UFC 315 inside the Bell Arena was the last time we saw Jose Aldo in full force, fighting his opponent Aiemann Zahabi with everything he had. It marked the end of an almost two-decade-long journey that came to a bitter close as he couldn’t secure the ultimate victory in front of cheering fans. But a competitive fighter doesn’t decide to retire out of the blue. That decision has to come from within, and for the ‘King of Rio’, it came even before he stepped into the octagon

Aldo shared an Instagram post after his retirement, where he wrote, “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…”  

He definitely always had the heart of a champion, but heading into this fight, the weight cut proved to be a grueling experience. He came in at 143 pounds, well over the limit. That struggle didn’t go unnoticed. In fact, it was during those tough moments of cutting weight that the voice of retirement first started to speak to him.

He further added, “more than I ever had. But while cutting weight, something inside me said: “You don’t need to do this anymore.” And I listened.It’s time to move forward. To live for my wife, for my kids. To celebrate the story I wrote with every war, every belt earned through blood and faith.”

His incredible career, now finally at its end, has become a reason for reflection and emotion for fans around the world, not just in Brazil. Even in this heartfelt moment, Aldo didn’t forget to thank UFC head honcho Dana White and the promotion’s former CEO for their roles in his journey.

Jose Aldo thanks Dana White and former CEO Lorenzo Fertitta 

UFC president Dana White always gets mentioned whenever a fighter retires or reaches a major milestone, that’s just how it goes. He’s been a part of Aldo’s journey for years, and so was Lorenzo Fertitta, another key figure who witnessed Aldo’s rise during his championship days. So naturally, the former champ made sure to mention both of them as well.

Aldo continued on the Instagram post, “Thank you, Dana White and @lorenzofertita. Thank you to the UFC.And most of all — thank you, my fans. You were the fuel behind every walk to the cage. You made me a king. If this was my farewell, know that I leave in peace. With a heart full of gratitude and my head held high.

It’s always a treat to watch Jose Aldo light up the stage once again, and it’s only natural to hope he achieves many great things in the future. If you’re a fan of Aldo, feel free to share your favorite moments from his legendary career.