Alexander Volkanovski has paid tribute to Jose Aldo, hailing him as the greatest featherweight of all time. The Australian fighter defeated Aldo on his way to winning the featherweight title, placing both fighters in the conversation for the GOAT title. However, Volkanovski believes Aldo deserves the top spot due to the length of his title reign and his dominance in victories.

"Who’s the greatest featherweight? I can appreciate what Aldo’s done, you know what I mean, that’s for other people to decide but you know for me, if you ask me, I’m going to say Aldo because he was a champion for a very long time," Volkanovski said during an interview on MainEvent.

"Obviously, people are going to look at competition and all that but to be champion that long, things go wrong, you fight injured, there’s so many things that can go wrong and to be champion that long, it’s saying something. He was very dominant as a champion, full respect to Aldo."

Jose Aldo is set to make his return to the Octagon in the co-main event of UFC 301 against Jonathan Martinez, marking his return to the UFC. Ahead of Aldo's comeback, Volkanovski reflected on the Brazilian's illustrious career.

"Obviously his technique, his skill, is always going to be something that you’re going to appreciate but him being such a respectful champion.

Again, that’s how I like to be like, I think he’s morally correct, I think he’s just respectful, he’s how a champion should be and that was something that I really did appreciate and wanted to, made me want to be a great champion too. I was always going to be respectful, it’s so good to see someone like him be the champion," Volkanovski commented.

Volkanovski faced Aldo in Brazil at UFC 237, where he emerged victorious by unanimous decision. This victory propelled Volkanovski to win the featherweight title in his subsequent fight, while Aldo made the decision to move down to bantamweight.