Overview

• Aldo made a surprise walkout in Rio de Janeiro and placed his gloves at center cage, with his family joining him for the emotional farewell.
• The promotion arranged a ceremonial send-off during the UFC Rio main card, granting one final entrance for the longtime star.
• He retires at 32–10 after an eight-plus-year reign across WEC and UFC that included seven straight featherweight title defenses and a 2023 Hall of Fame induction.
• This is his second retirement following a brief comeback: a 2024 win over Jonathan Martinez preceded 2025 decision losses to Mario Bautista and Aiemann Zahabi.
• Fans and fighters widely praised his legacy, as some coverage also revisited his past disputes over UFC matchmaking, including criticism tied to Conor McGregor-era decisions.