Jose Aldo's legendary career in the UFC took a turn when he publicly accused Dana White of turning the organization into a 'circus' by booking the historic Conor McGregor vs. Eddie Alvarez fight. Aldo's frustration stems from a series of events that unfolded over nine years ago. After turning down a rematch offer with McGregor due to late notice at UFC 196, Aldo fought Frankie Edgar for the interim featherweight title in July 2016. This fight marked his first since the 13-second KO against McGregor. Aldo's victory set up a potential unification fight with McGregor, but the UFC had other plans. They instead gave McGregor the opportunity to become the promotion's first-ever simultaneous double champion, which he achieved at UFC 205 by knocking out Eddie Alvarez. This decision left Aldo enraged, leading him to request his release from the UFC. Aldo's disappointment was palpable, as he felt he had been promised a rematch to unify the featherweight belts or a chance to fight other top contenders. He expressed his frustration to a Brazilian website, stating, 'I understand that he sells a lot, but it gets to a limit when it's no longer a sport, it becomes a circus.' Aldo's decision to retire from the UFC was not solely due to recent setbacks. Before his final fight at UFC Rio, he announced his retirement after UFC 315 in May, citing a desire to focus on other pursuits. Despite a second consecutive defeat, Aldo revealed his intention to retire regardless of the outcome, driven by a desire to explore new avenues.
