, get a new fight booked and win again. That’s what I have in mind right now. I don’t think about anything but a win. Get the confidence, climb in this weight class step by step. I can make the weight, and I’m well adapted to it with my body and speed.”
Check out the full interview where Aldo responds to the criticism he’s received over getting the bantamweight title shot, his future opponents, and so much more!