It’s bittersweet to see José Aldo on the UFC 315 card, not just because he missed weight for his fight with Aiemann Zahabi, but also because he’s facing Zahabi at all. Shouldn’t the original Lord of the Flies be matched up against another legendary fighter? Someone who adds to his legacy that seems to stretch endlessly in bizarre directions?
While most fighters chase greatness towards the end of their careers, Aldo’s matchmaking suggests he might be seeking a more ordinary path as he nears the twilight of his career. It’s like he’s trying to fade into the background.
Back in April 2011, the UFC gathered the most impressive group of champions in history for a media conference before UFC 129. It was a sight to behold, with Dominick Cruz, Jose Aldo, Frankie Edgar, Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva, Jon Jones, and Cain Velasquez all dressed sharply, ready to make history.
Fast forward 14 years to UFC 315, and only a few of those champions are still active. Aldo and Jones are the last men standing, with Cruz retiring earlier this year due to injuries, Edgar struggling in his final fights, and St-Pierre exiting on his own terms. Silva’s career took a downturn after that gathering, while Velasquez faced tragic circumstances.
And now we have Aldo, fighting against Zahabi after a loss to Mario Bautista. While most of his contemporaries have retired, Aldo continues to push himself, even at 39 years old. The question remains: why is he still fighting? What does a win against Zahabi achieve for him at this stage of his career?
Perhaps Aldo’s “why” remains a mystery even to himself. Should he have faced Cruz in his final fight? Or taken on Henry Cejudo? Those matchups would have been intriguing, but Aldo seems to be charting his own course, with his fighting legacy still unfolding.