Brazilian fighting icon Jose Aldo confirmed on Saturday that he is retiring from combat sports permanently.
The former WEC and UFC Featherweight Champion initially hinted at retirement following his decision loss to Aiemann Zahabi at UFC 315 in Montreal on May 10th.
Although he released a statement the next day suggesting it might have been his last octagon appearance, Aldo held a press conference at Nova Uniao on Saturday to unequivocally state he will not return to MMA, boxing, or any other combat discipline.
Speaking at the press conference, Aldo was adamant, saying he doesn`t see himself fighting anymore. He explained his recent return to the UFC was for a `purpose` or `calling,` not money, but it didn`t work out. He expressed satisfaction with his accomplishments and insisted no future fight could tempt him back. He even joked that in five years, when he`d be almost 50, fighting would be impossible anyway, reinforcing the finality.
This marks Aldo`s second retirement from MMA, his first being in 2022 after his three-fight win streak was ended by Merab Dvalishvili. Following that, he ventured into boxing, securing two wins and a draw against Jeremy Stephens, before ultimately re-signing with the UFC.
In his return to the UFC, the Brazilian legend defeated Jonathan Martinez in Rio. However, he subsequently lost decisions to Mario Bautista and Aiemann Zahabi. He reiterated that neither potential opponents nor financial offers would sway him from retirement.
Emphasizing his decision, Aldo stated he has “another purpose in life, another path.” He explicitly refused any potential fight offers, anywhere in the world. While he intends to continue training to assist friends and teammates, offering his experience, he stressed that putting on a gi or fighting himself is “never again.”
Aldo concludes his storied combat sports career with a professional MMA record of 32-10, boasting wins over numerous notable fighters including Frankie Edgar, Urijah Faber, Chad Mendes, Mike Brown, and Cub Swanson. His focus will now shift to spending time with his wife and two children.
