There are very few fighters in UFC history who can boast a legacy as rich as Jose Aldo’s. The Brazilian icon is a two-time UFC featherweight champion, and during his reign, he defended the title an impressive seven times. ‘Scarface’ has cemented his status as one of the most dominant champions the division has ever seen. However, his legacy has finally come to an end after his loss at UFC 315. But it seems the Brazilian fighter has found a new career, but this time it does not involve boxing. During a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Aldo shed some light on his future plans after retirement.

He said, “Win or lose, the decision was made… I’m not fighting again. I have other things going on for me.” Outside the Octagon, Aldo has built a thriving business empire and is already laying the groundwork for life after fighting. With several successful ventures to his name, the former champion is preparing to shift his focus full-time to his growing portfolio. But it seems he has found himself a new passion in bodybuilding. Aldo took to his Instagram account to share a video of himself doing some bench presses with a trainer.

‘Scarface’ captioned the post as, ” Now this is a bodybuilding project 😎🤣 Let’s get in shape!”. At 38, Jose Aldo has taken on a challenging new path, but at least this one doesn’t come with the risk of getting punched in the face. While the road ahead may still demand hard work and discipline, it’s a far cry from the physical toll of life inside the cage. For the unversed, Aldo had an early ambition of becoming a professional footballer. Before stepping into the world of MMA, Aldo spent years honing his skills on the soccer field—a passion that left a lasting mark on his fighting style. You can see that influence in his devastating kicking game, which has become one of his most feared weapons inside the cage.

But it will now be interesting to see whether he can achieve the same success with his new love for bodybuilding. Aldo’s last two fights have been pretty controversial, and many experts have termed them as ‘Robbery’. One of Aldo’s all-time fans, Daniel Cormier, was present at the ringside when the Brazilian announced his retirement. ‘DC’ looked highly disappointed when ‘Scarface’ pointed out that he doesn’t have it in him to fight anymore at the highest level. However, ‘DC’ did take out time to appreciate the Brazilian for the career he had.

Daniel Cormier pays tribute to Jose Aldo for his outstanding career in MMA

It feels like only yesterday that José Aldo reigned supreme in the WEC, ruling the featherweight division with unmatched dominance. He was the fourth and final featherweight champion before the promotion merged with the UFC. That transition didn’t just carry over his title; it cemented his place in history as the first-ever UFC featherweight champion. Aldo went on an incredible run, defending his belt nine times with a mix of speed, precision, and grit. His reign only came to an end when Conor McGregor ended the era with a dramatic knockout, but by then, Aldo had already carved his name into the legacy of the sport.

The Brazilian fighter has received a lot of messages from many former fighters after his retirement. Now, former UFC dual champion Daniel Cormier has also shared his message for ‘Scarface’. ‘DC’ took to his YouTube channel and said, “When José Aldo got to the UFC and they made him the first featherweight champion of the world, it just felt right. If there was ever a person who deserved to be handed a belt when he arrived, it was José Aldo. He went on to defend that championship so many times. From the weight miss this week to the fight where he got so fatigued—he said he just doesn’t have it in him anymore…. It felt like that was the last time we would hear ‘Run This Town’ and see the great José Aldo walk to the Octagon.” 

The 38-year-old fighter proved to the world that with sheer hard work, anything can be achieved despite coming from a humble background. What do you feel about Jose Aldo’s career? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.