Conor McGregor knocks Jose Aldo out with a left hand. Credit: Christian Petersen/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Why Jose Aldo turned down a Conor McGregor rematch despite calling his 13-second KO ‘lucky’

Originally posted on Bloody Elbow | By Harvey Leonard | Last updated Oct 12, 2025 9:51 AM ET

Jose Aldo will never get his chance for revenge on Conor McGregor.

The legendary Aldo has returned to retirement after a three-fight final stint inside the UFC Octagon.

After Aldo beat Jonathan Martinez in his Rio homecoming back in May 2024, a bout that came just less than two years after he hung up the gloves, consecutive decision losses to Mario Bautista and Aiemann Zahabi stalled his planned resurgence.

And following the defeat to the latter earlier this year, Aldo has called time on his career for a second time. The decision was revealed during Saturday’s UFC Rio event, as the former featherweight king laid down his gloves in front of his adoring compatriots.

With that, an illustrious career has come to an end — but its conclusion also cements the fact that Aldo will never get his chance to avenge his most shocking defeat.

The King of Rio lays them down in front of the home crowd

[ @JoseAldoJunior | #UFCRio ] pic.twitter.com/q7ZivKhU9m
— UFC (@ufc) October 11, 2025

Jose Aldo was offered the Conor McGregor rematch for UFC 196

Aldo entered 2015 with a 25-1 professional record and amidst a UFC featherweight title reign that had successfully pushed past seven challenges. But the Brazilian exited the year with his 18-fight winning run snapped, the 145-pound belt snatched from his grasp, and a humiliating loss added to his record.

That came as the result of McGregor’s incredible 13-second knockout against Aldo at UFC 194. After a heated build-up that set up a grudge match, it was the Irishman who got the last laugh by sleeping the previously dominant champion with a devastating left hand as he lunged in.

Aldo was quick to call McGregor’s KO “lucky,” and he vowed to prove as much in a rematch. But the ex-WEC champ actually turned down the chance to share the cage with ‘The Notorious’ once again just four months later.

After Rafael dos Anjos’ late withdrawal, McGregor was left without an opponent for UFC 196. Before landing on Nate Diaz as the Irishman’s replacement, the short-notice fight was offered to Aldo.

The Brazilian legend turned down the rematch, and he explained his reasoning in an interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour.

“Any professional needs time to train,” Aldo said.

“It’s not a cockfight where I go there and put my rooster to fight. It’s a high-level sport, I’m going there to do my job.

“When I have time to train, it can happen at any time, anywhere,” he added.

Aldo would ultimately not get another chance to run it back and avenge his rapid setback against McGregor in the UFC.