The UFC Hall of Famer is putting down the gloves for good.
In an unexpected announcement at UFC Rio, former UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo announced his retirement from the sport.
The 39-year-old is one of the most decorated fighters to step into the octagon. Aldo has been fighting professionally since 2004, but his UFC run started in 2010. He was tearing it up as the WEC Featherweight Champion before the UFC merged with WEC. Aldo became the inaugural UFC Featherweight Champion and he successfully defended that belt against seven fighters including Chad Mendes, Kenny Florian, and Frankie Edgar.
Aldo ended up losing the title to Conor McGregor at UFC 194. Since then, he's floated around the featherweight and bantamweight divisions. He had memorable bouts against guys like Max Holloway and got some solid wins once he moved up to the 125-pound division. The last time he challenged for a belt was at UFC 251 for the vacant Bantamweight title and Petr Yan beat him in the fifth round via a TKO.
Aldo’s final fight was a return to the featherweight division against Aiemann Zahabi at UFC 315. He suffered a unanimous decision loss.
Now this isn’t the first time Aldo claimed retirement. He did so in 2022 following his loss to Merab Dvalishvili. However, should his retirement stick then he’ll end his career with a record of 32 wins and 10 losses. Thus far, he remains the most successful UFC Featherweight in terms of title defenses. He’s also been in the most title fights in featherweight history. The Brazilian native was actually induced into the UFC modern wing of the Hall of Fame in 2023.
Aldo has had one of the best careers within the UFC. A strong champion who consistently had electric and entertaining fights, he should hang his head high knowing that the featherweight division is as strong as it is due to him representing the division for so many years.
Though the announcement at UFC Rio was a surprise, Aldo did say that he was retired back in May. Following his controversial loss at UFC 315, he didn’t feel that there was a fight strong enough for him to get back into the octagon.
“No, I don’t see myself fighting,” Aldo said to MMAFighting . “When I went back [to the UFC in 2024], it wasn’t for money, it was for a purpose I had, a calling. I tried doing it and it didn’t work. I gave my all and was happy with everything I’ve achieved. There’s no fight that would make me come back. To put the gi, to spar, or do anything, only in five years. Thank God I’ll be almost 50 in five years, so there’s no possibility of fighting, there’s no calling.”