Jose Aldo On Retirement ‘No Fight That Would Make Me Come Back’

When former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo announced his retirement following his decision loss to Aiemann Zahabi at UFC 315 in early May, there were understandable doubts about Aldo’s proclamation. After all, the 38-year-old had already “retired” once in 2022 and was coming off a failed weight cut ahead of the Zahabi matchup. However, Aldo seems dedicated to making his current retirement stick.

Jose Aldo On His Current Retirement

Aldo recently spoke about his decision to walk away from fighting after UFC 315, speaking at Nova Uniao’s training center in Brazil over the weekend.

“No, I don’t see myself fighting,” Aldo said (via MMA Fighting) “When I went back [to the UFC in 2024]

, it wasn’t for money, it was for a purpose I had, a calling. I tried doing it and it didn’t work. I gave my all and was happy with everything I’ve achieved. There’s no fight that would make me come back. To put the gi, to spar, or do anything, only in five years. Thank God I’ll be almost 50 in five years, so there’s no possibility of fighting, there’s no calling.”

“No, I have another purpose in life, another path,” Aldo added. “Offer me any fight, wherever it is, I don’t want to. I don’t see myself fighting anymore, or training, or doing anything like that. Of course, I do see myself training here to help my friends. I know how hard that is, so if I can help in any way with the experience I have, I will help with all my heart. But to specifically put a gi or anything like that to fight, never again.”

Jose Aldo’s Loss To Aiemann Zahabi At UFC 315

Jose Aldo’s weight-cutting issues forced this fight to move from bantamweight to featherweight, which left one to wonder, what would have happened if this bout had been contested at bantamweight?

Aldo went for a finish in the third round and ran out of gas in the final half of the fight, which left him hanging on for dear life as Aiemann Zahabi, who was also tired, unloaded elbows to Aldo’s head. The decision went to Zahabi on the strength of the final two rounds. Aldo won the first round on all three scorecards.

After removing his gloves, Aldo announced his retirement.

“I don’t want to go into war all the time and go through this,” Aldo said through an interpreter after the fight. “I just don’t have it in my heart anymore. I think this is the last time you’re going to see me. I can’t do this anymore.”

Jose Aldo’s First Retirement

Aldo initially retired in 2022 with one fight left on his UFC contract.

The former UFC champ gave boxing a go after his retirement, battling former UFC competitor Jeremy Stephens to a majority draw in 2023 and then beating Esteban Gabriel Espindola that same year.

Aldo ended his UFC retirement in May 2024 with a unanimous decision win over Jonathan Martinez. He followed that with a split-decision setback to Mario Bautista at UFC 307.

Jose Aldo retires with a 32-10 record. He held the UFC featherweight title twice, defending the belt seven times during his first run as champion. His second stint as champ did not include a title defense. Aldo went into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2023.