Jose Aldo, a true icon of the sport, faced Aiemann Zahabi in a bout at UFC 315 that resulted in a very close and controversial decision going against him. Following the fight, Aldo made the emotional announcement that he was stepping away from mixed martial arts, confirming that UFC 315 would indeed be the last fight of his storied career.
Despite putting on a strong performance that nearly saw him secure a finish in the third round, Aldo showed signs of exhaustion towards the end. Zahabi capitalized on this, unleashing a barrage of strikes until the final bell. While scoring opinions were notably divided, many observers felt Aldo had done enough to earn the victory. However, the official judges saw it differently, all three scoring the contest 29-28 in favor of Zahabi.
After the official results were read, a visibly emotional Aldo removed his fighting gloves – a traditional symbol of retirement – and addressed the crowd in Montreal, confirming his decision to retire from the sport.
“Thank you to Dana [White], to Sean [Shelby], to Lorenzo Fertitta, and everyone at the UFC for everything they’ve given me,” Aldo expressed. “I just don’t think I have it in me anymore. It was a tough week. It wasn’t just about the weight cut and everything else. I just felt so many things happened. It was very hard to go through all this.”
“At one point this week, it was a very difficult week, 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 constantly go to war and go through this. I just don’t have it in my heart anymore. I think this is the last time you’ll see me. I can’t do this anymore.”
If this indeed marks the conclusion of his competitive career, Jose Aldo departs as one of the most celebrated champions in UFC history. He boasts an impressive overall record of 32-10 and has already earned his well-deserved induction into the UFC Hall of Fame.
For Aiemann Zahabi, the win represents the most significant achievement of his career. Unless circumstances change, he will hold the distinction of being the final opponent on the legendary resume of Jose Aldo.
“It feels amazing,” Zahabi commented regarding his victory. “I put in all the work. He was eight pounds overweight, I took the fight anyway. I was definitely rocked. I was a bit disoriented, but my mindset coach tells me to prepare for these moments. I’d like to fight Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera. That would move me forward in the rankings.”
From the outset, Aldo adopted an aggressive approach, moving forward and attempting to corner Zahabi while landing a powerful right hand that frequently connected. Aldo also effectively attacked the body, and Zahabi initially appeared to struggle with the Brazilian`s speed.
With approximately a minute left in the first round, Zahabi landed a clean shot of his own, followed by a teep kick, only for Aldo to immediately respond with a quick, sharp combination.
As the fight progressed, Aldo`s pace slowed, but he remained tactical, picking his moments to land a very effective jab that repeatedly snapped Zahabi`s head back. In return, Zahabi landed a hard right hand on the former champion, arguably his best punch of the fight up to that point.
Entering the final five minutes, Zahabi connected with some solid shots. Then, unexpectedly, Aldo launched a spectacular knee strike straight up the middle that landed cleanly. Aldo followed up aggressively with a flurry of strikes, including head kicks that clearly stunned Zahabi, making a finish seem imminent.
Remarkably, Zahabi weathered the storm and even managed to fire back at the end of the exchange, landing several heavy punches on Aldo. From that moment, it became evident that Aldo was significantly fatigued, and Zahabi intensified his attack, throwing everything he had in an attempt to secure the stoppage.
Aldo eventually ended up on his back, and Zahabi rained down a series of damaging punches and elbows. By the fight`s conclusion, blood was flowing across Aldo`s face. Both fighters raised their hands in anticipation of victory, but only one could ultimately be declared the winner.
That winner was Aiemann Zahabi, who extended his winning streak to six consecutive fights and added the name of a true sport icon to his list of defeated opponents with this victory over Jose Aldo.
