José Aldo, a two-time UFC featherweight champion who made a file seven title defenses, retired following a brutal loss to Aiemann Zahabi at UFC 315 on Saturday evening in Montreal.
It was the second retirement for the 38-year-old from Brazil, who walked away in 2022 to pursue skilled boxing and was inducted into the UFC Corridor of Fame the next yr. By 2024, nevertheless, he was again within the cage, the place he received his first battle however dropped his subsequent two.
“I do not suppose I’ve it in me anymore,” Aldo stated via an interpreter after dropping a unanimous resolution. “This was a really robust week that I felt that I did not have it in me.”
Aldo was referring to a tough weight lower during which he was unable to get even near the bantamweight restrict of 136 kilos. The UFC moved the battle to the 145-pound featherweight division.
Aldo appeared energized initially, however by the top of the battle he was on his again, bloodied and taking a battering from Zahabi’s elbows.
“I do not wish to go into battle on a regular basis and undergo all this,” Aldo stated. “I simply do not have it in my coronary heart anymore. I believe that is the final time you are going to see me. I am unable to do that anymore.”
Aldo turned featherweight champion within the UFC’s sister promotion, the WEC, in 2009, and when that promotion and its roster had been absorbed by the UFC the next yr, he was named champion.
He remained champ till 2015, when Conor McGregor ended his 18-fight successful streak. Aldo received an interim title the next yr, and after McGregor was stripped for not defending his belt, Aldo once more was named champion. In 2017, he misplaced the title to Max Holloway.