Fans who thought Jose Aldo might retire after his loss to Max Holloway at UFC 212 will be happy to hear that it sounds like the former champion is set on fighting again.
For many, Jose Aldo’s loss to Max Holloway at UFC 212 felt like the definitive end of an era. Even though the belt had gone through a turbulent few months to start 2016 (following Aldo’s loss to Conor McGregor), Aldo’s quick return to form and McGregor’s subsequent absence left things more or less how they had been for years ongoing. Jose Aldo had lost, but he was still the king of the featherweight division.
No more.
Max Holloway punctuated his slow and steady five-year rise through the featherweight ranks with a crushing win over the featherweight great. What started with Aldo seemingly in complete control, ended with the champion on his back, eating punch after punch after punch, until the referee waved it off. It was, in some ways, a much more definitive result than McGregor’s thirteen-second KO. No question as to ‘what would have happened had the fight kept going?’ We saw it. Holloway was in control.
Following Aldo’s loss to McGregor back in 2015 (and his inability to get an instant rematch), Aldo threatened to retire from the UFC. He talked of potentially pursuing a second athletic career, even going so far as to say, “I have no desire to fight again.” After losing his belt to Holloway, it was fair to wonder if this would be the end. Would Jose Aldo be content to work his way back to title contention? It sounds like he isn’t ready to quit just yet.
Aldo announced his intentions to continue his MMA career in a statement on Instagram (translation via MMA Fighting):
"Be content to act, and leave the talking to others” - Baltasar Gracian
I only have to thank my ‘dad' Andre Pederneiras, the best team in the world, Nova Uniao, because if it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be the people’s champion, and (thank) all my trainers, who did a super well done job and got me ready, and all my fans who are always with me, here’s my love and my thank you. I’m speechless with all the love I’ve received until today, and every word you send to me. Thank you.
The rest, fuck it, because I’ll come back, because we go down so we can get back up!! That’s it!! We’ll be back!!
If Jose Aldo is set on fighting again, there are more questions to be answered: Against who? At what weight class? How soon?
A rematch with Cub Swanson, years in the making, sounds like a great idea for a next fight at featherweight. But for what seems like ages, Aldo’s career has been dogged by questions of whether he’d ever make a run at the lightweight division. He’s teased the idea several times, in search of superfights with title holders and top contenders. And with Conor McGregor currently standing as the champ at 155, that may add just a little more motivation to turn a long standing idea into a reality.
