Jose Aldo and Anthony Pettis want to fight, but it looks like neither UFC title will be on the line.
Aldo defended the featherweight title with a decision win over Ricardo Lamas at UFC 169, and Dana White said at the post-fight press conference that lightweight champion Pettis called him asking to fight the Brazilian. Aldo is down to fight, and White said “Scarface” would have to leave the 145-pound title and move up to lightweight for the contest.
Back to Brazil after the win, Aldo’s camp has another idea for the superfight.
“Now we have to decided in which weight division this fight is going to happen, if Pettis is coming down, like he once said he would do (for UFC 163), but didn’t due to an injury, if Aldo will move up, or if it’s going to be (a catchweight) at 150 pounds,” Aldo’s manager Andre Pederneiras told Ta na Area.
“(A catchweight) would be interesting for both, they would keep the belts and do the fight everybody wants to see. Nobody wants to take the other’s title, we want to see the fight and do a great show for everybody. Aldo would move up a little, Pettis cuts a little, and it’s good for everybody.”
Aldo’s win over Lamas was his 17th straight since 2006 and his 6th title defense inside the Octagon, and Pettis has yet to defend the lightweight championship following the quick submission of Ben Henderson at UFC 164.
“It’s going to be a tough fight, like all the others,” Pederneiras said. “I always say that the next fight is always the toughest. It’s going to be just like another fight. I think that Aldo has all the weapons to beat Pettis. I don’t see many advantages for Pettis in this match-up.”