Back in 2008, no one could have foreseen that the journey of inaugural UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo would still resonate within the UFC today. His debut in the UFC was nothing short of dramatic. Aldo first claimed championship gold in World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) in 2009, but after the UFC acquired the WEC, its fighters were absorbed into the UFC, and Aldo was crowned the UFC’s first featherweight champion. He lived up to expectations, extending his winning streak to 15 fights—a streak that was shattered by Conor McGregor in just 13 seconds.

After that knockout, Aldo’s career never fully regained its former momentum, marking a defining chapter in his MMA record. However, at this twilight stage of his career, Aldo no longer concerns himself with titles or money, he seems to be enjoying his MMA journey. While there are many professional aspects to this Brazilian icon, what intrigues fans most is how many languages this MMA sensation can speak.

Jose Aldo is a proud Portuguese speaker

Just like many other Brazilians, Jose Aldo is a proud speaker of Portuguese. Even after spending more than a decade in America due to his career, Aldo has always tried to speak more Portuguese than English. In a 2022 interview with Ariel Helwani, Jose Aldo disclosed his love for his motherland and its language, saying, “In professional terms, I prefer Portuguese. Portuguese is the language of my heart; it’s the language of my feelings. It’s the language that I feel I can express myself best in.“

For UFC pre-fight and post-fight conferences, he prefers to have a translator, a gesture that sets him apart from other Brazilian fighters who, after coming to America, often forget about their country and culture and try to blend into American culture. In this regard, Aldo stands out from everyone else. But what’s the reason behind Jose Aldo’s preference for Portuguese and his seeming disregard for the English language?

Why doesn’t Jose Aldo speak English?

It’s almost a dream for everyone—whether they are a chef, engineer, or MMA fighter from other countries—to come to America and settle down in the “land of opportunities.” This is not just a label but a reality that every working-class person wants to see come true, not just for themselves but for their families, as America is known for its good education, colleges, and future opportunities. Everyone wants to live the dream of the American life, a sentiment echoed a few months back by ONE Championship star Gustavo Balart, a former Olympian who left Cuba for America to become an MMA fighter and search for better opportunities. He aimed to earn enough to bring his wife and kids here, which he referred to as his source of motivation.

However, Jose Aldo did not think this way. He never wanted to leave his home, a sentiment highlighted during an interview with renowned MMA reporter Ariel Helwani. When Helwani asked Aldo if he was trying to improve his English like other Brazilian UFC fighters, the Brazilian phenom dismissed the idea. He claimed, “First of all, those particular fighters live in the U.S. and they all wanted to live in the U.S. When they started learning English, there was a secondary objective there, which was to establish their family and lives in the United States. That’s an objective I’ve never shared. I would never leave Brazil… I’m very patriotic about Brazil, my country, and that includes my language.”

Even though Jose Aldo never intended to leave his motherland, Brazil, and is not keen on speaking English, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t speak it. A jack of all trades, Aldo shocked MMA fans earlier this summer when he showcased his fluency in English during an encounter with ranked #8 UFC flyweight contender Steve Erceg.

When the world heard Jose Aldo speaking in English

Everything seemed to be going right in Jose Aldo’s life after the COVID-19 period. Following three consecutive losses, Aldo bounced back with three straight wins against opponents like Marlon Vera, Pedro Munhoz, and Rob Font. However, his journey fell short again when he collided with newly crowned bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili in 2022. This prompted the 38-year-old Aldo to take some time off from the sport to focus on his training, which proved effective in his comeback when he shut down Jonathan Martinez, a six-fight winning streak runner, at UFC 301 in the summer of 2024.

After that fight, as Aldo walked through the lobby, he bumped into fellow fighter Steve Erceg. They exchanged friendly words, with Erceg saying, “Pleasure to meet you; you are one of my favorite partners ever.” Aldo smiled and responded, “Thank you very much.” Erceg then politely asked if he could take a picture with him, to which Aldo replied, “Yeah, no problem. Thank you, but no problem. Bless.”

At present, all eyes are on the upcoming UFC event in Salt Lake City, where 38-year-old Jose Aldo aims to replicate his last fight performance against Mario Bautista. Who will you be rooting for—Aldo or Bautista? Drop your opinion below.