Earlier this month the UFC announced that Jose Aldo would be squaring off against Anthony Pettis this August.
However, following this past weekends UFC 157 post-fight press conference, UFC President Dana White revealed to the media that Aldo and his camp were refusing to fight Pettis. They felt like he was undeserving of a title shot at the 145-pound weight class.
Tonight via Twitter White made it clear that the fight was on.
Aldo vs Pettis is ON!!!!!
— Dana White (@danawhite) February 26, 2013
Aldo (22-1) as mentioned above 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.