Since he returned to the UFC a little more than a year ago, some fans have questioned how Jose Aldo was booked.
The legendary former Feeder Wain Champion returned with a victory over Jonathan Martinez at UFC 301 before Aldo was beaten controversially by Mario Bautista on UFC 307 last September.
Instead of the Brazilian icon that counts some dream matchups before hanging the gloves, the 38-year-old targeted relatively new faces at the top of the Bantamweight Division confronted.
This will take place on 10 May, where Aldo is confronted with Aiemann Zahabi on UFC 310 with the Canadian hunter who earns a place in the top 15 after a profit reak with five fights.
Since the fight has been official, the fight has been official, but Zahabi believes that this style of matchmaking is not something new for the MMA leader.
Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC
Aiemann Zahabi says that his fight with Jose Aldo is 'UFC Sense' despite fank criticism
In a recent interview with Bloody Elbow, Aiemann Zahabi gave his view of the criticism of fans with regard to how Jose Aldo has been matched since he returned to the Octagon last year.
The 37-year-old said that although he did not necessarily expect to get this fight, he was also not surprised to see the UFC bring one of the most beloved legends of the promotion to this kind of position because of the way his last outing took place.
“I watched for a long time and UFC doesn't care what you think they should do. They do what makes sense to them. They put everyone on the heel block and you have to fight for your place, regardless of who you are.
“In that sense, it is very based on merits and given that he has lost against [Mario] Bautista, and I know it was doubtful, I don't say: “Oh he certainly lost, he was defeated.” I just mean the fact that he finally lost, the jury members gave it to Bautista, so they let him fight behind it.
“Someone behind him, not someone who lies in front of him, which makes sense in terms of the UFC strategy who thinks for matchmaking.”
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Of course, regardless of what he thinks about the way the UFC deals with the last years of Aldo, Zahabi would never complain about getting a legend for his home create in Montreal.
The Tristar athlete believes that he has earned such a fight and that it is not uncommon that the promotion proves a hunter's value, regardless of what they have achieved in the past.
“He who losing me is a lot worse for him than losing him to him, so the UFC actually tells him:” Listen we know you are a star, we know that you are a big name, we pay you the big checks, but you have lost one, so now you have to fight a man who has won five. ”
“I don't get much love and whatever, but I have won five battles, so they give me the chance I earn and they let him fight for his place. Ulfc feels and I am sure it will break a lot of fan's hearts, but hopefully I win a lot of fans after this fight.”
Aiemann Zahabi will have a UFC legend in his corner when he is opposite Jose Aldo on UFC 315
Before Aiemann Zahabi enters the Octagon with a UFC Hall of Famer, he will have one of them by his side when he takes the walk in the Bell Center in Montreal.
The brother of Aiemann, Firas Zahabi, is the highly regarded head coach of Georges St-Pierre who produced some of the most memorable nights in the UFC history in the same building that UFC 315 is organizing on 10 May.
In an interview with Bloody Elbow, St-Pierre confirmed that he would be present to put his Tristar teammate in the corner on the same night that the goodweight title will be defended.
The birthplace hunter said that he personally called 'Rush' to tell him about the matchup with St-Pierre who gave him an important advice before the greatest fight of his career.