A high-profile featherweight matchup between former champion Jose Aldo and rising contender Alexander Volkanovski is headed to Rio for UFC 237. Shockingly, it’s not for an interim title.
UFC 237 is currently headlined by a strawweight title fight between defending champion Rose Namajunas taking on challenger Jessica Andrade. Other fights on the card include Anderson Silva taking on Jared Cannonier in a middleweight matchup, and Thiago Alves vs. Laureano Staropol at welterweight. On top of that, according to Ariel Helwani and ESPN, following reports from The Body Lock MMA and Farah Hannoun, the card is getting a big addition.
Alexander Volkanovski asked to fight either Max Holloway or Jose Aldo following his big victory over Chad Mendes in December, it appears that he will be getting his wish. Volkanovski is currently undefeated in the UFC and is 19-1 overall, with big wins over the formerly mentioned Mendes and Darren Elkins, he’s getting a step up in competition in Rio.
Jose Aldo answered the call to fight Volkanovski and is currently looking better than ever. Aldo, who is considered one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time, has currently won two fights in a row via stoppage over Renato Moicano and Jeremy Stephens respectively. Aldo supposedly has had his eye on retirement for when his contract with the UFC is up, but that hasn’t stopped him from destroying some of the best in the division lately.
Aldo and the featherweight division are in a weird place right now, with Aldo clearly being the second best fighter behind Holloway, and the rest just following suit behind him. With Max Holloway moving to lightweight soon, the division seems up in the air as to who will be champion following Holloway’s departure. This fight can help show where Volkanovski is in the division, and on the other hand, can help cement Aldo’s place as the best featherweight of all time.
UFC 237 is scheduled for May 11 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
