It appears UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo’s next fight will be against Anthony Pettis for the lightweight title.
After picking up a dominant unanimous decision win over Ricardo Lamas in the co-main event of UFC 169 Saturday in Newark, N.J., Aldo expressed his interest in fighting Pettis.
Aldo noted that a fight with Pettis is something he wants, something the fans want and one Pettis wants as well. That sentiment was confirmed when Pettis called UFC president Dana White during the UFC 169 post-fight press conference.
“He said he absolutely wants the Aldo fight,” White said.
Pettis is currently recovering from knee surgery and it’s unknown when he will be ready to return, though he hopes to be ready by July.
“We’ll see if we can get the deal done,” White said. “We’ll see what happens.”
Aldo and Pettis were scheduled to meet in a featherweight title bout at UFC 163 last August. The fight never transpired because Pettis pulled out of the bout citing a knee injury. Things worked out for Pettis, however, since he ended up submitting Benson Henderson at UFC 164 to become lightweight champion.
White added that if Aldo chooses to challenge Pettis for the lightweight belt he would be forced to vacate his 145-pound title.