Jose Aldo plans to fight three times in 2019 then retire from MMA for good.
Former longtime UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo has outlined his plans for 2019. Get through his upcoming fight with Renato Moicano at UFC Fortaleza, fight twice more after that in his home country of Brazil, then retire from MMA.
A MMA veteran and pioneer of the lighter weight classes during the WEC era, Aldo (27-4) snapped consecutive losses to Max Holloway by defeating Jeremy Stephens by first-round TKO in July 2018. The 32-year-old is scheduled to take on Moicano next month, February 2nd, in the co-main event of UFC Fortaleza.
Talking to MMA Fighting during a UFC media day, Aldo revealed his plans for 2019, which quite simply is to fight out of his current contract, and then retire from the sport.
“I want to end my career here in Brazil. That’s what we have planned,” Aldo said. “I want to do these three fights… I’ll fight in Fortaleza now, and I’m already negotiating my next one for May, UFC 237, if I’m not mistaken in Curitiba, and then finish it in the second semester, which I know will have another event in Brazil.”
When discussing a fight for UFC 237, Aldo said he already had an opponent in mind for that card, granted he beats Moicano next month. When his coach, Andre Pederneiras, was asked if that fight could take place at 155-pounds, he jokingly said “it could be in any weight class, even at heavyweight.”
Aldo has insisted that he wants to enjoy life after fighting and has planned his whole life to do so. The former champion also refuses to fight for another promotion, as he states he’s “very loyal” to the UFC.
”I want to finish (my career) well and be healthy as well,” Aldo said. “One thing I said in my last fight is that I want to (retire) tomorrow and not use my money to buy my health back. Today I give away my health to make my money, so I won’t do that.
”I want to enjoy my daughter, my wife, be able to travel, without fighting until I’m 40. I see our great idols doing that and having bad performances… I always tell ‘Dede’ (Pederneiras), if one day I’m not in my rhythm in terms of performance, take me out of there because it’s not for me to be in there anymore. I don’t want to fight for money. I’ve planned my entire life so I could stop (fighting) without any problem.”