Aldo and Pettis even posed for promotional photos for UFC Rio 4, but the fight was cancelled. Photo: UFC Brasil Disclosure
Dedé Pederneiras, leader of the Nova União academy and head coach of José Aldo, showed a preference for a fight between his pupil and Anthony Pettis at a combined weight, in the intermediate range between the limits of the featherweight and lightweight categories.
After beating Ricardo Lamas at UFC 169, Aldo saw the possibility of facing the lightweight champion once again come to light. The two already had a fight scheduled in August 2013, which would have won the featherweight title, but Pettis had to withdraw due to an injury. Now, the UFC board's intention is to make the fight happen at lightweight, with the North American's title at stake.
However, Pederneiras stated, in an interview with the program “Tá na Área”, on the subscription channel SporTV, that his desire is to ensure that the fight does not count for any of the belts.
“Now we have to discuss what category this fight will be in, whether it will be Pettis moving down a category, as he once said he would go down and ended up not fulfilling it due to injury, whether it will be Aldo moving up, or whether be in the middle of the way, which would be 68 kg. It would be interesting for both of them, keeping the belts and having a fight, which is what everyone wants to see. Nobody wants to see who will take the belt from who, they want to see the fight happen and the show for everyone. Aldo would force the climb a little, Pettis the descent a little and it would be good for everyone”, said the coach, who is also responsible for preparing Renan Barao, rooster champion.
Pettis is currently recovering from knee surgery at the beginning of the year. The expectation is that he will be able to return to fighting in the second half of 2014.
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