Jose Aldo has a permanent home at the UFC.
Speaking to the media after the UFC’s latest Contender Series event, UFC President Dana White was asked for his thoughts on Aldo’s recent retirement and he had nothing but wholehearted praise for the longtime featherweight champion.
” We love him, White stated. White said, “This house will be his forever.” He said, “If you ever have any questions, or you want to attend an event, this will always be your home.” This man, from the WEC and the UFC, helped to build this sport, the brand, Brazil, and the UFC. He is a great guy and will always be our favorite. We love him dearly and will always.
In his 14-year run with the UFC and the Zuffa-owned World Extreme Cagefighting promotion, Aldo, 36, was a two-time featherweight champion who authored nine straight successful title defenses. Aldo also competed in the bantamweight category, winning a vacant title once and staying in the top 10 rankings until his retirement.
Aldo defeated numerous top fighters from his era, including Urijah Faber, Frankie Edgar, Chad Mendes, “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung, and Mike Brown, as well as current contenders Rob Font and Marlon Vera.
White remembers Aldo beating Mendes for the first time. UFC 142 Rio de Janeiro, January 2012, saw the Brazilian star score a spectacular knee knockout over Mendes. Then, he ran out of the cage into the crowd.
“That time — I think the fight was in Rio — when he jumped out of the octagon and jumped in the crowd and the crowd was carrying him around and the place was going nuts,” White said. “That’s one of my favorite Jose Aldo moments. Security doesn’t love it, but I do.”
