Daniel Cormier Admits Jose Aldo Deserved an Exception Dana White Made For UFC Legend 14 Years Before His Retirement

Even without being the co-main or main event of UFC 315, featherweight legend José Aldo ended up stealing the spotlight. And why wouldn’t he? The King of Rio’s final walk to the Octagon marked the closing chapter of a remarkable MMA career that spanned over two decades. In what was likely his farewell fight, ‘Junior’ squared off against Canadian standout Aiemann Zahabi. Though the bout was competitive, the outcome didn’t favor the former champ. After three intense rounds of blood, grit, and heart, Aldo came up short on the judges’ scorecards.

But it wasn’t Zahabi’s victory that had everyone talking—it was José Aldo’s quiet, emotional exit that resonated the most. It feels like just yesterday when the Brazilian reigned supreme in the WEC. He was the fourth and final featherweight champion before the promotion merged with the UFC, a move that crowned him as the inaugural UFC featherweight king. Between both reigns, ‘Junior’ successfully defended his belt nine times—a record that stood tall until Conor McGregor dethroned him.

Now, with Jose Aldo stepping away from competition, UFC veteran and commentator Daniel Cormier took a moment to pay tribute. Speaking from Montreal’s Bell Centre on his YouTube channel, ‘DC’ reflected on the legacy Aldo leaves behind—and how UFC CEO Dana White was pivotal to his journey. While praising Aldo as one of the sport’s all-time greats, the UFC vet said:

“When José Aldo got to the UFC and they made him the first featherweight champion of the world, it just felt right. If there was ever a person who deserved to be handed a belt when he arrived, it was José Aldo. He went on to defend that championship so many times. From the weight miss this week to the fight where he got so fatigued—he said he just doesn’t have it in him anymore…. It felt like that was the last time we would hear ‘Run This Town’ and see the great José Aldo walk to the Octagon.”

Over the course of a storied career, José Aldo made his mark in both the featherweight and bantamweight divisions. Though his reign at featherweight remains iconic, he managed to carve out a strong presence in bantamweight during the later years of his fighting journey. This isn’t ‘Junior’s first retirement. Back in 2022, he hung up his gloves for the first time—fittingly, on the day his son was born.

MMA: UFC 301 – Martinez vs Aldo May 4, 2024 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BRAZIL Jose Aldo Junior red gloves fights Jonathan Martinez blue gloves during UFC 301 at Rio Arena. Rio de Janeiro Farmasi Arena RJ BRAZIL, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xJasonxSilvax 20240505_gma_db3_0188

At that point, he still had one bout left on his UFC contract. But in 2024, unable to stay away, he made a comeback and faced Jonathan Martinez in a bantamweight clash. Now, after returning to the division where it all started, Jose Aldo appears to have taken his final bow at featherweight—the division he once ruled with unmatched dominance. Now that the ‘King of Rio’ is leaving the Octagon again, fans wonder what’s next for the Brazilian? Let’s hear it straight from the legend himself.

What’s the next step for José Aldo after his MMA retirement?

José Aldo has firmly stated that his retirement is final—no comebacks, no ifs, or buts. Since losing his featherweight title to Conor McGregor in 2015, Junior’s career has never quite been the same as it was from 2005 to 2014, when he achieved nine title defenses, seven of those in the UFC. Despite some wins and losses, the Brazilian’s later years saw him move to bantamweight, although he was never able to replicate the success he enjoyed in the featherweight division.

In his final fight against the Canadian sensation at UFC 315, José Aldo made the decision to remove his gloves for the last time, signaling the end of his remarkable career. Following the fight, Aldo took to social media to make his retirement official, sharing the following message:

“Over the past few years, I rekindled the dream of becoming a champion once again. I trained as I always did, gave more than I ever had. But while cutting weight, something inside me said: ‘You don’t need to do this anymore.’ And I listened. It’s time to move forward. To live for my wife, for my kids. To celebrate the story I wrote with every war, every belt earned through blood and faith,” he continued. “Thank you, Dana White and @lorenzofertita. Thank you to the UFC. And most of all—thank you, my fans.”

What’s your take on José Aldo’s incredible legacy? Do you think any of the rising stars in MMA could surpass the legacy he’s built in UFC history? Share your thoughts below.

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