White: Pettis has advantage over Aldo at 145
Immediately after armbarring Benson Henderson, Anthony Pettis called out UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo. Jose Aldo, we’ve got some unfinished business,”…
Immediately after armbarring Benson Henderson, Anthony Pettis called out UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo.
Jose Aldo, we’ve got some unfinished business,” said Pettis in the cage. “Your belt or my belt.”
The ‘unfinished business’ line refers to a fight between Pettis and Aldo that had been scheduled for UFC 163 on August 3rd, that was scrapped when Pettis hurt his knee. The ‘your belt or my belt’ refers to Pettis’ willingness to drop to 145 and SuperFight Aldo for the featherweight title, or welcome Aldo for a shot at his lightweight title.
Aldo’s mananger, Nova Uniao founder Andre Pederneiras, immediately took to Twitter, and accepted the challenge, at 145, not 155.
However, UFC president Dana White, while respectful of Pederneiras, said he thought the manager put his fighter at a psychological disadvantage.
This is what drives me crazy about managers, and I love him, he’s a good guy,” said White of Pedereiras following the UFC 164 post-fight press conference. “I’ve known Andre for years, but when you come out and make a statement like that, you make it look like your guy is afraid of him. You make it look like Aldo is afraid, and that might not be Aldo’s same opinion.”
It might be his manager saying, ‘This is what I want to happen here,’ but it makes it look like he’s afraid of Anthony Pettis, which already gives Anthony Pettis an advantage.
That is a sick fight. Here’s the thing, you can tell 100 percent Anthony Pettis is willing to go anywhere it takes. I know that Jose’s coach is saying, ‘Hey, he can come down here at 145,’ because they think it’ll be at a disadvantage [for Pettis], whereas I actually think [Pettis would] be at a huge advantage at 145, where he’s big, strong.”
I think you’re gonna see Pettis more willing to go where the fight can happen.
Either way, if Aldo goes to Pettis or Pettis goes to Aldo, they’re gonna fight.
Exactly when the fight will happen is unknown, pending the results of an MRI on Pettis’ knee, which he reported ‘popped’ during the fight.