It was revealed last week that former UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo will challenge Henry Cejudo for the UFC Bantamweight title at UFC 248. While the first-time match-up is an attractive bout in the eyes of many fans, Aldo enters the contest on a two-fight losing streak, and is ranking at eight in the bantamweight division. This means that Aldo is bypassing Marlon Moraes, Aljamain Sterling – who are ranked numbers #1 and #2 – along with five other fighters.
The same deal is with Yoel Romero, who will be challenging Israel Adesanya for the UFC Middleweight title at UFC 248, even though he’s currently ranked at #3 and is coming into the bout on a two-fight losing streak.
The UFC President has finally explained why both fighters are getting a title shot over the #1 ranked competitors for their respective division and he makes it clear that the champions ultimately picked their next fight inside the octagon (transcript coourtesy of
MMA Fighting):
“A lot of people think Jose Aldo won. A lot of people think he didn’t. I told you guys the night of the fight, Henry Cejudo hit me up and said ‘Aldo won that fight, that was bullsh*t.’ He wants that fight,” White said during a UFC 246 media event (via Damon Martin of MMA Fighting).
“Israel Adesanya wants to fight Yoel Romero. How does that make sense? It doesn’t make sense. You know what makes sense? Israel Adesanya’s such a bad ass he wants to fight the guy nobody wants to fight. First of all, [Paulo] Costa’s the guy he was supposed to fight is hurt but we could wait a couple more months and do that fight. He doesn’t want to wait. He wants to fight one of the baddest dudes ever in the history of the division. A guy nobody else wants to fight and feels that his legacy will not be fulfilled if he doesn’t fight him. That’s bad ass. I’m in.”
White even admits that the fight doesn’t make much sense business wise; however, the UFC President is on board with the two big championships matches:
“
Does that make sense for me in any way shape or form for my business? No,” White said.
“Is Yoel Romero the easiest dude in the world to deal with? No. And the list goes on and on but who gives a sh*t. That’s incredible. I’m in.”
UFC 248 is scheduled for Saturday, March 7 and UFC 250 is scheduled for Saturday, May 9.