Aldo: Pettis cut in line for title shot; I might as well do the same thing

Former lightweight contender Anthony “Showtime” Pettis (16-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) is set to face off with UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo (22-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) at UFC 163 this August in Brazil.

This weekend Aldo was asked for his thoughts regarding Pettis dropping down to 145lbs and receiving an immediate title shot, thus pushing aside contenders like Ricardo Lamas, Chad Mendes, Cub Swanson and Chan Sung Jun.

Here is what the featherweight champ had to say:

“I think it can be a valid approach, but not when someone drops from the weight class above to immediately challenge the champion.There are already various contenders within the weight class. If someone just shows up and immediately challenges for the belt, he’s cutting in line, and everyone sees that. I don’t think it’s fair. I think if you’re going to drop down, then prove yourself by first having great fights within the weight class, and then you’ve earned the right to fight for the belt. That’s how I think. But since we’re already booked, no problem. I’ll just go and win that fight.”

If Aldo proves victorious over Pettis at UFC 163, he plans on ‘cutting in line’ himself:

“If everyone is cutting in line, I might as well do the same thing. I’d like to move up one division and have an immediate title shot. We took the Pettis fight with this in mind. It’s [set]. Exactly. We put that in (the contract). It’s black and white. When we accepted the Pettis fight, we brought that up right away. Since everyone wants to cut into our line, let’s cut into theirs too.”

“I like challenges. My life’s been nothing but challenges. It’s just another one in my career. Thank God I’m going through this. It makes me very happy. The next challenge is always the biggest. Pettis will be the biggest. After I’m done with him, there will be another. That’s my life.”