Weigh-in chaos triggers Jose Aldo's surprise featherweight comeback at UFC 315

Former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo will make a surprise return to the 145-pound division at UFC 315 after failing to make weight for his scheduled bantamweight bout. The Brazilian legend who ruled the featherweight division for more than a decade before switching to bantamweight in 2019 was left with no option to change weight classes 24 hours before Saturday’s event in Montreal, after it became clear he would not make the 136-pound limit.Jose Aldo came in at 143 pounds while his opponent Aiemann Zahabi weighed 142 pounds on Friday, leading the UFC to upgrade their fight from bantamweight to featherweight officially. Veteran MMA reporter Ariel Helwani reports that the decision was made early Friday morning when it became clear that Jose Aldo could not safely make the bantamweight limit.The last-minute change is a turning point in the storied career of Aldo, as it is his first flight to featherweight since losing to Alexander Volkanovski in May 2019. Following that loss, the “King of Rio” fell to bantamweight, where he has fought exclusively for almost six years.The weight drama arrives as Jose Aldo attempts to return from a disappointing split-decision defeat to Mario Bautista in UFC 307 back in October last year. In the latest interviews, Jose Aldo said that the defeat left him disappointed enough that he could not talk about fighting for months.“I was angry with myself. I could not discuss fights for a long time,” Jose Aldo told reporters through a translator at Wednesday’s media day. You go into the fight to do your job, you train so hard, I have been at this for a long time. People expect that of me."Now weighing in at 143 pounds, Jose Aldo has looked rejuvenated and has sent out stern messages to would-be opponents in both divisions. “They should be worried about Jose Aldo. They’re the ones who are going to have to look at me,” the former champion said before Saturday’s clash.Fans will be able to watch UFC 315 live from the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, on Saturday, May 10, 2025. The main card will begin at 10:00 PM ET on PPV, and early prelims will start at 6:30 PM ET on ESPN+.Also Read: Bo Nickal unapologetically slams haters as he vows a fierce comeback in the next UFC boutThe weight class change provides one more appealing storyline for UFC 315, where Belal Muhammad will defend his welterweight title against Jack Della Maddalena in the main event.