José Aldo
A decade unbeaten on the back of his leg kicks
- Born
- September 9, 1986, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Nationality
Brazil- Height
- 170 cm (5′7″)
- Reach
- 178 cm (5′10″)
- Stance
- Orthodox
- Style
- Leg-kicking counter-striker
- Weight
- Featherweight, Bantamweight, Lightweight
- Active
- 2004–2025
- Status
- Retired · age 40
The record
Professional MMA; he also went 1-0-1 in professional boxing. record
The story
osé Aldo, from Manaus in Brazil's Amazonas state, lost in 2005 and then went more than ten years and 18 fights without another defeat. In that run he won the WEC featherweight title and became the UFC's first featherweight champion, defending the UFC belt seven times with two wins over Chad Mendes and one over Frankie Edgar. His weapons were Muay Thai striking, above all punishing leg kicks, backed by defensive wrestling that kept fights standing. The streak ended with a 13-second knockout by Conor McGregor in 2015. Aldo later held the interim title, moved down to bantamweight, and retired in 2025 at 32-10. He holds black belts in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and luta livre and was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2023.
Tap a technique with an arrow to learn how it works.
- UFC featherweight champion (inaugural; 2 reigns, 7 defenses in the first)
- Interim UFC featherweight champion
- WEC featherweight champion (2 successful defenses)
- UFC Hall of Fame, Modern Wing (2023)
Defining fights
- 2010WINvs Urijah Faber (UD, WEC title defense)
- 2013WINvs Frankie Edgar (UD, UFC title defense)
- 2014WINvs Chad Mendes (UD, UFC title defense)
- 2015LOSSvs Conor McGregor (KO R1 in 13 seconds, lost title)
- 2017LOSSvs Max Holloway (TKO R3, lost title)
Kick the lead leg off your jab or as the opponent steps in, and keep your weight balanced so you can sprawl if they shoot. Muay Thai and kickboxing students can drill jab-to-low-kick combinations, then add sprawl reps from MMA class.
