It’s rare when [autotag]Jose Aldo[/autotag] enters a fight as a betting underdog, but he proved that he’s not to be counted out just yet.
Former UFC featherweight king Aldo (28-6 MMA, 10-5 UFC) was matched up with surging contender [autotag]Renato Moicano[/autotag] in the co-main event of UFC on ESPN+ 2, where he looked to climb back up the 145-pound ladder.
The fight started tentatively, with both men exercising their patience early with feints and fakes. Aldo eventually opened up with some hard leg kicks, while Moicano sat back and looked to work off his jab.
In Round 2, Moicano ramped up his aggression, but it ended up costing him dear when Aldo countered him with a big left that put the rising contender in big trouble.
Aldo saw his chance and didn’t let Moicano off the hook. The former champion charged forward and unloaded a flurry of strikes. Aldo connected with a knee up top and multiple uppercuts which had Moicano badly hurt. He then followed up with a second salvo of shots that eventually forced the stoppage.
Following that victory, Aldo went on to lose a unanimous decision to Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 237, which prompted the Brazilian veteran to move down to bantamweight.
His divisional debut against Marlon Moraes at UFC 245 last December ended in a decision loss after a fight that many observers – including UFC president Dana White – thought he won. As a result of his performance, and despite his defeat, Aldo was awarded a title shot.
Aldo returns at UFC 251 on July 11 when he meets Petr Yan (14-1 MMA, 6-0 UFC) for the vacant bantamweight title in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The event takes place Saturday at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
Before he faces Yan, relive Aldo’s finish over Moicano in the video above.
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