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When Henry Cejudo moved up in weight to capture the UFC bantamweight championship he probably didn’t envision defending his title against the great Jose Aldo.
Luckily for Cejudo, who currently holds UFC belts at 125 and 135 pounds, he may have the opportunity to take out another legend of the sport sometime in the near future. That’s because Aldo, who once reigned supreme over the UFC’s featherweight division, is thinking about dropping down to bantamweight to test his luck against “Triple C.”
“I sat down with everybody, did a study, and I think there’s a real possibility I can make 61kg [135 pounds],” Aldo told Brazilian news outlet Combate. “This is the new division I want to move to, and I’m asking for the title shot right away. That’s what matters for me now. Cejudo said he’s open to (fighting) anyone, so I’m open to that. I want the opportunity to fight against him and beat him.”
Aldo, 32, was expected to retire from MMA later this year but has since signed a new multi-fight deal with UFC after experiencing a bit of a career resurgence. Still, despite Aldo’s recent success inside of the Octagon, which includes knockout wins over Jeremy Stephens and Renato Moicano, few expected the Brazilian legend to make a move down in weight. Most of us believed Aldo would take his talents to lightweight.
While nothing is set in stone, Aldo seems serious about dropping a few extra pounds, heading down in weight, and challenging for another UFC title.
“He’s an Olympic champion, a great athlete, and I respect his history a lot,” Aldo said of Cejudo. “He deserves everything he’s winning, he has his merits. If the UFC thinks it’s a great fight, I think they’ll want that, it’s a huge challenge. He’s been talking after defeating (Moraes) that he was open to fighting big names. Since he’s open, it’s the green light.”
“Nobody expected him to beat (Moraes) on the feet, you have to respect that,” he added. “To me that’s great, it’s a good size for me, he has a fighting style that please me, that matches up well with my game. If it’s against him or not, I think about being adapted to the weight, fast and strong, which will be my differential in this division.”
Cejudo, who is coming off back-to-back knockout wins over T.J. Dillashaw and Marlon Moraes earlier this year after defeating pound-for-pound legend Demetrious Johnson just 12 months ago, has yet to respond to Aldo’s plans. But if “Triple C” really wants to be the best fighter in the world he may have to bite down on his mouthpiece and exchange blows with one of the greatest ever.
That is, of course, if Aldo is able to jump Valentina Shevchenko in line for a shot at the champ.