Doctor gets final call, but Anthony Pettis vs. Jose Aldo teed up for 2014
NEWARK, N.J. – Assuming Anthony Pettis‘ recovery timeline holds firm, UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo will move up to 155 pounds to challenge the UFC lightweight champion later this year, the promotion’s president announced following UFC 169.
UFC President Dana White cautioned that Pettis’ doctor will have the final say on whether the fight will take place in July, when Pettis said he would be ready to fight. But all parties are on board.
“Sounds like we’ve got the fight,†White told MMAjunkie following the PPV card at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.. “One more thing I don’t have to do on Monday.â€
Aldo, who outpointed Ricardo Lamas for his sixth title defense in Saturday’s co-headliner, said afterward that he is ready and willing to fight Pettis.
“It’s not about me – it’s about Dana,†he told MMAjunkie. “I’m ready. I’ve always been ready. I want that fight. Everybody wants the fight. If the fight was tonight, I’d fight him. So it’s up to the UFC and Dana.â€
White, in turn, said it was up to Aldo.
“I’ve been talking about that fight,†White told MMAjunkie. “I like that fight. I like Jose at 155. I think the weight cut’s much easier for him. But again, I’m going to throw it back at him. At the end of the day, he’s the king at ’45.
“If he wants to move to ’55, I think it’s a huge fight with Pettis. It doesn’t suck.â€
Later, the UFC president revealed his PR team had received a call from the lightweight champ while the news conference was going on, and Pettis said he was ready to accept the bout.
Pettis did the same one year ago when Aldo outpointed Frankie Edgar at UFC 156 to retain the title. The fight was scheduled for this past August’s UFC 163, but Pettis withdrew due to a knee injury. Pettis went on to capture the lightweight belt at UFC 164 by submitting Benson Henderson, though he suffered a knee injury that could bench him until July.
Aldo would give up his 145-pound championship to take the fight with Pettis, said White, who added that the Brazilian champ could immediately get a shot at his former belt if unsuccessful in taking the lightweight title.
But Aldo is already zeroing in on Pettis.
“I want the fight,†Aldo said. “Anthony Pettis wants the fight. So why not? We’re ready to fight, so let’s get this fight.â€
The promotion will have to decide who fights for the vacant featherweight belt, White said.
Prior to UFC 169, the UFC president said he liked the idea of pairing Pettis with Aldo in the event that Aldo defended his belt and Pettis notched a win upon his return from injury layoff.
