RIO DE JANEIRO — Jose Aldo wants to box, and not for one night only.
The former UFC featherweight champion returns to Brazil on Friday after spending time in California, training at Robert Garcia’s gym. According to his Nova Uniao coach Andre Pederneiras, Aldo's training wasn’t focused on his MMA career.
"He’s training boxing because he has this dream of competing in professional boxing,” Pederneiras said. "If it was up to him, he’d fight all of his UFC fights (left on the contract) in three months and go box. He wants to box professionally.”
Aldo currently has four fights left in his UFC deal, and wants to be back in action as soon as possible.
"He doesn’t want to stay inactive for a long time,” Pederneiras said, "and there’s both sides: he definitely wants to finish the contract."
With recent losses to Conor McGregor and Max Holloway, and only two stoppage victories since moving from WEC to UFC, “Scarface" will be more aggressive as a former champion, Pederneiras says.
It’s still unclear when Aldo will return to the Octagon, but a rematch with Cub Swanson around November or December is the most likely scenario.
"We’re waiting for the UFC,” Pederneiras said. "We’re trying to get this fight done, against Cub Swanson or someone else. He wants to fight (against) someone well ranked, and wait for an opportunity to fight for the belt."