Aldo says he wants to fight until he's 40

Former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo has changed his tune on retirement yet again.

"I want to fight until I'm 40," Aldo told reporters Tuesday, according to MMA Fighting's Guilherme Cruz. "I'm 33 now, so I have seven more years ahead of me."

Aldo signed a new eight-fight deal with the UFC before his fight in May, which was an entirely different plan than one he laid out in January. Aldo had said that he intended to fight out his contract - which, at the time, had three bouts left on it - and retire by the end of 2019. After that, Aldo wanted to pursue a career in boxing.

However, Aldo now says his decision to drop down to the bantamweight division has him feeling better than ever, and that has prompted him to extend his career.

"I had it in my mind that it would be difficult to make weight, to go on a diet, but it was the exact opposite," said Aldo, who meets Marlon Moraes in his 135-pound debut at UFC 245 on Dec. 14. "I'm feeling strong, training super well.

"That makes me believe I have a lot more to give, and you can be sure that I will fight for many years. ... If I'm feeling super well, fast, stronger than ever, there's no reason to stop now."

Aldo, the longest-reigning featherweight titleholder in UFC history, was undefeated between 2006 and 2015. He won 18 fights in a row before losing the UFC belt to Conor McGregor via 13-second knockout.

Less than a year later, Aldo captured the interim title. He was later promoted to undisputed champion after McGregor vacated the strap, but he lost the belt to Max Holloway at the end of 2016.

Aldo is coming off a decision loss to Alexander Volkanovski (who challenges Holloway for the title in UFC 245's co-main event) at UFC 234 in May. Prior to that, Aldo had won two in a row.