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In his first Octagon appearance since August 2022, a 37-year-old Jose Aldo showcased the trademark speed and striking that has been present throughout his Ultimate Fighting Championship tenure. The end result was a clear-cut unanimous decision triumph over Jonathan Martinez, who entered their UFC 301 pairing on a six-bout winning streak. While Aldo announced his retirement following a loss to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 278, the Nova Uniao stalwart hasn’t exactly been idle: He’s had three boxing matches in the meantime, which might help explain how sharp he looked in Rio de Janeiro.
Following his performance against Martinez, Aldo left the door open for more fights in the UFC, and he wouldn’t even rule out another run at championship gold. As it stands, the former featherweight champion is 4-1 in his last five Octagon appearances at 135 pounds. With wins over ranked foes such as Martinez, Marlon Vera and Rob Font during that time, Aldo rejoins the bantamweight poll at No. 9.
Meanwhile, Alexandre Pantoja authored his second successful title defense in the UFC 301 main event, taking a hard-fought five-round verdict against Steve Erceg. Pantoja has won six straight fights dating back to February 2021, and his last 10 months alone include three 25-minute victories in title fights. While “The Cannibal” remains the class of the 125-pound division, Erceg has the look of a fighter who could climb much higher than his current No. 8 ranking in the months to come.
Finally, Anthony Smith quieted some doubters at UFC 301, as he submitted the previously undefeated Vitor Petrino just two minutes into their light heavyweight encounter. The former title challenger remains a tough out for up-and-coming talent in the division, and his wealth of experience keeps him competitive more often than not. “Lionheart” rejoins the 205-pound rankings at No. 14.
Note: Previous rankings listed in brackets.
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