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White: Aldo-Pettis fight is on

ESPN staff
February 26, 2013
Jose Aldo, left, has backed down from insisting that he will not fight Anthony Pettis © Getty Images
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UFC president Dana White has read the riot act to featherweight champion Jose Aldo and the Brazilian has now accepted a fight with Anthony Pettis.

Aldo initially refused to fight Pettis because he did not feel the lightweight No. 1 contender deserved to drop down and get an instant shot at featherweight.

However the fight is now on and will take place on August 3 at an unconfirmed time and venue.

White was furious at Aldo's refusal, at first, to take the fight and, perhaps as a sweetener to the deal, has granted him a future lightweight title shot if he wins.

"The Aldo-Pettis fight is done," said White. "The fight is on. The fight is done, in August."

But after UFC 157 on Saturday, White had originally said: "Andre Pederneiras [Aldo's manager] was in England and sat down with me and Lorenzo (Fertitta) and said we don't think he deserves it. Well, he might be the No. 1 guy at 155 [pounds], but how does that make him the number one [at 145 pounds]?

"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?"

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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