Which Gym Does Jose Aldo Train At? UFC Legend’s Coaches, Teammates and More

Jose Aldo has been raising all the bars in the MMA cage with his fighting prowess. His fighting career has been one of the best when it comes to the UFC and even back when he knocked opponents out cold in the WEC. The ‘King of Rio’ was undefeated for a prolonged ten years till Conor McGregor battered him in 13 seconds to become the featherweight champion back at UFC 194. But that didn’t stop him and he quickly reclaimed the division gold belt by outclassing Frankie Edgar at UFC 200.

Aldo’s dominance inside and outside the octagon is a testament to the prowess of his team. With all the intrigue becoming prominent about the Brazilian star’s training center, a discussion about his gym and coaches has become an absolute necessity. On that note, let’s have a look at his teammates, gym, preparation, and more.

A closer look at Jose Aldo’s gym, coach, and his teammates

There was a time in the UFC when people were afraid to step into the Octagon with Jose Aldo. The former featherweight king was like the boogeyman of the division till UFC 194. Most of the victories in his career were achieved by way of knockout or utter dominance which used to lead to a decision win. A large chunk of credit goes to his gym, teammates, and coaches. The Brazilian sensation has remained loyal to a single gym throughout his life, and he has been a part of it since 2004.

Jose Aldo trains at Nova União, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA academy headed by Andre Pederneiras. There’s limited information about Aldo’s teammate on the go but it is stated that he trains with his friends Luis Ramos and Diego Nunes at the Gym. The Brazilian has had multiple accolades to his name and it is just plausible that one would think about retiring at this stage. Interestingly, Aldo’s coach wanted him to retire but changed his mind after witnessing the resolve of ‘Junior.’

Did Aldo’s coach want him to hang up his gloves?

After his decision loss to Merab Dvalishvil, there was a tincture of doubt regarding Aldo’s return to the Octagon. Rumors floated that ‘The King of Rio’ would be bidding goodbye to the sport once and for all. Speculations arose out of the notion that Aldo had achieved everything in his career and it would be better for the veteran to drop his gloves forever.

Even Andre Pederneiras, his coach stated that Aldo should take a rest after competing for so many years. At that time, Pederneiras believed that it would be better for ‘Junior’ to stay away from the octagon. However, he added that his resolve might play a good role in his comeback. “I think it’s going to depend on lots of factors,” said Pederneiras in an interview.

He further added, “I would tell him to quit. I think Aldo has already conquered so much. It’s not going to be that last fight that is going to take away the legacy he has built in the sport. My biggest fear is when an athlete arrives at this final stage of their career and an injury might mess them up for the rest of their life.” Pederneiras also commented on Aldo’s legacy and believes that the man has everything in his arsenal to become the Bantamweight champion but would rather have him retire to keep his legacy intact.

Regardless, it must be noted that this is not the first time Jose Aldo has been advised to retire. Back in 2021, when he was riding a three-fight losing streak, he considered retirement but changed his mind when he trained with the Brazilian Navy.

Aldo’s gruesome training with the Navy changed his outlook on retirement

Back when Aldo was transitioning from featherweight to bantamweight, he suffered back-to-back losses at the hands of Alexander Volkanovski, Marlon Moraes, and Petr Yan. This shook the legend’s fortitude to step back inside the Octagon ever again. Aldo was finally coming to terms that his career might be on the brink of ending and that it was time for him to say goodbye to the UFC once and for all.

However, fate had different plans for the Brazillian juggernaut. Aldo got himself together and barged into the UFC octagon with a three-fight winning streak which was seen as his second-coming. But the question arises, how did he do it? Well, according to the man himself, the Brazilian Navy helped him in his journey. While in conversation with the Portuguese-language podcast Trocação Franca, Jose Aldo thanked the Navy officers for turning his career around.

“I was already thinking about retiring really, I had that in mind. But after the Petr [Yan] fight, the pandemic and et cetera … those [Brazilian Navy] kids lit a fire inside me, brother. I have so much will to fight these days. I’ve been with the Navy for almost two years now, since the [start of the COVID-19] pandemic. Man, I’m feeling like a boy again, learning every day, and changing my fighting style. That renewed me to fight again, lit the fire I needed,” said Aldo.

‘The King of Rio’ has pulled himself from the clutches of retirement proving yet again why he is famously dubbed the ‘G.O.A.T’ by his fans. Nonetheless, Aldo will once again look to prove the naysayers wrong as he steps into the Octagon to face Mario Bautista at UFC 307. Do you expect him to clinch the victory? State your thoughts in the comments below!