Jose Aldo appears to be lightweight-bound after UFC 169 victory over Lamas; wants “Showtime’s” belt

UFC featherweight champion and long-time division ruler, Jose Aldo, appears to be lightweight-bound, this after defeating Ricardo Lamas 49-46 on each of the judges scorecards at UFC 169 in Newark, N.J. yesterday evening.

“Scarface” stated his desire to fight the UFC’s lightweight champion, Anthony Pettis, at last night’s post-fight press conference:

“It’s not about me, it’s about Dana [White] and Lorenzo [Fertitta],” Aldo said. “I’ve always been ready, I want that fight. Everybody wants that fight. If the fight was tonight, I’d fight him. So it’s up to UFC and Dana.”

UFC President Dana White then weighed-in on the topic, giving his stamp of approval for the potential “Super fight” between “Scarface” and “Showtime.”

“Yeah, I mean, I’ve been talking about that fight. I like that fight, I like Jose at 155,” White stated. “I think the weight cut’s much easier for him, but again, I’m going to throw it back at him. He’s the king at 145. If he wants to move to 155 it’s a huge fight with Anthony Pettis. Yeah, it doesn’t suck.”

Aldo then committed to the “Super fight” by saying:

“It’s not only about me, I want the fight, the fans want the fight. So why not?” he said. “We’re ready to fight, so let’s get this fight.”

Which led to the following response from the UFC President:

“Sounds like we got a fight. There you go,” White responded. “That was easy. Got that deal done. One more thing I don’t have to do on Monday.”

It was following Aldo’s decision victory over former lightweight champ Frankie Edgar at UFC 156, that UFC president Dana White would receive a text message from 155er Anthony Pettis, who requested a drop down in weight-class in order to face “Scarface.”

UFC officials would then set-up the highly touted fight between Aldo and Pettis for last summers UFC 163 event in Brazil. However, Pettis suffered a knee injury, that would ultimately doom the fight and Aldo would instead battle the “Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung, whom he defeated by way of TKO in front of his fellow countrymen.

Anthony Pettis would return from injury to face then lightweight champion, Benson Henderson, at the UFC 164 event in “Showtime’s” hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Pettis would once again defeat “Smooth,” this time by first-round submission, thus capturing the UFC’s lightweight strap.

Now, Aldo would be vying for Pettis’ belt. Pettis, once again, called White during the press conference and told him he wanted the Aldo fight. When asked how it would ultimately work, as to whether or not Aldo would have to vacate the featherweight title, White stated the following:

“I can answer that question: The answer is yes,” White said. “[Aldo] would vacate the title, move up to 155, fight for the title. If he didn’t win the title at 155 he could go back and challenge for the 145-pound title again if he wanted to do that. Or, if he wins the 155-pound title, then two other guys would fight for the 145-pound title.”

What do you think of the news Penn Nation? I would personally think this is a fight everyone will be happy to see finally come to fruition (Aldo vs. Pettis). If everything does fall in place, who would you like to see vie for the vacant featherweight strap? Let’s hear it!

By Chris Taylor