Their rivalry was among the most heated in UFC history but despite suffering perhaps the single most devastating defeat of his career to Conor McGregor, Jose Aldo has wished the Irishman well after his recent retirement announcement. 

The pair — arguably the two finest featherweights in history — embarked on a multi-stop world tour to promote the bout initially slated for UFC 189 before a rib injury suffered by the Brazilian in training meant that Chad Mendes was imported into the card to face McGregor for the interim 145-pound title.

McGregor won that bout and his first UFC belt via late second round TKO. In doing so he set up a renewed meeting with Aldo, this time in December at UFC 194, which would set a record for the quickest knockout in UFC title fight history.

Recently, McGregor addressed this fight in his own words:

It was 12!
Look at this gif closely everyone and watch the clock.
Referee Big John steps in at 4.48 seconds of the very first round.
That’s 12 seconds!
I demand it corrected before anymore talks commence.
And yes that’s right,
I smoked that boy in a gif.
Now pass me my whiskey. https://t.co/AlK5t91gJJ

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) March 30, 2019

For his part, Aldo has commented on the recent retirement announcement by McGregor. He said to Portal do Vale Tudo (via MMA Mania): “What he did for the sport and what he won. If I fight Floyd Mayweather and make 80 million dollars, the UFC would never see me again too.

“Do you really think I would train multiple martial arts three times a day? He had a brilliant career, he was a great fighter and if he really is retiring, I congratulate him for all he did in the sport.”