Looks like superfights are becoming standard procedure for UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo.
After defeating former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar at UFC 156 Saturday, “Scarface” has now been officially booked to take on the last WEC lightweight title holder, Anthony Pettis.
USA Today broke the story early Tuesday morning.
UFC president Dana White gushed about the blockbuster title fight booked for Aug. 3.
“Two of the baddest dudes in the fight business are going to fight at 145 pounds,” White told USA TODAY. “These guys are two of the most amazing, gravity-defying athletes in the sport. I am so pumped for this fight.”
All signs pointed to “Showtime” getting a long-awaited rematch with current UFC lightweight champ Benson Henderson after the innovative striker made short work of Donald Cerrone at UFC on FOX 6 10 days ago.
However, “Bendo” is already linked to a fight with former Strikeforce 155-pound kingpin Gilbert Melendez at UFC on FOX 7, which doesn’t take place until April.
Pettis, who has won three in a row and seven of his past eight fights, decided he didn’t feel like waiting to see the outcome of that bout and texted White after UFC 156, stating that he wants to fight Aldo instead.
Despite the fact that Pettis has fought all 18 of his professional fights at lightweight, the UFC’s head honcho clearly seemed keen on the idea.
Following the win over Edgar, Aldo has now won an impressive 15 bouts in a row, including six title defenses and eight finishes.
Outside of “The Answer,” no one has really presented any kind of a challenge to Aldo’s stand up, an area where Pettis clearly shines.
This match up leaves featherweight contenders Ricardo Lamas and Chan-Sung Jung, best known by his nickname, “The Korean Zombie,” on the outside looking in and quite possibly on a collision course to fight each other.
Should Pettis pull off the upset this summer, he’d like to head back to lightweight and become the first dual title holder in UFC history.
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