Max Holloway explains why UFC 212 ‘takes nothing away’ from Jose Aldo’s legacy
Max Holloway may have taken Jose Aldo’s belt last Saturday at UFC 212, but the loss doesn’t make the Brazilian any less of a champion in his eyes.
Aldo was long thought of as the greatest featherweight fighter of all time after a lengthy career where he suffered just one loss and defended his WEC and UFC belts countless times. But the loss to Holloway, his second in his last three fights, caused some to question Aldo’s positioning.
Holloway, who unified the UFC featherweight title in the UFC 212 main event, told FOX Sports’ Damon Martin that he still sees Aldo as “a GOAT” and what happened on Saturday night does nothing to change that.
“Losing is part of this fight game,” Holloway said on the Fight Society Podcast. “Saturday night, it takes nothing away from the man’s legacy. This guy would show up to the gym sometimes -- he wouldn’t even eat, he was so poor. Sometimes he was so damn poor he wouldn’t even have a meal. But he’d still show up to the gym. He, himself, built the 45 division pretty much. He came over and took it over. Once he got to WEC he pretty much took it over for over a decade. He defended his throne, for honor, for his team, for his country.
“And this guy who didn't start at pole position in this world and look at what he achieved. I think Brazil needs to celebrate this man. I’ve been saying all week, even after the fight, ‘Acai with powered milk and cashews for everyone.’ He's a GOAT, and his story will always be an inspiration to me and people of Hawaii. So all I’ve got to say to Aldo is, Obrigado, Ze Aldo. Obrigado. I’m thankful for that man”
