The emotional moment between Merab Dvalishsvili and Jose Aldo after UFC 278 included Aldo’s retirement, Dvalishvili said Monday on The MMA Hour.
” When he fell, I attempted to shake his hands and say, “Thank you for the fight.” But he wasn’t listening. He said that this was because I lost my title fight. He said “I guess I’m done .’
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” It was an extremely emotional moment. That’s why I was talking to him. I said, ‘You’re amazing, you did so much, you don’t have anything to prove, you’re a legend – you’re a king.’ I was a little bit heartbroken.”
Aldo did not lay his gloves on the canvas after the pay-per-view fight, the traditional and more official gesture of retirement for fighters, or make any statement confirming his retirement following his loss. MMA Fighting could not immediately reach the former champ for comment.
On Sunday, Aldo posted a message of inspiration for his fans that made no reference to hanging up his gloves.
Aldo said, “We tell the stories we love.” “Take care of every detail of your path, every step, step or curve. Each achievement and difficulty. He’s a better planner than you. He may doubt you, but he will never let go of your potential. You were put here by God to make a difference. Every day to be more. Smile and smile to make others smile. It is your heart beating that matters. Do not accept less than the life you have earned. This is priceless.
“Who will be in the trenches by your side? It matters. It matters more than war .”
Dvalishvili’s win this past Saturday marked a new high in his bantamweight career while appearing to delay – if not quash – Aldo’s chance at another belt. The inaugural UFC featherweight champ, once a dominant presence at 145 pounds, hoped to capture a title at 135 pounds after multiple attempts at re-taking the featherweight title ended in losses.
“It’s hard when you see somebody like this,” Dvalishvili said. “As an fighter, I understand how difficult is.” I never want to end my career. It is my passion to continue fighting. It’s hard to see the day when I should stop fighting. He realized that he had lost and said “That was my last chance to win the title.” It’s over .”
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Dvalishvili stated that he was happy with his performance, despite the muted response from Dana White (UFC President), who said his heavy wrestling game didn’t do him any favors in terms of his career. Dvalishvili said he wouldn’t fight Aljamain Sterling (UFC bantamweight champion), creating an unlikely logjam. Sterling, who’s slated to defend the bantamweight belt against ex-champ T.J. Dillashaw at UFC 280, recently said he may move up to featherweight to give his teammate a shot at the 135-pound title.
