MMA icon Jose Aldo has officially announced his retirement from the sport after suffering a razor-thin and disputed decision defeat against Aiemann Zahabi at UFC 315. Following the bout, Aldo confirmed that this would mark the conclusion of his storied fighting career.
Despite putting on a strong performance that nearly saw him finish Zahabi in the third round, Aldo appeared to tire as the fight progressed. Zahabi capitalized on this, landing significant strikes until the final bell. The judges` scoring proved contentious; while many observers felt Aldo had done enough to secure the victory, all three officials scored the fight 29-28 for Zahabi.
Immediately after the decision was read, Aldo removed his gloves inside the octagon and addressed the Montreal crowd, stating his decision to retire from mixed martial arts.
Expressing gratitude, Aldo said, “Thank you to Dana, to Sean, to Lorenzo Fertitta, to everyone in the UFC for all they have given me.” He then explained his reasons, revealing, “I just don’t think I have it in me anymore. This was a tough week, not just with the weight cut. So many things happened. It was very tough to go through all this.”
He elaborated on his physical and mental state: “There was a point this week, it was very tough, where I felt I didn’t have it. I didn’t want to cut weight anymore. My body said no, and I just don’t think I have it anymore. I don’t want to go into war all the time and go through this. I just don’t have it in my heart anymore. I think this is the last time you’re going to see me. I can’t do this anymore.”
If this indeed marks his final fight, Jose Aldo concludes his career with an impressive 32-10 record, solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest champions in UFC history and already securing his place in the UFC Hall of Fame.
For Aiemann Zahabi, the victory represents the most significant win of his career. Assuming Aldo remains retired, Zahabi will be recorded as the final opponent on the legend`s fighting resume.
Reflecting on his win, Zahabi stated, “It feels amazing. I did all the work. He was eight pounds overweight, I took it anyway. I was rocked for sure. I was a bit disoriented but my mindset coach tells me to prepare for these moments.” Looking ahead, Zahabi called out a potential future opponent: “I would like to fight against Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera. Get me moving forward in the rankings.”
From the opening bell, Aldo advanced, pressuring Zahabi and landing solid right hands to the chin. He also attacked the body effectively, and Zahabi initially struggled to match the Brazilian`s pace.
Towards the end of the first round, Zahabi connected with a clean strike followed by a teep kick, but Aldo quickly responded with a sharp combination.
As the fight wore on, Aldo`s output decreased, though he continued to land effective jabs. Zahabi found his range and landed a hard right hand, arguably his best punch up to that point.
In the final round, Zahabi landed some clean shots early, but Aldo suddenly unleashed a brilliant knee strike up the middle. He followed up with a flurry of punches and head kicks, putting Zahabi in serious trouble and seemingly on the verge of a knockout.
Remarkably, Zahabi survived the onslaught and even fired back at the end of the exchange, landing tough punches on Aldo. From this moment, Aldo appeared visibly exhausted, and Zahabi relentlessly pursued the finish, throwing everything he had.
Aldo eventually ended up on his back, absorbing ground and pound from Zahabi which caused significant damage. By the conclusion of the fight, Aldo was bleeding, and both fighters raised their hands in anticipation, but only one could be declared the winner.
That winner was Zahabi, who extended his winning streak to six fights. The victory over Jose Aldo adds a true legend to his list of accomplishments.
Marcus Blakely