Jose Aldo Looks a Shadow of the All-Time Great he Once Was

Former dominant UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo was unrecognizable to the man who was widely regarded as one of the greatest champions in MMA history

Where did it all go wrong for “Scarface”?

Having amassed a 10-year unbeaten run prior to his UFC 194 title-loss to Conor McGregor, it was clear by interviews and media interaction that Aldo was severely affected by the loss. It took just 13-seconds for the only featherweight champion in UFC history at the time to be dethroned by the Irishman and many had argued that a rematch was the right move, given Aldo’s accomplishments.

While McGregor opted to challenge lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos rather than defend his featherweight title, his loss to Nate Diaz (who had stepped in to replace the injured dos Anjos) led to a rematch with Diaz and an eventual title shot against Eddie Alvarez in Nov. 2016. Aldo was afforded an interim title shot against Frankie Edgar at UFC 200 and put on an excellent display of judicious fighting which negated Edgar’s attack and was looking forward to a rematch with McGregor, who was eventually stripped of the 145-pound strap when he beat “The Underground King” at UFC 205.

Aldo was eventually promoted to the unified champion and took on the best performing featherweight in the division, Max Holloway, at UFC 212. This would prove to be Aldo’s first and last defense of his title, as he was TKO’d in the third round by the exceptional Hawaiian in front of his countrymen in Sao Paulo. Frankie Edgar’s injury ahead of his first UFC featherweight title shot gave Aldo a chance to recapture the title and avenge that defeat to Holloway but he was beaten convincingly.

Losing to Holloway comes with no shame – the champion is one of the best fighters in the promotion and was a comprehensive favorite heading into the bout. What surprised many was the manner of Aldo’s performance in the loss.

Holloway was full of praise for Aldo following his first successful title defense:

“He doesn’t have to owe anybody anything,” Holloway told those converged at the UFC 218 post-fight press conference. “That guy’s one of the greatest of all time. I think Brazil should be building statues of that guy in all of the villas. He’s a legend, he’s a GOAT, and I got a lot to fill (as champion).”

The Brazilian’s kickboxing coach Emerson “Falcao” Vieira was in the corner of the former 145-pound champ on Saturday night, witnessing his fighter’s loss to Holloway from a close distance. Vieira hit out at fans who he believed were unjust in their criticisms of the champion:

“Many talk, few know,” Vieira posted to Instagram. “This is the truth, Brazilians are used to idolizing crooks and crucifying heroes. It’s almost cultural. Who should be supporting us is pointing fingers, criticizing and judging without having any knowledge to talk about the topic. We’re used to fighting rivals and receive critics from the ones who were supposed be on our side.

“Yesterday, our champion Jose Aldo did his part, fought bravely against a really tough opponent, who was superior in the fight and won, like [Aldo] did for many years and still has what it takes to do. Sports are like this, nothing and no one will erase your story in life and in fighting. Your friends and teammates are proud of everything you’ve already done and will still do. Nothing changed. We lost a battle, but war continues.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BcP-ow5BxgW/?taken-by=emersonfalcaovieira

Aldo had not indicated that he is ready to walk away just yet but questions still hang over what exactly he can bring into the octagon.

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