- Aldo against Gamburyan. Photo: Josh Hedges
José Aldo successfully defended his WEC featherweight title for the second time this Thursday. The Jiu-Jitsu black belt and muay thai specialist notched his seventh knockout win in the promotion, over Manny Gamburyan. Still in the USA, Aldo spoke with GRACIEMAG.com. Check out what he had to say:
In the first round the crowd booed a bit, as there was a lot of study going on. But in the second round, the knockout came quickly…
That’s what we went over in training. I threw some strikes to see how he’d react. I calculated his movements, worked based on that and, thank God, it all worked out.
Shortly following each of your wins everyone always talks about the possibility of your moving up in weight and even having a title fight in the UFC lightweight division. Do you think you’ll do well in the division above yours? Would you accept a 155-lbs fight?
I would, for sure. I have what it takes to fight in the UFC, but that doesn’t depend on me. I’d have to talk to the people who work with me, like Dedé (Pederneiras), my coach, and Joinha (Jorge Guimarães), my manager. What they decide on is always what’s best. But I believe I have all it takes to fight in the upper division. There’d be no problem at all.
The moment of the knockout over Gamburyan. Photo: Josh Hedges
Gamburyan provoked you a lot before the fight. Did that bother you at any point?
Fighters do that; it’s a way of promoting the fight. So I feel it was just marketing and I don’t pay it much mind, it doesn’t bother me. I keep focused, get out there and do my job. I knew it was going to work out and I didn’t fall for it.
Did you feel the Colorado altitude during the fight?
It was fine. We showed up before the fight and did our final preparations. It all worked out, both for me and for Diego Nunes. I didn’t feel any difference.
But do you think the other fighters felt it?
I feel all the fights were different from what we’re used to seeing in the WEC, because of the altitude. Everyone held back more, was more cautious, for fear of getting tired. But Diego and I did well. It all worked out yet again and we’re going to carry on on this path.