UFC Legend Jose Aldo Retires After Shock Loss at UFC 315
Montreal, Quebec – Jose Aldo, the legendary former UFC featherweight champion, has announced his retirement from mixed martial arts (MMA) following a unanimous decision loss to Georges St-Pierre’s teammate, Aiemann Zahabi, at UFC 315 on Saturday night.
Weight Cut Drama Taints Aldo’s Farewell
Aldo, who was initially scheduled to face Zahabi at bantamweight, was forced to fight at featherweight (145lbs) due to weight-cutting issues. The Brazilian announced after the weigh-in that he would be committing to the featherweight division moving forward.
Uncharacteristic Performance Leads to Defeat
Aldo started strong in the opening round, dominating Zahabi with quick striking and footwork. However, the Tristar Gym product rallied in the following rounds, trading blows with the UFC Hall of Famer and eventually earning a unanimous decision victory.
"I don’t think I have it in me anymore… I just don’t wanna go into war all the time and go through this. I just don’t have it in my heart anymore."
Jose Aldo
An Emotional Farewell
After the bout, Aldo removed his gloves in the cage, signaling his retirement. Speaking to Daniel Cormier, Aldo confessed that the weight-cutting issues, combined with the emotional strain of the fight, led him to make the decision to hang up his gloves.
Looking Back on an Illustrious Career
Aldo, one of the greatest featherweights of all time, leaves behind an impressive resume that includes two UFC featherweight titles, five successful title defenses, and 10 post-fight bonuses.
FAQs
- Q: What were Jose Aldo’s final UFC fight record?
- A: 23 wins, 9 losses.
- Q: How many times did Jose Aldo defend the UFC featherweight title?
- A: Five times.
Though his fighting days are behind him, ‘Scarface’ will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the greatest featherweights to ever grace the octagon.
Did you know? Jose Aldo held the WEC featherweight title before winning the UFC championship in 2010.
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