Hailed as the greatest featherweight fighter of all time and one of the best MMA fighters of all time, Jose Aldo has finally decided to call it a career and has been released from UFC contract. In the wake of it, the MMA community has swarmed in with their reactions to the legend’s retirement.
The report of Aldo’s retirement was first made by Combate and later confirmed by Guilherme Cruz of MMA Fighting. The development signifies the conclusion of one of the most celebrated and respected fighters in the UFC and a professional career than spun nearly two decades.
The King of RIO! What a career: UFC icons took to Twitter to tribute Jose Aldo on his retirement
Jose Aldo is a former and inaugural UFC featherweight champion and recently also competed in bantamweight and was last seen in action against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 278, a fight which he lost via unanimous decision.
The 36-year-old, who was the fourth and final WEC Featherweight Champion, became the UFC’s first ever Featherweight titlist following the UFC-WEC merger in 2010 and reigned as champ for four years. In 2016, he once again won the interim Featherweight title and was later promoted to undisputed status.
Upon his retirement, several prominent names from the mixerd martial arts fraternity took to social media to express their feelings on ‘Junior’ parting ways with the cage.
“Wish nothing but the best to the Featherweight Goat” wrote Alexander Volkanovski, the reigning 135-pound champ.
Wish nothing but the best to the Featherweight Goat @josealdojunior 🙏
— Alex Volkanovski (@alexvolkanovski) September 18, 2022
“The King of RIO! What a career brother! Go enjoy retirement brother. Eat some açaí with cashew and powder milk for me” former rival Max Holloway added.
The King of RIO! What a career brother! Go enjoy retirement brother. Eat some açaí with cashew and powder milk for me 🤙🏻 @josealdojunior
— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) September 18, 2022
“I always wonder what could’ve been. I spent a whole camp training to fight Jose Aldo in Brazil, but COVID changed everything. I was looking forward to the challenge & crazy atmosphere. Happy retirement to one of the greatest featherweights in MMA history,” tweeted former double champ Henry Cejudo.
I always wonder what could've been. I spent a whole camp training to fight Jose Aldo in Brazil, but COVID changed everything. I was looking forward to the challenge & crazy atmosphere.
Happy retirement to one of the greatest featherweights in MMA history @josealdojunior 👏🏽🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/I4fHHLBMgc
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) September 18, 2022
👑 👑👑👑👑 ✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾 @josealdojunior https://t.co/RznvKYKI37
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) September 18, 2022
Obrigado & Parabéns to the legend, the kindest, THE King of Rio @josealdojunior 👑 https://t.co/DcPlSLKTsx
— Megan Olivi (@MeganOlivi) September 18, 2022
What an amazing career @josealdojunior had, watching him smash people to bits in his swim shorts is one of the things that inspired me to get into mma, legend pic.twitter.com/u28keQUcIR
— Arnold billy allen (@Arnoldbfa) September 18, 2022
Obrigado & Parabéns to the legend, the kindest, THE King of Rio @josealdojunior 👑 https://t.co/DcPlSLKTsx
— Megan Olivi (@MeganOlivi) September 18, 2022
Happy retirement to Jose Aldo one my favorite fighters growing up 🙏🙏🙏
— Terrance ‘T Wrecks’ McKinney (@twrecks155) September 18, 2022
If it's true that he retired.@josealdojunior you're one of my favorite fighters and an absolute legend. Enjoy retirement, thank you for all the memorable moments 🙏
— Adrian Yañez (@yanezmma) September 18, 2022
I’m so glad I got to see one of his fights and walkouts live. One of the GOATS of MMA. What a career. https://t.co/1kiQVdduEw
— Lauren Murphy (@LaurenMurphyMMA) September 18, 2022
Aldo was someone who I could just watch film on over and over and always learn something new. He ruled over the featherweight division. Even when he began to decline, he continued to be competitive at the top of the bantamweight division for years. Thank you 🙏 @josealdojunior https://t.co/hHyTS9oTAb
— Cody Gibson (@TheRenegade559) September 18, 2022
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