In the world of mixed martial arts, terms like “pound for pound” and “legend” are constantly misused when describing a fighter’s skills or achievements. But in the case of Jose Aldo , there couldn’t be more perfect descriptors for a true pound-for-pound legend. Aldo, who recently requested out of his UFC contract citing his retirement, held claim to one of the most impressive unbeaten streaks that this sport has ever seen when he won eighteen consecutive fights from 2005 to 2015, defending his featherweight title nine times in a row across WEC and UFC. In addition to the Brazilian’s impressive title reign, Aldo also helped elevate the game of MMA as a whole through ferocious technical superiority and a dedication to defense that few can hold a candle to. Below, I do my best to highlight some of the technical evolutions that Aldo brought to the table as I revisit and rank his greatest wins in the WEC and UFC.
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