What can Aldo do if he confirms his retirement from the UFC?

Aldo was frustrated with the UFC's decision. Photo: Harry How/Zuffa LLC

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Public dissatisfaction with José Aldo with the UFC was one of the biggest highlights of MMA news this week. The interim featherweight champion, considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters today, was unhappy with the recent decisions made by the organization and threatened to retire from the sport.

Aldo was largely frustrated with the further postponement of his desired rematch against Conor McGregor, his tormentor in 2015. The Brazilian, who won the provisional belt in July this year, hoped to have the chance to return the defeat in his next fight, including public promises from Dana White, president of the UFC.

However, on Monday night (26), Ultimate frustrated Aldo's plans and announced that McGregor will move up a category and fight for the lightweight belt without having to give up the linear featherweight title.

But what if Aldo isn't bluffing? What would the future hold for Manauara, both inside and outside the sport? That's what the SUPER FIGHTS responds in this special. Check out!

Possibility 1: definitive retirement from fighting

It seems difficult to imagine that Aldo, at just 30 years old, could actually hang up his gloves. However, if the former champion really no longer has the desire to compete, the question remains: does he have the financial means to leave the sport at such a young age?

Aldo owns a snack bar in Rio. Photo: Disclosure

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To get an idea, we did a survey of all the scholarships received by Manauara in his international MMA career. At the beginning of his career, in the WEC, the fighter pocketed US$ 195.500 (R$ 636.390 at current prices) in eight fights. In the UFC, his status grew considerably and his salaries rose along with it: US$2,25 million (R$7,3 million) in nine fights held in the octagon.

It is practically impossible, however, to calculate Aldo's assets based on these values. The declared numbers do not include possible payments “from outside” the UFC, in addition to possible slices of the sale of pay-per-view and personal sponsorships. Furthermore, the scholarship is rarely entirely in the athlete's possession, as the amounts are shared with their coaches and managers.

However, it can be concluded that Aldo at least already has a comfortable nest egg. The fighter invested part of his money in a personal venture and has alternative forms of income. One example is Famous Burger, a snack bar that opened in January this year in the Flamengo neighborhood, in the south zone of Rio de Janeiro.

This year, Aldo also saw the story of his life reach cinemas with the film “Stronger than the World”, which received good critical acceptance. In biographical films made with the authorization of the person in question, part of the box office proceeds and/or image rights are normally transferred. Even without knowing the exact values, Aldo probably earned extra income from carrying out the project.

Possibility 2: moving to other organizations

Perhaps this is the most remote possibility on our list, as it would be very unlikely that the UFC would break Aldo's contract and release him to sign with rival organizations. Even so, athletes leaving for other leagues have become increasingly frequent, especially in Bellator (USA) and Rizin (Japan).

Recently, the UFC lost important names to Bellator, especially Ben henderson e Rory McDonald. In the case of Henderson, a former Ultimate champion, the comparison in declared salaries was, surprisingly, favorable to the UFC: he received US$102 in his last fight for Dana White's organization and US$75 in his most recent fight for Scott Coker.

Taking into account all the payments already distributed by Bellator, the record stands Tito Ortiz, who took home US$300 – less than what Aldo himself received at UFC 200.

However, again, the declared numbers do not include any “outside” payments. Furthermore, there is an important factor that has weight in this issue, which is the permission to use personal sponsorships inside the cage.

Previously UFC champion, Henderson moved to Bellator. Photo: Disclosure

Since July 2015, the UFC has imposed the use of Reebok uniforms on all its athletes, preventing them from sporting brands on their clothes. Several fighters have publicly complained about financial losses from the deal. Aldo, throughout his career, has been supported by brands such as Venum, Bony Açaí, Dethrone, MMA Authentics and TCB, and, if he goes to Bellator, he could once again close personal agreements with these and other brands – which would certainly yield the fighter a bigger sum than the US$30 received from Reebok for his fight at UFC 200.

Sportingly speaking, Bellator could also show Aldo an interesting scenario, including possible duels with the featherweight “iron trio” Daniel Straus, Patrick Pitbull and Pat Curran.

At Rizin, however, the situation is a little more obscure. Athletes who stand out in Japanese rings do not publicly complain about their salaries, but it is not known for sure what amounts are paid. Daron Cruickshank, who left the UFC to work for Rizin, gave a hint when he said that "went to the organization where the money is".

Possibility 3: staying in the UFC

J. Aldo (left) and D. White (right): good weather, just in the photo. Photo: Reproduction

Despite his visible hurt with the decisions recently made by the UFC, Aldo always has the possibility of going back on his statements and returning to Dana White's organization. After all, in your current job, there is still the possibility of interesting sporting fights, in addition to good salaries.

Aldo's declared UFC purses have been growing practically fight after fight. For example, in the duel against Ricardo Lamas, in February 2014, the champion took home US$240; against Chad Mendes, in October of the same year, the amount paid was US$350 thousand. In defeat to Conor McGregor, received US$400 thousand, and, in his most recent fight, against Frankie Edgar, at UFC 200, won US$500.

Obviously, the values ​​are still far from the UFC's absolute record, which is McGregor's salary of US$3 million at UFC 202. Even so, the amount received would still allow Aldo to increase his nest egg and invest in other business.

Laerte Viana collaborated

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