Aldo: We also want to have part of these millions

UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo recently conducted an extensive interview with Brazil’s Combate, and advocated for higher pay. Via Google Translate.

Ivan Raupp: Are you more comfortable fighting in Rio?

Jose Aldo: “Everyone feels very well already (fighting on home turf), you know the weather, you knows everything. Then you feel more peaceful. Of course in my whole career, I never picked the fight, but fight at home is great. Having fan support counts a lot. Aside from that, the percentage of winning when fighting at home is pretty big.

IR: Has Chad Mendes evolved since the first fight?

JO: Every athlete develops. Not only myself, but all athletes, because the sport is growing and you have to follow it. If a fighter has improved, that is for you, the journalists (to say). But we fighters know if the athlete has evolved or not. I see no difference. To me, he’s still the same person with the same game. He may have increased confidence, then yes, but of course, even I do not see anything I can say, “Oh, the guy is very good standing” No. He never fought a striker and made a three round fight with the guy. So I can not say that he is so great standing. Inside the cage we will see who has evolved.”

IR: Will the shortage belt in Brazil last only a short time?

JA: (Laughs) I hope so, right? We lost a bit of space, but Brazil has a huge talent and has everything to eventually win the belts again. I’m hoping this happens, too. We will always be fighting among best. Werdum, then Vitor, we always have great chances of winning belts. I think this is a phase. We can change and we can dominate again the UFC. “

IR: What is the reason for shortage of belts?

JA: For me, it is a natural thing. We’ve been through this before. We’ve Had great champions, then went through a phase of droughts and transition. My generation is taking now. Past generation has done much, with Minotauro, Wanderlei, Anderson Silva … It is an exchange of staff. Sometimes it takes until there are other hard athletes. In the future God willing we will have several other champions. “

IR: Do fighters deserves greater financial reward?

JA: Greater financial reward not only me, but also other athletes deserve it. We give a lot to the company, and I think it is not as valued as it should… In the past, athletes were highly valued, and the company was not so great. Nowadays the company is very large and athletes are very devalued… If you’re fighting well, you are valued by the company. But you’re fired if you lose three straight fights. It’s hard to talk about numbers. You can watch Wanderlei Silva and Dana White discussing numbers. I’m employed by the UFC, I can see their side. But we are always looking for our value to appreciate. We do not earn a monthly salary, so we have to keep fighting. We try to always give the maximum in training to get in there and fight, thus raising millions for the company. We also want to have part of these millions.”