COCONUT CREEK, Fla. – Pedro Munhoz expects to enter the UFC bantamweight title mix with a win over Jose Aldo.
Munhoz (19-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) meets former featherweight champion Aldo (29-7 MMA, 11-6 UFC) on Aug. 7 at UFC 265 in a pivotal clash for the stacked division.
Although he’s split his past four appearances with a finish over former champ Cody Garbrandt and most recently a “Fight of the Night” performance against Jimmie Rivera, Munhoz sees big implications in facing Aldo.
“It’s a huge fight,” Munhoz told MMA Junkie. “I never put my expectation in fights and results and things like that. I like to focus on doing my best on Aug. 7, but I do believe, and that’s crossed my mind every time, that an impressive victory over Jose Aldo is definitely a huge credibility for a title fight.”
Munhoz admits he didn’t think he’d cross paths with the Brazilian icon considering Aldo ruled featherweight for so long, but he’s honored to fight him. He sees similarities in their style, which inevitably makes it an exciting matchup.
“Hell of a fighter,” Munhoz said of Aldo. “Always watched his fights, like his style a lot, very aggressive, and that’s kind of what my style is too. Stay in the pocket, look for the knockouts and finish. Jose Aldo too. Besides that, he’s a very popular person in Brazil, so I’m very excited too to fight a legend, such a big name and a good fighter.”
He continued, “He seems incredible. He seems very durable. His fights have been really good against Petr Yan, against Marlon (Moraes), against ‘Chito’ Vera his last fight. I watched all of the fights, and his performance was great in all of them.”
Pedro Munhoz: Impressive win over Jose Aldo would give me ‘huge credibility for title fight’