Jose
Aldo called it a career for a second time on Saturday night,
and it’s not hard to see why that decision may hold up this time
around.
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In addition to struggling with a weight cut that resulted in his
bout with Aiemann
Zahabi being moved from bantamweight to 145 pounds, the
legendary Brazilian revealed a litany of health issues that
affected him heading into UFC
315.
“This fight was hard,” Aldo said in an interview with UFC
Brazil (translation via MMAFighting.com). “I had a muscle tear on the
arm, I had something on the belly that I forgot the name, down
there, [from] kicking a lot. I had some problems. A virus
infection, a bunch of things. The doctors [said], ‘Get him out of
the fight,’ but I didn’t want to because in my head I knew this
could be my last fight.”
Aldo did relatively well in the early going, but Zahabi came on
strong down the stretch and ending the fight by battering the Nova
Uniao standout with elbows from top position to ultimately earn a
somewhat controversial unanimous decision triumph. In the immediate
aftermath, Aldo took his gloves off in the Octagon and told Joe
Rogan, “I don’t think I have it in me anymore.”
Aldo previously retired following a loss to Merab
Dvalishvili in August 2022 but returned in 2024 and has since
gone 1-2 in the Las Vegas-based promotion. The former UFC and WEC
featherweight champion claims that retirement was already in his
mind heading into UFC 315.
“I wanted to end here in Canada,” Aldo said. “I started here, and
wanted to end here. I could end it in Brazil or some place else,
but no. My story started here in Canada, this is where I first
fought in the UFC against Mark
Hominick. But it’s part [of life].
“… I had that in mind already, was talking to [coach] ‘Dede’
[Pederneiras] and [Aldo’s wife] Viviane [Pereira], that I wanted to
cross to the other side,” Aldo said. “I think it’s more of the
mindset of getting in there — I wouldn’t say I was full of it, but
to see I really have to cross to the other side. I always demand a
lot from myself, but now I want to enjoy my family, be a father,
pick up my kids at school. That’s what I want to do.”
In a post on his Instagram stories, Aldo stood by his decision to
call it a career:
This may have been my last time inside the Octagon.
This week, I faced one of the biggest battles of my life, and it
wasn’t against an opponent, but within myself.
Over the past few years, I rekindled the dream of becoming a
champion once again. I trained as I always did, gave more than l
ever had. But while cutting weight, something inside me said: You
don’t need to do this anymore.” And I listened.
It’s time to move forward. To live for my wife, for my kids. To
celebrate the story I wrote with every war, every belt earned
through blood, sweat, and faith.
Thank you, Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta. Thank you to the
UFC.And most of all – thank you, my fans. You were the fuel behind
every walk to the cage. You made me a king.
If this was my farewell, know that I leave in peace. With a heart
full of gratitude and my head held high. Because I made history.
Because I lived my dream. Because, above all, I stayed true to
myself.