Jose Aldo to make combat sports return next week

Less than two months after losing his UFC title, Jose Aldo will return to combat sports.

However, it won't be inside the Octagon. Instead, he will be putting that black belt he earned under Andre Pederneiras to use in a high-profile jiu-jitsu tournament. Aldo lost the UFC featherweight title via third round TKO to Max Holloway at UFC 212 on June 3. With no fights booked and nothing more than a fight offer from disgruntled lightweight Edson Barboza on the table, he will take a step back from the striking to compete at the IBJJF’s Master International Championship in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The competition runs from July 28-30 and 'Scraface' is expected to fight on Sunday. https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/881608362697404417 IBJJF made the announcement on social media.

"We are very honoured to have the great Jose Aldo Junior registered for the Master South America. We can't wait to see this MMA legend representing the Nova União team in the light division.”

In 2004, a brown-belt Aldo defeated future multiple-time world champion Rubens Charles “Cobrinha" en route to winning the CBJO gold. Shortly after he transitioned to MMA where he would dominate the featherweight division, going on an 18-fight win-streak that was ended in 13 seconds by Conor McGregor in 2015. Aldo still holds the record for most featherweight title defences in WEC/UFC history.