Rio de Janeiro – The magnitude of his fight with a hall of fame fighter isn’t lost on UFC bantamweight Jonathan Martinez who knows a win over Jose Aldo could mean big things for him following UFC 301 on Saturday night.
“I think a win over him could move me up just because of who he is,” Martinez told reporters including Cageside Press on Wednesday.
“Everything that he’s done in the sport and stuff. I feel like a win over him will get me closer to what I’m looking for.”
Martinez (19-4) won’t be only facing Aldo in the octagon, but the Brazilian fans. He will make his walk after the ‘King of Rio’ makes his first.
“I think it’s going to be good too. I’m just going to hear, what is it, ‘Uh Vai Morrer’? I kind of like that so yeah I’m waiting for tall that. We’ll be good,” Martinez said with a smile.
The 30-year-old Martinez has mentioned before that he was a fan of Aldo growing up. This won’t be the first matchup he’s had where he’s fighting someone he looked up to having fought Cub Swanson and Thomas Almeida previously. He defeated both men.
“I’ve been a big fan of them and stuff, and Jose Aldo too. To me he’s just another guy,” he said.
“I don’t see him no other than just another guy in front of me.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Jonathan Martinez above. He takes on Jose Aldo at UFC 301 on Saturday night.
