It’s official José Aldo has decided to hang up the gloves again. After his controversial loss to Aiemann Zahabi at UFC 315, the Brazilian legend confirmed he’s stepping away from the sport for good this time… or at least it seems that way.
The fight didn’t exactly go how fans or Aldo expected. Many watching felt he’d done just enough to edge out Zahabi, especially after landing a big knee in the third round that had Zahabi clearly shaken. But the judges weren’t convinced, handing Zahabi a unanimous 29-28 victory. That didn’t sit well with a lot of people online, and honestly, you can see why.
The legend Jose Aldo has announced his retirement 🙏#UFC315 | LIVE on TNT Sports & discovery+ pic.twitter.com/QjrdPluVl8
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) May 11, 2025
After the match, Aldo revealed he probably shouldn’t have even been in there. He mentioned dealing with a bunch of injuries: a torn muscle in his arm, abdominal pain, and even some kind of virus leading up to the fight. Doctors had told him to pull out, but he pushed through anyway maybe not the best call in hindsight, but classic Aldo grit.
This isn’t his first goodbye. He originally retired in 2022, then came back in 2024 for a final stretch. Now, at 38, with a record of 32-10 and a legacy already carved into UFC history, it looks like this might really be the end.
This may have been my last time inside the Octagon.
This week, I faced one of the biggest battles of my life, and it wasn’t against an opponent, but within myself.Over the past few years, I rekindled the dream of becoming a champion once again. I trained as I always did, gave… pic.twitter.com/Cv9FVWsLt7
— Jose Aldo Junior (@josealdojunior) May 11, 2025
“I want to enjoy my family, be a dad, take my kids to school,” he said in his post-fight comments. “That’s what matters now.” Hard to argue with that.
Aldo’s last fight didn’t end the way he hoped, but he leaves behind a legacy few can touch. Whether this retirement sticks or not, the MMA world owes him a huge thank you.
