The debate over the greatest featherweight in MMA history has another strong opinion behind it, and Jorge Masvidal is firmly backing Jose Aldo.
Despite the accomplishments of Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway, Masvidal believes Aldo remains the best fighter to ever compete at 145 pounds. Speaking on the Deep Waters podcast, the former UFC welterweight contender pointed to Aldo’s dominant years in the WEC and UFC as the main reason for his position.
To me, it’s Jose, Masvidal said.
Aldo finished his career with a 32 and 10 professional record and a 14 and 9 record inside the UFC. He also holds the UFC record for seven consecutive featherweight title defenses, a record that remains one of the defining achievements of his career.
For Masvidal, however, the argument goes beyond statistics and championship records. He believes Aldo’s overall skill set made him an exceptionally difficult fighter to solve during his prime.
Jose Aldo’s complete skill set stands out
Jose Aldo built his reputation as one of the most complete fighters of his generation.
His striking became one of the defining weapons of his career, particularly his powerful leg kicks and precise boxing. He could control distance, punish opponents from the outside and produce explosive combinations when opportunities appeared.
His defensive wrestling was another major part of his success. Aldo regularly faced fighters who wanted to take him down and demonstrated an ability to keep fights in the areas where he was most comfortable.
Masvidal highlighted that versatility when explaining why he believes Aldo remains ahead of every other featherweight.
Too much of an athlete that understood fighting every single position, Masvidal said, while also praising Aldo’s wrestling, jiu jitsu and striking.
The former UFC star went as far as calling Aldo the best defensive wrestler he has ever seen.
That assessment helps explain why Masvidal’s argument is based heavily on Aldo’s prime rather than the final portion of his career.
Seven consecutive title defenses remain a major part of Aldo’s legacy
Aldo’s championship run remains difficult to overlook.
He became one of the defining stars of the WEC before carrying that success into the UFC. His reign at featherweight established him as one of the sport’s most dominant champions and eventually produced seven consecutive UFC title defenses.
That period included victories over some of the strongest contenders available at the time. Aldo consistently demonstrated the ability to adapt his approach depending on the opponent, whether that meant relying on his striking, defending takedowns or controlling exchanges at range.
His longevity at the top also strengthened his case. Aldo competed against multiple generations of featherweights and remained relevant even after his championship reign ended.
That body of work is what Masvidal believes separates Aldo from the fighters who followed him.
Volkanovski presents the strongest modern challenge
Alexander Volkanovski has arguably done more than anyone to challenge Aldo’s position.
Volkanovski became UFC featherweight champion and successfully defended the belt five times during his first reign. He also defeated Max Holloway three times, creating one of the most impressive rivalries in the division’s history.
Volkanovski eventually lost his title to Ilia Topuria, but he returned to the top after Topuria vacated the championship. He defeated Diego Lopes at UFC 314 to regain the belt before beating Lopes again at UFC 325.
Volkanovski is now scheduled to face Movsar Evloev in the main event of UFC 333 on October 24 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
His achievements have made him a leading candidate in the featherweight GOAT conversation, but Masvidal does not believe they are enough to overtake Aldo.
Masvidal believes prime Aldo beats Volkanovski
The most notable part of Masvidal’s comments was his confidence in how a prime Aldo would have matched up against the modern champions.
I think in his prime, he beats Volk, and he beats Max, Masvidal said.
The hypothetical matchups are difficult to assess because Aldo and Volkanovski competed during different stages of their careers, while Aldo and Holloway actually shared the cage.
Volkanovski’s pressure, pace and ability to mix striking with wrestling would have presented Aldo with a difficult tactical challenge. Aldo’s ability to control distance and defend takedowns, however, would have given him the tools to disrupt Volkanovski’s preferred approach.
Against Holloway, the matchup is even more complicated because their actual fights provide a different perspective.
Holloway’s victories remain part of the debate
Holloway defeated Aldo twice during their UFC careers. Their first meeting ended with Holloway capturing the featherweight championship, while the rematch also went in Holloway’s favor.
Those results are an important part of any discussion about Aldo’s legacy. They demonstrate that even one of the greatest fighters in the division could eventually be overcome by the next generation.
Holloway also built an outstanding career of his own and became one of the most accomplished featherweights in UFC history.
Masvidal’s argument does not ignore those results. Instead, he is placing greater emphasis on Aldo’s overall body of work and the level he reached during his prime.
The GOAT debate remains open
Aldo’s later career results have provided ammunition for those who rank Volkanovski or Holloway ahead of him. He lost four of his final five UFC bouts before retiring in 2025.
That does not erase what Aldo accomplished earlier in his career, but it does add another layer to the debate.
The question ultimately comes down to what matters most when determining the greatest featherweight of all time. Some will prioritize championship defenses, others will point to quality of opposition, longevity or head to head results.
Jorge Masvidal is clearly placing the greatest weight on dominance and overall ability at a fighter’s peak.
For him, Aldo’s combination of elite striking, defensive wrestling, jiu jitsu, athleticism and championship success remains unmatched.
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