Former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo retired only a few months back following a loss to Merab Dvalishvili, and won’t be back to competition any time soon. Aldo recently discussed his retirement on an episode of Trocacao Franca, explaining why, unlike some self-proclaimed retirees (like Kevin Lee), he can’t be tempted back to the Octagon.
“I was in my last title run. I was hopeful and training well, at my best both physically and technically, and had the intention to become champion, but the moment [I saw] it would no longer be possible to become champion, that’s when I would stop. It was already expected for me, ‘Dede’ [Andre Pederneiras] and my wife. I knew that if the win didn’t come [against Dvalishvili], my career would end. And so it was.
Aldo Explains Why No Opponent Could Tempt Him Out of Retirement
We had this last fight [in the deal] and they said we could even choose an easier opponent, let’s put it this way, but no. To me, it was already decided.
I’m sad because we could do that farewell in Rio, but I didn’t want to. If you say I have to complete the contract, I would choose the highest-ranked guy, the toughest one, to walk away and test myself because I know I still have what it takes to be at the highest level. But, no. I’m sad for the fans, for the media, everybody thought about this fight, saying goodbye in Rio, but not for me. That was my plan and I won’t walk back. I have a son now, Aldo III, so the idea of fighting doesn’t cross my mind.”
Aldo continued, stating that his mind was made up after his 2020 loss to Petr Yan. “For me, I already wanted to stop [before] this final run.
I sat down with ‘Dede’ after the Petr [Yan] fight in Abu Dhabi, I wanted to stop. He always let time pass and then we would talk. I had a good age at that time, I could still do something else with my life other than continue fighting. But we came back.
That’s why I changed my life completely, started training boxing at the Navy and that gave me a push, learning new things, working on a new diet. From that moment I started fighting for others instead of for myself.
I’m very competitive and I every time I go in there I will always do my best and want to win, but I was [fighting] for others.
I was coming with all I had to become champion but for others, not myself. I felt that before, to become champion at the highest level, but no name [would have convinced me].”
Do you wish Jose Aldo would come back, or are you happy to see him ride off into the sunset? Let us know in the comments.
