UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo’s UFC 129 medical suspension has forced him out of a planned title defense against Chad Mendes at August’s UFC 133, but he expects to return to action as early as September, Aldo announced Tuesday.
Aldo said the UFC decided against him fighting at UFC 134 on Aug. 27 in Brazil, which already features middleweight champ Anderson Silva vs. Yushin Okami, and instead plans on having him headline a Sept. or Oct. event. Who he’ll face is now another question, as Mendes reportedly plans to remain on the UFC 133 fight card against another top contender.
Aldo (19-1) defended the UFC title for the first time over Mark Hominick at UFC 129 in April following eight-straight WEC wins, while Mendes (10-0) earned a shot at the 145-pound belt with a February win over Michihiro Omigawa in his Octagon debut.
UFC 133 is now headlined by light heavyweight contenders Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis, while the UFC’s fall schedule is expected to include UFC 135 on Sept. 24 in Denver, UFC 136 on Oct. 8 in Houston, and UFC 137 on Oct. 15 in Liverpool, England.
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[Updated with Aldo's comments that he's not injured and will fight in Sept. or Oct.]
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I wonder just how many “minor injury/PPV main event fighter pullouts” will drop before Dana White loses his sh!t and starts coming down on guys…
This is disappointing, but Aldo-Mendes was never “official” for 133 and it was pretty clear it wasn’t happening there when Evans-Davis was announced as the main event. Plus, it sounds like Mendes wants to stay busy and probably could have just waited to fight Aldo in Sept or Oct.
@kriskarkoski
I read you, and I wasn’t trying to single Aldo out in any sort of negative way.
You know as well as anyone how DW can “mood-swing” on issues, and I can’t help but wonder which “minor injury pullout” is going to set him off…
;-)
i’m just glad it’s just a minor injury because the last thing i want to see is Aldo lose to someone because of all of his injuries. Aldo is a guy that has a very long road of success ahead of him and i hope he does not fall victim to injuries.
his twitter said he isnt injured..
Technically he “is hurt” since he’s still under medical suspension from 129 and cannot resume training.
he needs rest. everyone’s body needs rest. he just went thru a grueling fight of 25 mins when he was apparently sick or ill. he needs some time to rest so he doesn’t damage his body more.
What a shame Aldo would have won the title like GSP and Anderson, Aldo is the best pound for pound in his division