UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo is interested in a career in boxing

These days, the biggest ongoing story in combat sports is a potential boxing mega bout between UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor and semi-retired boxing great Floyd Mayweather. As it turns out, however, McGregor is not the only fighter with his sights set on a boxing career.

Shortly after we learned that McGregor had been granted a boxing license in the state of California, we learned that his biggest rival, Nate Diaz, was well on his way to receiving a boxing license in the combat sports mecca of Nevada. Now, it sounds as though another McGregor rival is also interested in dipping his toes in the boxing world. That rival is current UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo, who McGregor knocked out in just 13 seconds back in 2015.

Aldo explained his desire to strap on the boxing gloves in an interview with Brazil’s TV Combate on Sunday night. His words (via MMAFighting.com).

“First of all, it’s not about money. I want to keep it clear. Thank God the UFC and MMA gave me a lot of stuff. Yes, I think about having a career in boxing, but I want to start from the bottom, start from zero. I want to get ranked and one day fight for a belt. I don’t want to fight just to fight for money, [but] to go after big fights and challenge a great champion.”

“I respect every boxer, but I want to start from the bottom. I want a career in boxing. That was my biggest dream, to one day become champion in MMA and boxing. That is my biggest dream.”

Aldo then gave his thoughts on the much discussed possibility of a Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather boxing match, assuring he didn’t care what McGregor does, but that he hopes the Irishman loses if the fight does happen.

“I hope Conor gets f*cked, that’s what matters to me,” he said. “I don’t give a damn about him. I’ve already said he’s sh*t, so what he does or doesn’t do, I don’t care. I worry about myself. I’m training to defend my belt. I want to fly higher.”

At the moment, Aldo’s sights are set on a title unifying showdown with interim featherweight champion Max Holloway, though the date and location for this fight have not yet been confirmed.

How do you think Jose Aldo would do in the boxing ring? Sound off, PENN Nation!

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 1/30/2017.