The Jose Aldo vs. Anthony Pettis news just keeps flowing. With a victory over Pettis this August, the featherweight champ Aldo will be granted an immediate shot at the lightweight title holder.
UFC President Dana White confirmed the news to MMAJunkie.com late Monday evening.
Earlier this month the news was dropped that the two would be fighting, however at this past weekends UFC 157 post-fight press conference, White announced that Aldo told him there was “no way in hell” that he would fight Pettis. However, during tonights Metro PCS fan chat White revealed that Aldo vs. Pettis was “on”.
Aldo’s manager Andre Pederneiras spoke to SportTV.Globo.com and had this message for the fans.
“I’m getting this over with. They’re saying I’m running away, so they’re seeing who’s running away from whom then! If you guys like beatings, you must buy Aug 3rd PPV because that’s what you’re getting — heads will roll!”
Pettis is considered the number one contender in the UFC’s lightweight division, so rightfully so, if Aldo defeats him then he will earn that 155-pound title shot.
Aldo (22-1) is coming off an impressive five round war with former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar in the main event at UFC 156. Aldo is riding an impressive 15 fight winning streak and since moving over to the UFC has defended his title four times.
Pettis (16-2) was the final WEC lightweight champion and was expected to fight for the UFC lightweight title on numerous different occasions, however that didn’t come to fruition. In his last bout he obliterated Donald Cerrone with a deadly liver kick to finish the fight early in the first round. He was declared the number one contender in the UFC’s lightweight division, but he had heard that before. So, rather than waiting it out he decided to take fate into his own hands.
Aldo vs. Pettis is expected to go down on August 3 at an unnamed venue and unnamed event. Rumored locations are Texas, Chicago, Las Vegas and Rio de Janeiro.
