Jose Aldo's plan is to beat Max Holloway at UFC 218, win trilogy and retire as champion

DETROIT – Jose Aldo wants to walk away from MMA on top, and it all starts with regaining the UFC featherweight championship from Max Holloway at UFC 218.

Aldo (26-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) will enter a UFC title fight as the challenger for the first time in the UFC 218 pay-per-view headliner Saturday at Little Caesars Arena, when he challenges Holloway (18-3 MMA, 14-3 UFC) in a rematch of their UFC 212 meeting in June, which “Blessed” won by third-round TKO.

If Aldo wins, he would join Randy Couture as the only fighters in UFC history with three title reigns in a single weight class. The Brazilian is eager to make history and set up the final chapter of his career, which he hopes ends with the title still around his waist.

“I’m looking forward to making history and putting my name in the history of the UFC,” Aldo said through a translator at today’s UFC 218 open workouts. “I want to retire being the champ.”

UFC 218 will mark the fourth time in Aldo’s career he’s competed in a rematch. “Scarface” is unbeaten in that scenario so far, but against Holloway it’s a different type of challenge, because Aldo lost the first fight.

Aldo said he fully expects to beat Holloway at UFC 218. They would each hold one win over each other in that scenario, and Aldo said it’s likely a third fight takes place afterward.

“Probably yes (to a trilogy), but it’s up to (UFC President) Dana (White),” Aldo said. “He’s going to decide. I’m pretty confident about the victory. I can see the belt again.”

Aldo originally wasn’t meant to fight at UFC 218. He stepped in on less than one months’ notice after Frankie Edgar suffered an orbital injury, but Aldo feels fully prepared because he was already training for a UFC on FOX 26 bout with Ricardo Lamas.

Although Aldo said he empathizes with Edgar for his situation, he also knew that another’s misfortune was his opportunity.

“I feel really bad about Frankie Edgar getting injured,” Aldo said. “But I knew I was the one because of my name, my history in MMA and the UFC. I knew.”

For more on UFC 218, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.