Jose Aldo May Retire When UFC Contract Expires

Former UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo faces Jeremy Stephens in the co-main event of UFC On Fox 30.

The Brazilian has three fights left on his UFC contract and may be calling it a career when the UFC deal has been fulfilled.

”No, I don’t think so,” Aldo said to MMA Fighting. “It doesn’t cross my mind to sign a new contract after. I think it’s easier because you know it’s coming near the end, so you have to give your all because you don’t want to go out on a loss, you want to go out on top. It’s a lot easier seeing the end of the tunnel and working harder because you know it’s coming to the end. When you’re starting there’s that euphoria, but I remain the same. I dream of being champion and dream going out as champion. That’s my biggest motivation. … I take much pride in winning, I don’t accept losses, so I’m always going after that. The day I lose this fire, I think it’s time for us to stop.”

If Aldo does indeed plan on retiring when the UFC deal is up, it would end a professional MMA career that has lasted over fourteen years, while capturing the UFC Featherweight Title and the WEC Featherweight Title.

Aldo may not get the opportunity to regain the UFC Featherweight Title, but he is satisfied with the legacy that has been left behind.

”We’re training each time more because I want to conquer that, but I think that if we don’t get it, I think I do,” Aldo said. “I think I leave a good legacy for new athletes who are coming up. There are new people at featherweight, bantamweight, lightweight, any other weight class that is inspired by the legacy I’m leaving.”

UFC On Fox 30 takes place on Saturday, July 28 from the Scotiabank Center in Calgary, Alberta, Canada with Eddie Alvarez and Dustin Poirier headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, which airs live on Fox.