The announcement of the Eddie Alvarez-Conor McGregor fight seemed to be the last straw for UFC interim featherweight champion José Aldo. So much so that he has asked for Dana White to release him from his UFC contract.
With White’s apparent refusal to heed to the former champion’s request, Aldo has now entertained the idea of walking away from MMA and instead venture into another sport.
As one of the revered fighters in MMA today, many have sympathized with Aldo, with regards to manner of which he is being currently treated by the UFC brass. One of them being former UFC middleweight Wanderlei Silva, who now fights under the Rizin banner.
In a lengthy Facebook statement he recently released (translated by MMA Fighting), “The Axe Murderer” extended a personal invite to Aldo to join him in the Japanese promotion company.
Today is a sad day for the sport. One of the biggest names of our sport came publicly to say he’s dissatisfied with the promotion, retirement too young. Aldo is one of the best fighters in history, and he’s going through the same thing I went through, and I know what you’re feeling, Aldo. And why are you feeling that? Because you’re not a guy that fights for money. You fight for honor.
I know your feelings are hurt, and I know damn well how that’s like. They are not doing what they’ve promised you. They promised you that after your last fight you would fight that guy again, and they are not giving you that. They did that to me, too, promised a lot of things and didn’t make it happen.
There are no criteria to say who the next challenger is. Today, whoever talks more is the next challenger. There’s no ranking. The biggest proof is ‘Jacare’ [Souza]. Why can’t ‘Jacare’ get a title shot after his performances in his fights? That’s the biggest issue in our sport – if we’re sport or entertainment. That’s what upsets me the most, seeing a young fighter have his desire to fight thrown in the trash can, you know?
Aldo, I’m here to tell you that I’m with you. I’ve always admired you, the way you behave, and your team. Once again you’re proving that you fight because you’re a samurai, that you love fighting, not because of money, because you’d make the same money if you were fighting for the belt or not. That shows your character, and gets my respect and admiration. I’m sure every fan all over the world is with you now.
As a representative from Rizin, I want to tell you that Rizin’s doors are open for you. I want to invite you to fight in Japan, where you will be respected and put in a place you deserve. As a representative from Rizin in Brazil, I invite you to go there with me so we can make history there together. You will have the respect you deserve there at Rizin, my champion.
Aldo, come to Japan with me. Let’s fight at Rizin. This promotion you’re trying to leave also took my desire to compete away from me. I know what you’re going through. But in Japan I’m treated as the samurai and champion I am and having the respect I deserve, and that’s the respect you deserve as well.
Silva returns to action after three years in the sidelines on December 29th, when he faces fellow MMA veteran Mirko Cro Cop for the third time at the Rizin World Grand Prix in Saitama, Japan.