Conor McGregor offered a brief tribute to his longtime rival, Jose Aldo, following Aldo`s second retirement from mixed martial arts (MMA) after the recent UFC 315 event.
The Irish fighter had a famous rivalry with Aldo that culminated in McGregor winning his first undisputed UFC title. Their fight in 2015 at UFC 194 saw McGregor deliver a brutal knockout, marking the first time Aldo had been defeated inside the octagon.
Since that fight, their relationship has seen its ups and downs, though McGregor has typically shown respect for Aldo`s remarkable career record. Following Aldo`s decision to retire after UFC 315 on Saturday, McGregor shared a short message in an Instagram story.
McGregor Comments on Aldo`s Retirement Post-UFC 315
At the Bell Centre in Montreal on Saturday night, Jose Aldo was defeated by Aiemann Zahabi. This came after a difficult week for Aldo, including a significant weight miss. The former featherweight champion appeared to be seeking a finish in the third round but seemed to tire, ultimately losing by unanimous decision.
After the fight, compounded by the health issues that necessitated the bout being contested at featherweight, Aldo announced his retirement. This marks his second time stepping away from the sport, the first being after his 2022 loss to Merab Dvalishvili.
He was later inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2023.
Despite his loss on Saturday, Conor McGregor expressed continued admiration for Aldo`s abilities. McGregor shared a video labeling Aldo the `featherweight GOAT` (Greatest Of All Time), adding his own caption: “Jose Aldo last night,” accompanied by an eye emoji.
McGregor Has Previously Praised Jose Aldo
Since their intensely heated rivalry concluded with that memorable 13-second knockout, Conor McGregor has consistently shown respect for Jose Aldo. While their interactions have occasionally been tense, the Irishman has generally recognized Aldo as the greatest featherweight fighter in history.
After Aldo`s previous retirement and his induction into the Hall of Fame, McGregor tweeted that his place there was `earned`. The two fighters have even discussed the possibility of training together should Aldo visit Ireland.
Gareth Pendleton