Ex-UFC champ Jose Aldo enters Forbes ’30 Under 30′ list

MANILA, Philippines – Even though he lost the UFC featherweight championship in devastating fashion nearly a month ago, Jose Aldo added another accolade to his resumé as he has been included in Forbes Magazine’s “30 Under 30” list for 2016.

The 29-year-old Brazilian is the only mixed martial arts competitor on the list. He is ranked among the likes of NBA Most Valuable Player Steph Curry and 2012 NFL Rookie of the Year Russell Wilson. 

Despite Aldo’s 13-second knockout loss to Conor McGregor last December, Forbes Magazine acknowledged his status as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport, with an undefeated streak that lasted nearly a decade.

“Even with his UFC 194 loss, Aldo would still make any comprehensive list of great UFC fighters. He was the defending featherweight UFC champion and was ranked No. 1 in official UFC pound-for-pound rankings. He also went a decade without losing a match since 2005 and reigned as a world champion for 6 years,” Forbes wrote about Aldo.

Aldo joins ex-women’s bantamweight titleholder Ronda Rousey, who cracked the list in 2014, as well as former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, who also entered the same Top 30 in 2015.

Starting his 2016 on a good note, Aldo thanked Forbes Magazine for the recognition.

“I have dreamed about a lot of things in my life. Being a champion in the fighting world, winning the belt and being No. 1 pound-for-pound in the UFC, and as any Brazilian, to play football in the Maracana stadium. Thank God, I’ve been able to make these dreams come true. But I’ve never even thought of being in a Forbes list,” Aldo said on Instagram. “This is why I’m so grateful and humbled for being selected as one of the most important people in the world under the age of 30.”

I have dreamed about a lot of things in my life. Being a champion in the fighting world, winning the belt and bein #1 pound for pound in the UFC, and as any brazilian, to play football in the Maracanã stadium. Thank God, I’ve been able to make these dreams come true. But I’ve never even tought of being in a Forbes list. This is why I’m so grateful and humbled for being selected as one of the most important people in the world under the age of 30. Being the only brazilian on the list and share this honour with other top notch athletes, like Steph Curry and Russel Wilson, feels amazing. I’m so glad that my career and my life story has inspired people not only in Brazil but in the whole world. I thank you for the support and I’m sure this is a good omen, because 2016 will be a year of glory and happiness. Let’s go!

A photo posted by josealdojunioroficial (@josealdojunioroficial) on Jan 4, 2016 at 6:40pm PST

Aldo, who was knocked out with McGregor’s signature left hand, seeks to regain the UFC featherweight title. But it appears that he will not get an immediate rematch as his Irish rival is leaning towards a super-fight with lightweight kingpin Rafael dos Anjos. – Rappler.com