Reports of former featherweight champion Jose Aldo’s return to form are greatly exaggerated, at least according to Khabib Nurmagomedov. Both Khabib and Jose Aldo were once ranked the #1 pound-for-pound fighter on the planet, but Khabib believes Jose Aldo is well and truly past his prime.
Khabib told RT Sport that Aldo needs to show his prowess against a top opponent, not a mediocre one, and managed to sneak in a jab at his arch rival Conor McGregor while he was at it.
Khabib: “Scared Chicken” Jose Aldo is Past His Prime
“How is he showing it? He got beat up when he fought Petr, right? A guy wins one fight and everyone starts talking. When Conor fought ‘Cowboy’, he looked like a lion. When he fights stronger opponents, he looks like a scared chicken. Fighting top fighters shows your worth.
The level of Russia’s football team will be shown against Croatia, not Malta.” Khabib continued, unimpressed by what he sees as a lack of fighting spirit among the UFC’s old guard.
“A fight against ‘Cowboy’ won’t show what level you’re at, just like Aldo’s fight against Pedro Munhoz. Let him fight Petr the same way. Then we can say he’s peaking again.
You saw what he did. He closed up and waited for the ref to stop the fight. That shows that you’re not at your peak. If you’re getting hit and you’re conscious and you’re not defending yourself, I call those fighters businessmen. They come out to make money.”
Aldo fought bantamweight champion Petr Yan last year, losing a completely one-sided affair. Aldo turtled up on the canvas and Yan rained shots on him for the majority of the fight, which saw fight fans, analysts, and even Dana White himself criticize the referee for failing to intervene sooner.
If you ask Khabib, that approach to the fight is exactly why Jose Aldo is past his prime. Khabib believes Aldo fought for money, not for love of the game, and in doing so revealed his own inadequacy.
“There are real champions that go hard on everyone. They don’t care [about] the money. Of course it’s an important aspect, but he has the competitive spirit. So there’s no way Aldo is having a second peak.
You can try to prove it all you want, but I’ve been through this. I know better than you. You’re a journalist, and I’m a fighter.”
Presumably, Khabib counts himself as a “real champion”. The Russian superstar retired with a 29-0 record and even the offer of a massive payday hasn’t been enough to tempt him into returning.
Do you agree with Khabib? Is Aldo past his prime, or will he enjoy a second peak? Let us know in the comments.
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