Jean Silva: Jose Aldo is featherweight GOAT – and Alexander Volkanovski would agree - MMA Junkie

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Jean Silva says people forget Jose Aldo's history when discussing the greatest featherweights.

Jean Silva says people forget Jose Aldo's history when discussing the greatest featherweights.

Alexander Volkanovski (29-4 MMA, 16-3 UFC) retained his UFC featherweight title by finishing undefeated Movsar Evloev in the UFC 333 headliner. His resume now includes wins over Max Holloway three times, Diego Lopes twice, and Aldo.

But despite Volkanovski's impressive body of work, Silva still sides with his fellow Brazilian, who holds the record for most consecutive UFC title defenses at seven. Volkanovski holds the record for most total title-fight wins at nine.

"I would say Jose Aldo," Silva said through an interpreter on "The Ariel Helwani Show." "We're talking about 10 years undefeated and being a champion. That has a lot of weight, and I think that Volk would agree. If there is someone who has the authority and the experience to say this, it's Volkanovski himself, and I think he would say it."

Volkanovski and his coach, Joe Lopez, see Aljamain Sterling, who meets Kevin Vallejos at UFC Fight Night 294 in Qatar, as a more deserving contender than Silva (18-3 MMA, 7-1 UFC), which irks the Brazilian.

"What I don't accept is people saying I'm not next, and I'm not the one that should be next," Silva said. "That I don't accept. If you don't want to fight me, that's another story. But I don't accept the non-deserving, because I'm the one who deserves to be next, and I should be next."

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