UFC champ Jose Aldo's simple goal: 'I want to break every UFC record'

(This story appears in today’s edition of USA TODAY.)

NEWARK, N.J. — Jose Aldo is a humble man who emerged from humble roots. His aspirations are anything but humble.

“I want to be considered the greatest fighter ever,” Aldo told USA TODAY Sports and MMAjunkie through a translator.

The Brazilian is already considered one of the best mixed martial artists in the world today, sitting just behind Jon Jones and Georges St-Pierre atop of the USA TODAY Sports/ MMAjunkie MMA pound-for-pound rankings.

He’s also the only featherweight titleholder the UFC has known, having been awarded the title when the promotion added a 145-pound division. He’s since defended that belt five times.

On Saturday, Aldo (23-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) faces top contender Ricardo Lamas (13-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) in the co-main event of UFC 169 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. (pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET).

Like Aldo, Lamas is a WEC veteran who came to the UFC when the smaller promotion became defunct. Oddsmakers have installed Aldo as up to a 6-1 favorite, but the Brazilian said he’s very familiar with his opponent’s game and believes it will prove a challenging stylistic matchup, yet one in which he’ll emerge victorious.

“We both came from the WEC, and I know him well from that time,” Aldo, 27, said. “He’s a great fighter and a worthy opponent, and I think it’s going to be a good fight, but I’m going to win.

“I know he’s going to try to take the fight to the ground, but I’m very well-prepared. I’m the champion, and I’m going to go in there and win the fight.”

Despite Lamas’ strong wrestling background as a former NCAA Division III All-American, taking striking specialist Aldo to the floor won’t be easy. The champion owns the fourth-best takedown defense rate in UFC history, shutting down nearly 90 percent of opponents’ attempts to take him to the mat.

If Lamas can’t dictate the positioning of the contest, he’ll have to stand and trade against one of the sport’s most accomplished standup stylists, a daunting task.

Should Aldo win, UFC President Dana White has suggested the champion’s next bout could be at 155 pounds, where Aldo could challenge current lightweight champion Anthony Pettis. The promotion planned the bout in 2013 before Pettis was injured.

Aldo admits he’s intrigued by the possibility of moving up a weight class in an attempt to join Randy Couture and B.J. Penn as the only multi-division champions in UFC history.

“First, I have to beat Ricardo Lamas,” Aldo said. “But fighting Anthony Pettis is a possible opportunity I really like. It would be a new challenge, and I’d certainly consider that possibility, but it’s not just up to me. I have to talk with my coaches and team and consider the future of my career.”

It’s a career that still has much potential on the horizon. For Aldo, that includes an ascension to the highest pinnacle of the sport.

“I’m very young, and I still have a lot to accomplish,” Aldo said. “But I feel like I can be the greatest ever. I want to break every UFC record.”

For the latest on UFC 169, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.