Jose Aldo has become my new favorite UFC fighter. After months of ridiculous UFC championship fights Aldo has become the first fighter to put an end to this farce and Dana White is not a happy man.
[adinserter block=”1″]Somewhere over the last year the UFC began sacrificing credibility for entertainment in regards to their championship fights. At one time the only way a fighter could earn a title fight in the UFC is by becoming the number one contender. In 2013 all it takes is a tweet and a text and anyone can get a title shot. Finally one champion has had enough.
UFC president Dana White revealed over the weekend that featherweight champion Jose Aldo is refusing to defend his title against Anthony Pettis. Pettis mind you who hasn’t fought in the division, was granted a title fight after he sent Dana White a text after Aldo’s last fight asking for a title fight. Somehow Pettis immediately became the top contender in the eyes of the UFC, but not in the eyes of the champion.
“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.”
I say bravo Jose Aldo! It is about time one of these UFC champions stood up like champions and said no to these showtime fights in favor of credible title fights. Anderson Silva, Georges St-Pierre, Jon Jones, Ben Henderson, and even Aldo have sacrificed credibility for business over the last several months, leaving rightful top contenders in the dust. Finally Aldo has had enough.
Fighters coming off of losses or guys who haven’t even fought in the division are getting more title fights in the UFC than ever before. I certainly understand that the UFC is a business and the number one contender isn’t always going to get the title shot. However, these showtime title fights have become an epidemic where credible title fights are becoming the minority and not the norm.
How many more times are guys like Dan Henderson, Pettis (at lightweight), Ricardo Lamas, Johny Hendricks going to take backseats to fighters who have jumped ahead of them due to anything but their record? The window of a number one contender is short and can close at anytime, as Hendo just found out at UFC 157. Yet these top contenders are expected to keep fighting and fighting for what? These undeserving title fights have gotten completely ridiculous!
Ironically Aldo is coming off a fight where he just fought a guy who had not fought in his division, Frankie Edgar. The difference there is that Edgar was stepping in for an injured fighter as a replacement. It wasn’t right but I have no problem with guys getting undeserving title fights as last minute replacements. The show must go on. But this is a much different situation and I agree with Aldo 100%.
Dana White is talking a big game right now. According to Ariel Helwani, White is already making threats against Aldo.
“Dana said Aldo will fight Pettis or he’s not going to like the way this turns out. He’s absolutely refusing right now.”
[adinserter block=”2″]What can Dana do? Strip him of the title for not fighting a guy who hasn’t fought in the division? White’s threats are laughable. I have read reports that indicate Aldo would fight Pettis, just not for the title. This is not a case of someone that is scared. This is a case of a guy that wants to be tested and truly fight the best. I say kudos to Jose Aldo.
It’s a shame more UFC champions don’t feel the same way.
[amazon_link id=”B0090EDEQE” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]UFC: Ultimate Fight Collection 2012[/amazon_link]
UFC shirts and videos on Amazon.com
Eric firstly really enjoyed this article and this type of article needed to be put out there. But, I'm curious how Ben Henderson has sacrificed credibility over the last few months? Despite what side you are on in the two Edgar fights they were justifiable. He fought and decimated Nate Diaz who was on the hottest streak next to Pettis in the 155 division and at the time was the legit #1 contender in the UFC's 155 class. He is now slated in a fight with Gilbert Melendez the Strikeforce 155 champion and is a legitimate challenger to Henderson. A fight that fans wanted before Zuffa finally put Strikeforce down. And is one of the true undisputed fights you can make given the contracts that tie up many of the other top 10 fighters and champions not under the Zuffa umbrella.
Pettis would be a good fight with Aldo due to there styles. Both are quick with great stand up and there jujitsu is excellent as well; the problem is who else fights Aldo that would be a good fight. A huge problem in the ufc is almost all the champs have either blasted everyone or they fight someone who they have beat already. What I am getting at is who else should he fight; other than pettis I can’t think of anyone; and don’t tell me Ricardo lamas would b better
You do make a great point. I definitely won't tell you that Lamas would be a better fight but he is certainly more deserving.
A true fighter ;champ or not should fight whoever calls him out or whoever is next in line. Fighters that refuse or don’t want that fight should get a new job because the term fighter doesn’t apply to them anymore; and in my eyes it makes u look weak and scared
I see where you are coming from and I have received a lot of the same feedback from readers. I just think there comes a time where a champion needs to put a stop to this. Is Anthony Pettis really the best competition? Who knows, he hasnt even fought in the division.