Jose Aldo may feel like a 'grandpa,' but 'not going to stop until I get this title'

LAS VEGAS – With 13 years under the UFC and WEC banners, Jose Aldo is currently one of the most respected fighters in the promotion, especially among his peers. It’s a fact not lost on Aldo, who is often acknowledged by fellow athletes when he shows up for fight week.

“It’s just interesting because I noticed that, and it makes me feel like a grandpa sometimes because everybody says, ‘Oh, I followed you. I’ve seen your fights. I follow your style,'” Aldo told MMA Junkie through an interpreter at Wednesday’s media day at the UFC Apex. “But it makes me really happy, too, because at the end of the day, it’s the recognition of my work, so yeah, it makes me really happy.”

Things aren’t any different ahead of Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 31 event, which airs on ESPN and streams live on ESPN+ from the UFC Apex. Aldo (30-7 MMA, 12-6 UFC) takes on fast-rising contender Rob Font (19-4 MMA, 9-3 UFC) in the night’s headlining bout.

Font has no problem giving his respect to Aldo’s legendary career, though the New England Cartel fighter certainly will be looking to take his head off come Saturday night. Aldo isn’t expecting any favors simply because of his reputation.

“I always respect my opponents,” Aldo said. “I know his qualities. I know where he’s coming from, and based on that, that’s when I focus, and that’s how I get prepared for my next fights. So I know everything good about him and about his game.”

Aldo comes into the fight in solid form, having racked up consecutive wins over respected contenders Pedro Munhoz and Marlon Vera. They were important results for the Brazilian following the first three-fight losing streak of his career.

“It shows me that I’m capable of getting this title,” Aldo said. “It’s another two steps to get there. It just showed me that I can be a champion tomorrow.”

That “tomorrow” is figurative, of course. Saturday’s fight is a big one at 135 pounds, for sure, with Font currently sitting at No. 5 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie bantamweight rankings, and Aldo just behind at No. 8.

That said, Aldo knows a victory isn’t going to be enough to get him a crack at the bantamweight title in a division that is absolutely stacked with legitimate contenders – and one that is waiting on the title to be unified at the moment, with reigning champion Aljamain Sterling and interim titleholder Petr Yan expected to meet early next year.

“Now the division is a little bit weird, right, so I think that if I win this fight, I’m not going to the title right away,” Aldo said. “I think that I have one more stop before going to the title.”

First, of course, is Font, and that’s no easy task. But if Aldo is victorious, that next stop could potentially be T.J. Dillashaw or Cory Sandhagen, both of which would likely be incredibly exciting clashes.

But even as a current grandfather of the division, Aldo said he has no doubt that the bantamweight title will eventually be wrapped around his waist. Still just 35, Aldo looks to his countryman, Glover Teixeira – who recently claimed the light heavyweight title one day after his 42nd birthday – as proof of what can be done.

“If you look at Glover Teixeira, I’m still a kid,” Aldo said. “I want to continue doing this, and I’m not going to stop until I get this title, and I’m going to continue fighting in this high level.”

To see the full interview with Aldo, check out the video above.