Jose Aldo vs. Anthony Pettis to Happen August 3
By Chris Leslie on February 5, 2013
Anthony Pettis asked, and now he will receive UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo this August. The bout will take place at featherweight and will take place on an as-yet-unnamed event. USA Today first broke news of the bout.
The bout will pit two of MMA’s most dynamic strikers against each other. Both fighters are coming off impressive wins in their last bouts, with Aldo defeating former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and Pettis destroying rival Donald Cerrone.
Said UFC president Dana White:
“Two of the baddest dudes in the fight business are going to fight at 145 pounds,” White said. “These guys are two of the most amazing, gravity-defying athletes in the sport. I am so pumped for this fight.”
White also announced that, while a venue is yet to be named, sites in Texas, Chicago, Las Vegas, and Rio de Janeiro are all under consideration.
News of this bout will no doubt frustrate Ricardo Lamas and Chan Sung Jung, who were both eyeing Aldo’s belt, but this announcement all but sets up a matchup between the two fighters.
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I’m I missing something here?
I mean this is badass but doesnt the BENDO vs Pettis make more sense?
Ben Henderson’s next fight is Gilbert Melendez. Also floating out there is Eddie Alvarez’ lawsuit against Bellator. If Eddie prevails in his lawsuit, the UFC offered him a more or less immediate title shot. It makes more sense from that standpoint to keep Pettis active and have him fight at 145 rather than hang out cooling his heels. Not only that, but if he takes a fight at 155 and loses, he falls back in the rankings (as happened to him with the Clay Guida fight).
crap… I meant ” AM I…”
It makes more sense and Aldo has an opponent in Lamas for the time being
I’m a huge Lamas fan but Koch was outclassing him in the standup until Koch made that error and got caught underneath him. Aldo doesn’t make those mistakes.
I think this is better for Lamas in the long run because he can sure up those holes. Right now I just don’t see that fight being any different than Aldo-Mendes.
From some of the fan reaction I’ve been reading most people are wondering the same thing…August 3rd? Why 6 months away? That and why is this happening in the first place? While he could possibly have faced the ‘Bendo’/Melendez winner around the same time as this fight is scheduled any number of things could have gone wrong, an injury to the winner of that bout or him getting by-passed again… if Zuffa wins the court battle with Bellator Alvarez will be gauranteed a titleshot for his first bout, pushing him out of the picture yet again. Pettis has said he just wants to fight for a belt, that’s what he finds intriguing, and he doesn’t think the weight cut will be hard for him, he said even now he only cuts 2 or so lbs for LW.
The only reason I can think of for the long delay before the bout is Aldo wanting a break. He wasn’t listed in the medical suspensions, maybe he’s just looking for some time off before going through another training camp.
Long delay is because of the potential PPV and fox schedules. Not to mention booking a venue.
This is a fighter’s fight. I could imagine Pettis watching the Aldo fight saying, wow, that’s the guy I want to fight next.
Very impressed by Pettis for requesting this fight. I’m not nearly concerned about the politics of waiting your turn in this matchup. If you’re winning in dramatic fashion, you can ask for whatever you want.
This should be, imo, Aldo’s biggest test. I’m anxious to see these two go at it, because they will be very well prepared.
Fantastic fight.
Yeah, this is one of those fights where you can understand the pairing.
It seems to me that Pettis is taking this fight becuase Dana has promised everyone and their brother a title fight at 155 as bsbiz said as well. You have Meledez who henderson is fighting next, Alvarez was promised one as well. I think Pettis see that he could challenge Aldo and would get the title shot earlier than he would at 145. The only thing I do not like about this is that for the second time in a row, rising stars like the korean zombie and Lamas have to wait in line while people jump weight classes for an immediate title shot. I think when you jump a weight class you should have at least one fight in the division.
Personally, it’s a blessing in disguise for both TKZ and Lamas if you ask me. They earned their shots no doubt but both have fatal flaws when matching up with Aldo.
Can’t wait for this, this fight promotes itself.
I dont think Aldo will have faced a striker like Pettis before, right? Very interestig. I dont even think Hominick has the overal striking ability of a Pettis.
And obiously, Pettis goes out to finish fights and push the pace. Even as a GSP fan, I think I’m more excited for this fight than I am for GSP/Diaz.
Great fight. I think Melendez would be better off dropping to 145 and facing aldo and let pettis take benson. Either way Pettis has great cardio and ko power. If aldo doesn’t address his championship round gassing he will be getting KOed.
wow this is such a great matchup. Epic really. two of the most entertaining and dynamic of all fighters in the world. Noone saw this coming and good for pettis for asking for this fight it makes alot of sense for him. Given his age even if he does lose he can go back to 55 win a fight and be right back in line for a shot.
I think it’s a very risky fight for Jose. Pettis has the ability that none of Aldo’s recent opponents have and that’s the ability to inflict major damage in the first couple rounds. If Pettis can land some big shots early I think it sets up well for a later pettis ko or decision win.
should be a fight of the year candidate. And Lamas and tkz can fight it out. UFC wants markee title fights, doesn’t get much bigger or better then this.
Bummed that Milwaukee isn’t in consideration to get this fight, especially since the UFC is planning a return to Milwaukee that same month.
This is just pathetic pettis is overrated he’s had four fights and a loss
to clay guida beat Stephens lol laozon lol and the cowboy not worthy of any title shot the featherweight divison is a joke
Aldo is going to smash this
faghell pettis couldn’t even beat Edgar if they foughtHe don’t deserve
shitthe wec was a jokeThat kick was a fluke bendo has evolved
into the best 155 in the world he would
Destroy pettis now Dana is just letting fights
Happen no ones earning
shitanymore Aldo isgoing to put pettis back to the bottom where he belongs
Calm down keyboard warrior
Wow, you are angry. Have you seen Anthony Pettis fight before or did you just Wikipedia his stats and throw together this hate filled nonsensical sh!t. You are entitled to your punctuation-less opinion but try basing it on reality.