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ANAHEIM, Calif. – So that Jose Aldo (22-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) vs. Anthony Pettis (16-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) matchup that sounded like so much fun? Well it turns out the Brazilian featherweight champion isn't quite as excited to book it as we may have all at first believed.
UFC President Dana White on Saturday revealed Aldo and his camp have expressed some concern about the matchup.
"Jose Aldo came out and said, 'There's no way in hell I'm fighting Pettis,'" White said following Saturday's UFC 157 post-event press conference. "He's absolutely refusing to fight Pettis – doesn't think he deserves the shot."
USA TODAY Sports and MMAjunkie.com earlier this month first reported the planned booking, which would see Pettis drop from 155 pounds to face the featherweight champ. At the time, White said both fighters had verbally agreed to the contest.
However, White said Aldo's manager, Andre Pederneiras, approached him at this past weekend's UFC on FUEL TV 7 event to ask for a different arrangement.
"Andre Pederneiras was in England and he sat down with me and Lorenzo (Fertitta) and was like, 'We don't think he deserves it,'" White explained. "What do you mean you don't think he deserves it? 'Well, he might be the No. 1 guy at 155, but how does that make him the No. 1 guy (at 145)?' Are you out of your f---ing mind? Are you serious? Did you seriously just ask me that question?
"It's like if Aldo wanted to move up to 155, are we going to say he's not the No. 1 contender? What are you talking about?"
Despite the concerns from Aldo's camp, White said he and the UFC are moving forward with plans for the matchup, which is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 3 at a location still to be determined. Of course, that might be difficult if the featherweight champ doesn't show up with his belt.
Or if he doesn't show up, maybe the belt won't actually be an issue.
"F---in' right, [Aldo] is gonna fight Pettis," White said. " That fight's on. He's going to fight Pettis, or he's not going to like how this is going to turn out."
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