Ed Soares Discusses The Split With Jose Aldo

The news on Thursday that Jose Aldo was splitting from manager Ed Soares to instead be managed by his coach Andre Pederneiras left many people wondering what might really be behind the split, and if there might be more to the story. Fighters Only Magazine spoke with Ed Soares to confirm the split and get some additional information.

According to Soares, there was nothing in particular that happened to cause the split, but Pederneiras wanted to take control and manage Aldo himself. Soares says it is "fine":

"I wouldn't say anything went wrong as such, other than Andre feels he doesn't need our services as management any more. And that's fine, it wasn't like we were together since the beginning, we managed him once he became champion."

Soares did say that he is disappointed and that he doesn't necessarily think Aldo's decision was a very good one:

"I don't necessarily agree with the decision he made but he is his own man and if that's what they want then sure, best of luck. It was a surprise to me and I was disappointed Jose is a great kid and a great person and he is about to have his first child... he has to do what is best for him."

Soares says his relationship with the other Nova Uniao fighters like Diego Nunes, Johnny Eduardo and Luis Ramos will not change even though Aldo is leaving. He did seem a bit defensive when asked about both Junior Dos Santos and Jose Aldo leaving recently, and quickly pointed out,

"We've lost two guys in eight years."

Soares also discussed the trouble that was evident between him and Anderson Silva that caused Silva to make the statement that no one, including Soares, could speak for him and that he will only speak for himself. Soares says their relationship is strong, but that they have their quarrels just like in any relationship:

"The relationship with Anderson and me, Anderson and us, is like family. We have been in each other lives so much, we have been so influential to each other in our professional lives, that we have been through thick and thin. We might have a big fight, blow up at each other, but then two hours later we will all be in a restaurant with our families sitting down together and laughing and stuff.

"Its more like a brotherly relationship. You argue with your brother and it gets all loud and stuff but then at the end of the day its deeper than that. We have disagreements like anyone else does but I feel like with Anderson, its til death do we part. Unless something really bad happened but I cant see anything bad like that happening.

"You have disagreements but can anyone go through life having a close relationship with someone and not have disagreements?"

Soares also said that he doesn't feel he's been treated poorly in the whole Aldo ordeal and that he wishes Aldo and Pedeneiras all the best going forward:

"When we took Aldo on he was a champion, we cant take credit for that. It was Andre Pedeneiras who made him a champion. We were there to try and enhance his life, I believe that we did. Maybe we weren't able to enhance his life the way that they would have liked us to, I don't know, but if they can do a better job then be my guest, go for it."