One of the greatest fighters in UFC history called time on his career following last weekend’s UFC 315 event – and according to Jose Aldo, his preparation for the fight was less than ideal.

Aldo, 38, was defeated by Aiemann Zahabi by (controversial) decision on the main card of the UFC’s first event in Montreal in around a decade, announcing post-fight that he was ending his legendary career.

The former WEC and UFC featherweight champion struggled on the scales on the eve of the fight, with UFC officials changing the bout to the 145-pound weight class from bantamweight after Aldo confirmed he would be unable to weigh in at 136.

And speaking to UFC Brazil, as noted by MMA Fighting, the Brazilian detailed exactly how his preparations for the fight were hampered by injury and illness.

“This fight was hard,” Aldo said.

“I had a muscle tear on the arm, I had something on the belly that I forgot the name, down there, kicking a lot. I had some problems. A virus infection, a bunch of things.

“The doctors [said], ‘Get him out of the fight,’ but I didn’t want to because in my head I knew this could be my last fight.”

For Aldo, his final fight with the UFC in his near 15-years with the company had a degree of symmetry to it.

Aldo, back then the WEC champ, made his official UFC debut in Toronto in April 2011 – and as he sees it, Montreal was therefore the perfect location for what turned into his final fight.

“I wanted to end here in Canada,” he said. “I started here, and wanted to end here. I could end it in Brazil or some place else, but no. My story started here in Canada, this is where I first fought in the UFC against Mark Hominick. But it’s part [of life].”

Aldo steps away from the sport with a professional record of 32-10 and having successfully defended his world titles on nine occasions.