UFC® announced today that former WEC® and UFC featherweight champion, Jose Aldo, will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame’s ‘Modern Wing’ as a member of the Class of 2023. The ceremony, presented by Toyo Tires®, will take place during the 11th Annual UFC International Fight WeekÔ this summer in Las Vegas and will be streamed live on UFC FIGHT PASS®.
“Jose Aldo is the greatest featherweight of all time,” said UFC President Dana White. “From WEC to UFC, Jose helped us build the sport of MMA and UFC as a brand, as well as change the perception of the smaller weight classes and what they could accomplish inside the Octagon. It will be an honor to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer.”
Aldo will join other notable figures in the Modern Wing category, including Forrest Griffin, BJ Penn, Urijah Faber, Ronda Rousey, Michael Bisping, Rashad Evans, Georges St-Pierre, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Daniel Cormier. The “Modern Era” category includes athletes who turned pro on or after November 17, 2000, are a minimum age of 35, or who have been retired for one year or more.
Aldo had an 18-year professional MMA career and a record of 31-8 (24-7, UFC / WEC / PRIDE / Shooto Brazil). He secured victories over UFC Hall of Famers Urijah Faber and Cub Swanson, as well as former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar, and former WEC featherweight champion Mike Brown, among others. He made his professional MMA debut in 2004 and his U.S. debut in 2008 on the prelims of WEC 34.
Aldo became the WEC featherweight champion in 2009, and defended the title nine times before becoming the inaugural UFC featherweight champion in 2010. He would go on to capture the interim UFC featherweight title in 2016, and continued fighting top contenders in the featherweight and bantamweight divisions before retiring in 2022.
Aldo’s impressive career and contributions to the sport of MMA will be recognized at the 2023 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Don’t miss the chance to see one of the greatest featherweight fighters of all time be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.
