UFC Hall of Famer Jose Aldo ends 17-month absence with grappling draw against Marlon Vera

Jose Aldo stepped back onto the mat for the first time in 17 months on Sunday, battling UFC bantamweight Marlon Vera to a draw in a 10-minute grappling contest at Hype Fighting in Quito, Ecuador.

The UFC Hall of Famer and the Ecuadorian-born Vera headlined an event that also featured grappling and bare-knuckle boxing bouts. It marked Aldo’s first competitive appearance since his final UFC fight against Aiemann Zahabi.

Aldo was largely defensive in the early stages as Vera pressed him toward the corner and hunted for takedowns. The action shifted back to the centre of the mat around the six-minute mark, where Aldo pulled guard. Vera seized on the opportunity and threatened with a heel hook, but Aldo worked free of the submission attempt.

Both fighters returned to their feet and stayed there through the final horn. With neither man able to force a tap, the bout was ruled a draw.

The event had also been scheduled to include former UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington, but organisers announced that Covington fell ill and was taken to a local hospital before he could compete.