Jose Aldo Headlines UFC 149 in Calgary, Dana White Promises Sick Card

[No More Sorrow]

As expected, the UFC is returning to Canada for a July show in Calgary.

During today's press conference in the city, UFC president Dana White and UFC-Canada head Tom Wright announced that the Canadian city will host UFC 149 on July 21.

UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo (21-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) headlines the show against an opponent to be announced.

Additionally, while at the press conference, veteran Canadian middleweight Jason MacDonald (25-15 MMA, 6-7 UFC) said he'd like to fight his retirement bout at UFC 149. (However, he first fights Tom Lawlor in May at UFC on FX 3.)

Today's announcement came at Flames Central in downtown Calgary. The UFC 149 kickoff press conference was open to fans, some of whom began lining up in the early-morning hours.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) previously passed along news of the event in Calgary, which has never previously hosted a UFC event. The show takes place at the 19,000-seat Scotiabank Saddledome, which is home to the NHL's Calgary Flames.

Aldo enters UFC 149 with a 14-fight win streak. Since ruling the WEC's featherweight division and moving over to the UFC, the well-rounded Brazilian has racked up title defenses over Mark Hominick, Kenny Florian and Chad Mendes.

Calgary is the fourth Canadian city to host a UFC show following events in Montreal (four times), Vancouver (two) and Toronto (two).

Additional UFC 149 fights and ticket information will be announced in the coming weeks.

MMAjunkie.com

 

[No More Sorrow]

So it was announced Jose Aldo will defend his championship at this show in the main event, opponent is yet to be decided. Dana said he's still working on an amazing Co-Mainevent for the show and he'd have more details later this week. I'll upload the entire Press Conference when i find it.

 

[No More Sorrow]

Here's the entire Press Conference.

[video=youtube;B083kFYcXl4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=B083kFYcXl4[/video]

 

[Edgeomatic]

I'm so pissed I missed this. but seriously, why would you do this so early? Noon? Wait until 2 or 3.

 

[Ben]

Aldo is so much better than everyone at 145 that it's hard to get excited about him fighting for me. Still will prob end up as the Co Main event though. Need another big match to main event. Could be possible that the Bendo/Edgar fight main events this card, really the only division title that's available or not held up by a injury.

 

[No More Sorrow]

I had thought Bendo/Edgar would be involved and somebody had brought it up in an interview with Dana the other day and he kind of avoided the question, I mean the PPV is right around the time that Benson will be able to get back into real training. He fractured his foot at UFC 144, and was suspended medically until late May-June that could give him tim to do like an 8 week training camp, as this show isn't scheduled until July 21st.

 

[Edgeomatic]

I think all three fighters that were actually at the press conference will be involved.

I hope GSP and Hominick show up to watch it live.

 

[The Cork]

Intrigued as to what this 'huge co-main event' is.

Can't really see who fits that description who isn't already tied up, maybe BJ/Melendez but thats me getting my hopes up again.

 

[No More Sorrow]

Well here's what Dana wants as the co-main event to this show.

I was trying to put together Dan Henderson vs. Shogun II (for UFC 149) and Henderson doesn't want to do the fight. Henderson wants to wait for the winner of either Jonny "Bones" Jones or Anderson Silva. He wants Anderson Silva, if Silva wins, he'll make that cut. Otherwise, he wants to fight the winner of Rashad and Jones.

Appears to be off the table now though

 

[Ben]

Hendo is smart to wait for a title shot, he's prob not going to get another one again, and at his age who knows how many good fights he has left in him.

 

[The Cork]

I hate when guys do this, dont like Condit sitting on his interim shot and dont like Hendo doing this either.

 

[Troy]

I don't mind Hendo waiting, he probably knows that he doesn't have too many fights left in him plus why risk losing and dropping back down the ladder when you are basically guaranteed a title shot if you stay fit and out of the cage.

Need to know what the co-mainevent will be for this show and who Aldos opponent will be before I can get too interested in it. Dana promises a good card but I would have thought that he would have announced more than simply a champion fighting on the show. Would have been good to announce at least one whole fight, preferably two fights for the show.

 

[No More Sorrow]

Here's a little interview with Hendo where he talks about retirement.

Henderson, who is currently waiting for a shot at either the UFC light heavyweight or middleweight title to open up, told ESPN.com that he wants to compete for two-or-three more years, despite turning 42 later this year.

"I've got three more fights on my deal, and I'll probably sign one more deal after that," Henderson said. "I definitely won't be as old as Randy (Couture) when I retire!"

"Hendo" secured himself a future title shot by winning a thrilling decision over Mauricio "Shogun" Rua late in 2011. Since that fight, he has been rumored for several bouts, but has remained patient in regards to fighting for UFC gold. Henderson has an easy explanation for why he believes he has several years left in MMA.

"I've changed my training, I'm smarter with my training," Henderson said. "I'm also smarter with my positioning and techniques. I know what works and what doesn't. And I'm still learning from those at my gym."