After returning to form at UFC Calgary last year against Jeremy Stephens, the soon-to-retire Jose Aldo continued to impress at UFC Fortaleza, finishing Renato Moicano.
Jose Aldo’s retirement tour kicked off in Fortaleza, Brazil over the weekend. Facing fellow top featherweight (and fellow Brazilian) Renato Moicano, Aldo was fighting one of his final bouts in the UFC, after sticking firm about retiring at the end of 2019 throughout the lead-up to the fight. Given ‘Scarface’ was once one of the most feared 145lb’ers on the planet, and the most decorated featherweight champ of all time, UFC Fortaleza was one of the last chances to see a legend in action.
The legend makes the walk!@JoseAldoJunior #UFCFortaleza pic.twitter.com/aQJlBRMF9j
— UFC (@ufc) February 3, 2019
After a lengthy feeling out period, Moicano looked to get his offense going. Aldo unleashed one of his patented leg kicks, while both men fired combinations. Moicano, not to be outdone, answered with a kick of his own. Then another. Moicano would later flash a high kick, that Aldo answered with a hard punch to the body.
For the bulk of the opening round, Moicano looked the much looser fighter. He was also more active with his kicks, and more effective — a major factor given Aldo’s status as an innovator with the low kick attack.
Round two saw Moicano, with the clear reach advantage, go after the lead leg of Aldo once more. Yet Aldo unleashed, connecting with a combination then chasing down Moicano, simply bludgeoning him up against the cage! A left hook to the body started the sequence, and Aldo frankly unleashed hell, until the ref had seen enough. Moicano had no answer, and was just weathering the storm, the ref ultimately doing him a favor.
Jose Aldo def. Renato Moicano by TKO, Round 2, 0:44