Aldo points to 20-year old Nova Uniao featherweight as his successor in the UFC

Jose Aldo is only 29 years old and still arguably in the prime of his career, but that did not stop him from looking at the future of his gym once he retires.

According to the current UFC champion, there is one youngster who stands out among the others at Nova União. Kaue Fernandes, 20 years old and currently 2-0 in his professional career, is the one Aldo believes will have what it takes to be the next featherweight champion once he hangs his gloves.

"In Nova União there's Hacran Dias, Felipe Froes, Nikolas Motta who was on TUF,  Felipe Jesus. But there's one kid I can see becoming the champion, Kaue Fernandes." Aldo told Combate. "He's aggressive, good at kickboxing, good on the ground. He only had two fights so far, but in a while you'll see this kid shining.  When Aldo stops fighting, I hope to see someone from my gym following my footsteps, I hope I can pass the baton to a Brazilian, so that them (foreigners) can never have the taste."

As for Fernandes, who has been training Muay Thai ever since he was seven, it's an inspiration to have the opportunity to train alongside Jose Aldo.

"It's a huge inspiration to look to my side and see a champion, look to the other and see another one. The training sessions are at such a high level it makes you want to train even more. The best thing you can have is a bunch of people you can use as role models everyday. We have Aldo, Renan Barao, Dudu Dantas, Leo Santos who is scary in jiu-jitsu. It motivates you to give your best everyday."

With both his wins coming in less than 30 seconds, Kaue still doesn't have his third fight coming up. Jose Aldo, however, will take on interim featherweight champion, Conor McGregor, at UFC 194, in Las Vegas, on December 12.