Jose Aldo announced his retirement from the UFC after being beaten by Aiemann Zahabi at UFC 315 and his long-time rival Conor McGregor has reacted to the news
Conor McGregor summed up Jose Aldo’s UFC retirement in just four words.
Aldo called time on his illustrious career after a defeat to Aiemann Zahabi at UFC 315, leaving his gloves in the octagon as a symbol of retirement. Despite failing to make weight and the bout being held at featherweight—a division Aldo once dominated—he acknowledged the end of an era.
Post-fight, Aldo said “Well, first of all, thank you to Dana [White], to Sean [Shelby], to Lorenzo [Fertitta], to everybody at the UFC for everything you have given me. I don’t think I have it in me any more. This was a very tough week, it wasn’t just about the cutting of the weight. There were so many things that happened, it was very tough to go through all this.”
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He continued, revealing the week’s toll: “There was one point this week where I felt like I didn’t have it in me, this was a very tough week. My body said no, and I just don’t think I have it anymore. I want that chip on my shoulder. I don’t want to go into war all the time and go through this. I just don’t have it in my heart any more. I think this is the last time you are going to see me, I can’t do this any more.”
McGregor, who famously defeated Aldo in 2015, showed respect for his former opponent by sharing a tribute video and captioning it: “Jose Aldo last night”. Aldo opened up about being urged to pull out by medics due to a string of health issues before his last fight. “This fight was hard,” he confessed.
“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 viral 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.
“I wanted to end here in Canada. 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 [retirement] in mind already.”
He continued, sharing his desires for life after retiring: “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.”
