Jose Aldo might’ve just retired at UFC 278 and we all missed it

Jose Aldo put on a defensive minded performance at UFC 278 against rising prospect Merab Dvalishvili. Dvalishvili comes from a wrestling background yet he struggled to take down Aldo barely edging out a decision win.

 

Following the bout, the two engaged in a conversation kneeling in the Octagon. It was a time of passing the baton between Aldo, a legend, and Dvalishvili, a hot prospect as per Dvalishvili who told MMA Hour

 “Actually when he was down, and then I go to like, shake his hand and tell him, thank you so much for fight and I go to respect to him and he was down and I tried to help him. And he was told me that he say, then then he said: ‘that means that this is my, my last fight because that was my muscle.”

“He said, that was it was my last run to title’. And then he said, ‘I guess it’s I’m done’. You know, it’s Wow. There was very, very emotional moments. That’s why I was talking to him when he was on the knee like because I said, You’re amazing, like you did so much already in the sport, you know, have nothing to prove and you are legendary king”

But this was overshadowed by the backlash from the MMA fans who slammed Joe Rogan for inserting a microphone into the touching exchange.

One user said, “Joe is not on d**gs during ufc events so he turns into the fear factor guy again.”

Another individual made a joke, “read the room Joe.”

Another commenter added, “This man does his job well too well he gonna get that interview regardless.”

In the end we might’ve seen the last of one of the greatest champions to have come out of Brazil. Aldo’s reign lasted a very long time and only came to a close due to the meteoric rise of Conor McGregor in the after math of that 12 second KO.

Aldo is 35 years old with a professional record consisting of 31 wins and 8 losses. Prior to loss to Dvalishvili he was on a 3 win streak with victories over Marlon Vera, Rob Font and Pedro Munhoz.