Jose Aldo suffers one of the harshest weight cuts in the roster of featherweight fighters.
In fact, that’s likely a key reason the UFC pulled an infamous video (from a UFC Brazil preview) that chronicled the champion’s brutal preparation for the scales. It could’ve been a bit too graphic for the company’s public image.
Footage showed a desperate Aldo practically destroying his body to shed extra weight on the day of the UFC 129 weigh-ins, mentally breaking under the pressure in the process.
That’s why a move to lightweight could be an attractive prospect for the Brazilian, whose bad weight cut nearly resulted in him losing his UFC title to Canada’s Mark Hominick. As Aldo explained to Los Angeles-area reporters during a media session (via MMA Fighting), his next title defense at 145 pounds could be his last one.
“I’ve considered going to lightweight,” said Aldo. “As soon as my trainer decides that I can go up, then I will. This fight with Edgar will be a turning point. If I can win [against] him well, then I can prove that I can go [to lightweight].”
“He has a very strong reputation thanks to destroying several opponents,” Aldo continued. “That’s the motivation for me to face him and that will be probably my last biggest challenge [at featherweight].”
Ironically, many pundits and fans have stated that former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar is really little more than a blown-up featherweight, as the New Jersey native typically gives up a lot of size and mass against other 155-pounders.
However, that didn’t stop “The Answer” from stamping a 9-3-1 record in the lightweight division, capping it off with victories over BJ Penn (twice) and Gray Maynard, along with close-decision losses against current champion Ben Henderson. Aldo and Edgar will face-off in Las Vegas at UFC 156 this February, the promotion’s first pay-per-view event in 2013.
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