Jose Aldo return targeted for UFC 307 vs. Mario Bautista

“The King of Rio” will return at UFC 307.

Former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo will battle Mario Bautista in a three-round bantamweight bout Oct. 5 at Delta Center.

Both fighters confirmed the booking on social media, although the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. Ag. Fight first reported the matchup Thursday.

Aldo (32-8 MMA, 14-7 UFC) returned from a near-two-year MMA retirement in May when he defeated Jonathan Martinez by unanimous decision. The bout was his first since a July 2022 loss to Merab Dvalishvili by unanimous decision. During his MMA hiatus, Aldo competed in three professional boxing matches and went 2-1. He was also inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2023.

Bautista (14-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) enters his biggest fight to date on a six-fight winning streak. In January, he defeated Ricky Simon by unanimous decision. Bautista is a longtime member of the MMA Lab, training under coach John Crouch and alongside the likes of Sean O’Malley, Kyler Phillips, and more.

With the addition, the UFC 307 lineup includes:

• Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling
• Jose Aldo vs. Mario Bautista
• Chris Curtis vs. Kevin Holland
• Iasmin Lucindo vs. Marina Rodriguez
• Cesar Almeida vs. Ihor Potieria

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 307.