Jose Aldo wants to fight TJ Dillashaw on the same card as Sterling vs. Yan
Jose Aldo has a fight right in front of him but that isn’t stopping him from looking into the future.
Aldo will be facing off against Rob Font in the main event of this weekend’s UFC Vegas 44. That fight will pit two top-five fighters against each other, but still might not be a title eliminator fight. The top of the bantamweight division is log-jammed at the moment. With champion Aljamain Sterling out for a bit, this could open up a favorable opportunity for Aldo.
He has mentioned before his desire to face former champion, TJ Dillashaw. That was a name he has had on the tip of his tongue since dropping down from featherweight. Now with Petr Yan holding the interim belt, he gets the next crack at Sterling, leaving Dillashaw wide open. Aldo wants to face him next and perhaps put on a show right before the bantamweight title fight. Aldo explained while speaking with MMA Fighting’s Portuguese-language podcast Trocação Franca.
“It might happen. The fact Sterling is injured and we don’t know when he’s coming back, that (Dillashaw fight) could indeed happen in the future,” Aldo said (transcribed by MMA Mania). Dillashaw and I, I don’t know if right now or in the near future, we want this fight. It’s a great fight for both of us, the UFC and the fans, so we’d all agree. I don’t know if it could be on the same card (as Sterling vs. Yan 2). If it is, I’ll be ready. My history is rich, so is his, and we need to make this fight.”
Since making the drop down to 135 pounds, Aldo has had mixed results. He is now on a two-fight winning streak and a win over Font on Saturday could make a great case for himself in title shot talk. Dillashaw is currently healing up from an injury himself and that is perhaps the reason he wasn’t in line for the interim title shot. This proposal by Aldo seems to be the next best option for Dillashaw while he is on the outside looking in.
