The MMA world is still debating who Jose Aldo vs. Aiemann Zahabi has won at UFC 315.
On Saturday evening, Jose Aldo took the walk to the Octagon for what his last MMA fight would be. The former dual UFC-Fedweight Champion has retired once before, apparently the gloves suspended for good after a bloody loss for Aiemann Zahabi.
However, the unanimous decision result for Zahabi did not come without controversy, because many fans believed that Aldo had done enough to win rounds 1 and 2 and maybe even 3.
A teammate of Georges St-Pierre, Zahabi was eliminated almost twice in the final round with a knee and then a follow-up football kick to send him to the canvas. Zahabi ran away from Aldo with his opponent very tired for the rest of the round.
Zahabi almost got the finish itself after a desperate shot from Aldo, making the Hall of Famer with elbows on the floor before the last bell sounded.
While others claim that Aldo won the fight with the more harmful shots in round 3, a legendary MMA referee believes that Zahabi has done just enough to achieve the decision -making victory with his late rally on UFC 315.
Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty images
'Big' John McCarthy says that Jose Aldo's body language is waving around Aiemann Zahabi
After he almost finished Zahabi on the feet with his knees and stairs, Aldo looked around at the clock and realized that there was still 3 minutes to go to go in the final round – a visible tell that his cardio was exhausted.
Zahabi defended an Aldo Takedown and used it to win 2:30 from the top control time. From here, Zahabi Ellebogen released and Bloodied Aldo, who held his gloves illegally and tried to survive.
It was not a great look for Aldo, especially after a strong start. Veteran UFC referee 'Big' John McCarthy says that the success of Zahabi on the floor ultimately outweigh what Aldo could do at the feet.
“It's not just the shots themselves. It is the way Aldo looks,” said McCarthy about weighing in Podcast.
“If you look at it, you also look to see:” Is this damage causing a person losing trust, losing the ability to compete, lose his mind? “
“And if you look at that last round, they were all there. Each of them.”
McCarthy's co-gastheer, former UFC beam hunter Josh Thomson did not agree.
“He was tired to take a small little elbow here and there,” Thomson said about Aldo.
“You let the blood influence your decision, John …”
McCarthy replied: “I don't let blood influence. If that fight had to continue for longer, what would happen?”
Ex-PuC star Josh Thomson thinks that Jose Aldo was robbed by 'biased' jury members at UFC 315
After a back and forth third round, all three judges in Montreal scored the fight 29-28 for the birthplace hero Aiemann Zahabi.
The first two rounds between Zahabi and Aldo were quite competitive with Aldo Outlanding Zahabi in round 1 and Zahabi got a punch than Aldo in round 2.
On a map that saw a controversial decision between fashion bag Bukauskas and Ion Cutelaba, former competitioner Josh Thomson believes that Aldo had been dirty by the judges.
“The judges are simply feasted. That's why,” said Thomson about Aldo's decision.
“He's coming from [Montreal] Canada, “Thomson said about Zahabi.
“They are in Canada. Canada nowadays can't even buy a victory.
'They do what they can do [like] “Leave me one of these stems …” “