Jose Aldo lays out retirement plans ahead of UFC 237

If everything goes according to plan, Jose Aldo will compete in MMA for the second last time at UFC 237, where he’s set to battle Alex Volkanovski.

After this fight with Volkanovski, the former UFC featherweight champion will have one fight left on his current contract. He plans on fulfilling this final obligation, then conquering the sport of boxing from the ground up.

“My plan is to fight Alexander Volkanovski on May 11,” Aldo told ESPN. “Then I’ll have only one fight left in my [UFC] contract, which I plan to have. But I already have another thing in mind: boxing.

“I want to push myself. I’m not here for a specific match. I won’t call anyone out. I want to start from the bottom, really push myself, get ranked and who knows … fight for the title one day. Of course, my name already puts me ahead of lots of guys.”

Before Jose Aldo migrates to the boxing ring, he’s hoping to fight for a UFC title one last time. That being said, he understands that the UFC might be reluctant to give him a title shot in his final bout. He says he’s willing to sign a new contract to bypass this issue, so long as the new contract allows him to box too.

“They’ll never let me fight for the title if I don’t have any fights left in my contract,” Aldo said.

“Everything is about the negotiation. We are open to discuss,” Aldo said. “We can always have a conversation and try to find the best possible way to do it. I don’t see a problem in [re-signing with the UFC and being able to box]. I don’t see myself fighting MMA elsewhere but the UFC.”

What do you think the future holds for Jose Aldo as his UFC 237 fight with Alex Volkanovski draws ever closer?

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 4/4/2019.