UFC Hall of Famer Jose Aldo faced a massive uphill battle to make it to the Octagon at UFC 315.
Jose Aldo‘s instant classic with Aiemann Zahabi at UFC 315 nearly didn’t come to fruition after several serious health issues threatened to remove him from the card.
Aldo and Zahabi spoiled fight fans with a three-round war on the UFC 315 main card on Saturday in Montreal. Originally set as a bantamweight bout, the fight was moved to featherweight after Aldo’s botched weight cut at the official weigh-in on Friday.
Despite the winding road to fight night, Aldo made it to the Octagon for what would end up being the final MMA fight of his legendary career. But the path wasn’t as straight and narrow as many of Aldo’s previous outings.
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Jose Aldo: Doctors tried to persuade me to pull out of UFC 315 retirement fight
After falling to Zahabi by unanimous decision in a controversial result, Aldo announced his retirement in front of a packed house in Montreal. Many believed Aldo deserved the nod on the judges’ scorecards, but regardless of whether he’d won or not, the UFC Hall of Famer was ready to walk away.
In a recent interview with UFC Brazil after UFC 315, Aldo shared what he overcame to make it to the Octagon for his retirement bout.
“This fight was hard,” Aldo said.
“I had a muscle tear on the arm, I had something on the belly that I forgot the name of, down there, [from] kicking a lot. I had some problems. A virus 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.” (h/t MMA Fighting)
Aldo then clarified that his retirement announcement wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision.
“I had that in mind already, was talking to [coach] ‘Dede’ [Pederneiras] and [Aldo’s wife] Viviane [Pereira], that I wanted to cross to the other side,” Aldo said. “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.”
Before dropping the fight to Zahabi at UFC 315, Aldo lost controversially to Mario Bautista by split decision at UFC 307. After announcing his first retirement after a loss to Merab Dvalishvili, Aldo returned at UFC 301, defeating Jonathan Martinez in Brazil by unanimous decision.
Aldo retires after two UFC featherweight title reigns and his UFC Hall of Fame induction in 2023. At one point in his career, he won 18 consecutive fights from the tail-end of his WEC tenure into his UFC stint.
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Jose Aldo adds to several notable UFC retirements in 2025
Aldo isn’t the only notable UFC name to announce their retirement so far in 2025. UFC light heavyweight Anthony Smith retired after a loss at UFC Kansas City, and strawweight veteran Marina Rodriguez dropped the gloves after a loss to Gillian Robertson at UFC Des Moines.
UFC lightweight Jalin Turner announced a shock retirement following a submission defeat at UFC 313 in March. The 29-year-old was one of the most talented contenders in the lightweight Top 15 before recent struggles halted his quick ascent.
Aldo retires with a 32-10 professional record with 17 knockout wins. He’s regarded by many as one of the greatest fighters in UFC history.
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