“I am not fighting again” - Two-time UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo shuts down boxing rumors after announcing retirement

One of the greatest featherweights of all time, Jose Aldo, recently opened up on his boxing return rumors after the fighter hung up his gloves after a unanimous loss to Aiemann Zahabi at UFC 315. In a recent episode of the Ariel Helwani Show , the two-time featherweight champion clarified his stance on the retirement decision and emphasized that the fighter has other important things in his life right now than fighting.
Jose Aldo reveals the real reason behind stepping back into the Octagon after announcing retirement once in 2022Jose Aldo, who won the featherweight title twice, defended his title 9 consecutive times, the highest for any fighter across the promotion. Even though his career ended on a two-match losing streak, the fighter has been regarded as one of the best in the entire division across time. While Aldo officially retires, it is not the first time, though, that the fighter has announced his retirement. Aldo previously retired once in 2022, after a unanimous loss to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 278.

The retirement led to a brief stint in the world of boxing by the fighter before finally returning to the UFC. Junior’s run in the world of boxing was quite an impressive one where the fighter won two out of the three matches, one resulting in a draw. The brief stint led to the combat sports fans to believe that they might get to see Aldo once again inside the ring even after his recent retirement announcement.


Aldo addressed the rumor in the recent Ariel Helwani Show episode, where he was specifically asked about the very speculation amongst the community. The fighter stated, “I made the decision right then and there, win or lose, independent of the result, I was sure of what was gonna happen. As you know, I stopped for boxing for a brief period of time and then there was something in my heart that touched me to go back to the UFC. I didn’t do it for the money.” Aldo clarified the reason he stepped back into the Octagon, “I did it to continue my story and my history because if it was for the money, I would have gone to another organisation and got more money for it. Win or lose, the decision was made… I’m not fighting again. I have other things going on for me.”

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The fighter’s statement solidified the stance of retirement, as he doesn’t plan to fight anymore in any kind of combat sports. Aldo, owing to his extraordinary achievement made in the field of MMA, was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in the year 2023.