Jose Aldo Jr was 3 division UFC champion material.

[pankrat]

I think Aldo would be favoured to beat Renan Barao or whoever Barao fought for the UFC BW belt between 2012-2014.
Had a real chance vs Ben Henderson or Anthony Pettis who held the LW belt during that same timeframe.

Did any fighter ever had as much 3 division champ potential as Jose Aldo, since Sakuraba in the late 90s?
Maybe Silva 2006-2008?
Not Conor

 

[ironfist05]

Aldo would have been the LW champion had Dana let him go up to LW to face Pettis IMO.

 

[13Seconds]

Benson Henderson was a bad motherfucker when he was champ. Actually a nightmare matchup for Aldo. Big dude, endless cardio, strong grappling. Aldo would have a hard time there.

 

[pankrat]

Benson Henderson was a bad motherfucker when he was champ. Actually a nightmare matchup for Aldo. Big dude, endless cardio, strong grappling. Aldo would have a hard time there.

The much smaller Frankie took Ben to a split decision. I do think would be hard of course, still I see Aldo replicating what Frankie did with his boxing but better imo

 

[Kos Fan]

Assuming he was able to properly cut those extra 10 pounds then yes. Aldo had horrible weight cuts trying to make 145 back then.

 

[Hypetrainofthemonth]

If GSP says he could've cut to 155 at his retired older age, he could've beaten Bendo, Frankie or Pettis. And had as much of a chance to beat Silva, as Silva had at beating Jones.

Silva also could've maybe been 3 weight champ.

Frankie could've probably beaten Barao & pettis, but we saw Aldo was a pretty strong counter for him, maybe would've done better against Holloway? Not sure how much better Holloway's TDD is.

If they had lower weight classes at the time, BJ in his prime maybe could have.

All I can really think of at the moment.

 

[dracul]

too small for LW
Henderson had a big size advantage and would have beaten him

that is the reason why he never moved up and killed himself at 145
not sure how he is making 135

 

[xhaydenx]

I think Aldo would 've beaten Renan Barao or whoever Barao fought for the UFC BW belt between 2012-2014.

Um, the washed, shot version of Aldo that fought on the weekend would have absolutely humiliated all the guys Barao fought betwen 2012-2014.

I mean, Barao fought Faber twice in that time. Aldo already easily spanked a younger, less worn version of Faber before all that.

 

[TheBulge]

One of Aldo's biggest weaknesses would be dog fights that take a ton of endurance and durability. Benson would be too much for him, he'd slip away in the championship rounds and probably not even survive 5 rounds.

 

[xnhojx]

Dont forget that was pre-usada and pre-pee drop test Aldo

 

[Patman]

Aldo would have been the LW champion had Dana let him go up to LW to face Pettis IMO.

Pettis was too marketable. Dana is an asshole, but he ain't no dummy (most of the time). He protects his cash cows until they're no longer making him cash.

 

[Patman]

One of Aldo's biggest weaknesses would be dog fights that take a ton of endurance and durability. Benson would be too much for him, he'd slip away in the championship rounds and probably not even survive 5 rounds.

I think so too. Aldo faded against Hominick in the 4th and 5th. Bendo would have taken him to deep waters.

 

[El Fernas]

For sure, but Henderson was big at 155, considering Aldo is able to make 135 he would had been undersized for sure, but at the same time...so did Frankie, 3 belt potential no doubt.

 

[Patman]

The much smaller Frankie took Ben to a split decision. I do think would be hard of course, still I see Aldo replicating what Frankie did with his boxing but better imo

Frankie has a much higher work rate than Aldo. Jose's best chance is a stoppage in the first 3 rounds.

 

[JKS]

Can't imagine him making 135 back then, he had issues making 145.

 

[Pain4Pain]

Well we had BJ, Aldo, and Barao as the 155 145 and 135 champs, all from the same camp so it was going to be a Silva/Machida type of arrangement not to fight each other

 

[wufabufa]

WEC never die

 

[koquerelle]

Love him, but to say he could have easily done that is fucking silly.

 

[jeff7b9]

Fighters would could have done it if given the right shots at the right time, and skip line passes:

Anderson 170, 185 , 205
Easiest path would be Hughes and Forest

GSP
Could have beaten numerous 155ers

Conor
People will hate me but he could have caught Robbie, who was shot after the back to back to back to back wars w Hendricks x2, Rory & Condit

Aldo
Frankie @ 155
Barao or Cody at 135

BJ ... If you count WEC Faber at 145

 

[jeff7b9]

If GSP says he could've cut to 155 at his retired older age, he could've beaten Bendo, Frankie or Pettis. And had as much of a chance to beat Silva, as Silva had at beating Jones.

Silva also could've maybe been 3 weight champ.




If they had lower weight classes at the time, BJ in his prime maybe could have.

All I can really think of at the moment.

After Silva beat Rich Franklin there was talk of Matt Hughes fighting Silva to "avenge" Rich Franklin... but if I recall correctly that was scrapped when Hughes lost his belt to GSP.

That was early in Anderson's UFC run, and Anderson fought at 175 against Okami a few months (iirc) before his UFC debut.

When GSP challenged Anderson, Anderson replied "maybe I'll go down to fight GSP"

So Anderson could have got that 170 strap if everything played out perfectly.


GSP got the 85 strap so no need to beat Anderson, unless this thread is pretending that anyone would have ever had a chance or opportunity to hold 3 belts simultaneously...

In which case the only even slightly remote possibility is Conor because no one else would ever have gotten the extreme favoritism needed to even have a shot at 3 belts, anyone else would have been asked to vacate.