The longtime featherweight champ shares some words following his latest defeat in Detroit.
With the unexpected removal of Frankie Edgar from UFC 218 weeks before the event with a broken orbital, Jose Aldo was called up and sat poised to retake the featherweight title that had once been his for so long. Unfortunately, things didn’t go his way in the rematch against Max Holloway, and the rugged Brazilian warrior fell in the third round to Holloway’s relentless assault.
Now Aldo has released a statement via social media.
“I only have to thank my family that I love for everything, and my team Nova Uniao, the best in the world, for making me great and champion, and my friends and fans that are always with me,” Aldo wrote. “Thank you all! I will be always optimistic because believing is the first step to making it happen.”
The loss to Holloway puts Aldo in the unfortunate position of having lost to the current champion twice, basically eliminating his chance of another shot at the title so long as Max holds the belt. It’s unclear whether the 145 pound legend will continue to fight at that weightclass, and also uncertain that he continues fighting in the UFC at all after the last two bouts on his contract are up.
In the past Aldo has talked about a move to 155, or even a move to boxing. Now might be a good time for either of those moves, as he looked completely destroyed on the scale during the UFC 218 weigh-ins. And if fighting in the UFC is getting old for him, maybe there’ll be a spot for him in the upcoming boxing events the UFC is working on putting together?
Whatever the case, no one can deny the amazing things Aldo did over his 13 year career and 8 years at the top of the featherweight division as champion.