The legendary MMA fighter, José Aldo, has announced his retirement from the sport after a tough loss to Aiemann Zahabi at UFC 315 held on Saturday night in Montreal.
Aldo, former UFC featherweight champion and record holder of seven title defenses, ends his octagon career for the second time. Previously, in 2022, the Brazilian had announced his retirement to venture into professional boxing, being inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame the following year. However, he returned to the cage in 2024, where he obtained a victory before suffering two consecutive defeats.
“I don’t think I have any more in me,” Aldo stated through an interpreter after the unanimous decision. “It was a very tough week and I felt I didn’t have what it took.”
José Aldo
Aldo referred to the difficulty he had in making weight, as he failed to get close to the bantamweight limit of 136 pounds. Because of this, the fight was moved to the featherweight division (145 pounds).
Despite showing energy at the beginning of the fight, Aldo ended up on the ground, visibly affected by Zahabi’s blows.
“I don’t want to go to war all the time and go through all this,” Aldo added. “I just don’t have the heart anymore. I think this is the last time you’ll see me. I can’t do this anymore.”
José Aldo
Aldo won the featherweight championship in 2009 in the UFC’s sister promotion, WEC. When the UFC absorbed the promotion and its roster, Aldo was named champion.
He held the title until 2015, when Conor McGregor interrupted his streak of 18 consecutive victories. Aldo won an interim title the following year and, after McGregor was stripped for not defending his belt, Aldo was again named champion. In 2017, he lost the title to Max Holloway.
