UFC
UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo readying for September return, Chad Mendes not waiting for title shot
May 23, 2011 - 11:30:04 PM UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo readying for September return, Chad Mendes not waiting for title shot

DISCUSS ALL THIS IN OUR NEW MMATORCH FORUM

...OH, ONE MORE THING - PLEASE BOOKMARK US & VISIT DAILY!

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

A report surfaced on Monday from HeavyMMA.com, stating that UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo had been forced out of a fight with Chad Mendes at UFC 133 in Philadelphia this August due to injury. However, according to a separate report from MMAJunkie.com, that is not entirely accurate.

According to Aldo's manager Ed Soares, Aldo has not withdrawn from a fight at all, as no bout agreements were ever sent out for this particular fight. Instead, Aldo is nursing some nagging issues, but will be ready to return in September.

The issue comes as Mendes doesn't have any desire to stay out of action until September, and plans on taking a fight on the August 6 event. According to Soares, UFC officials wanted the fight at UFC 133, but Aldo turned the date down and expected to get the fight later before Mendes decided against waiting for the title shot.

Mendes' manager Mike Roberts made made it clear as well that the fight was never signed, and that his client wasn't going to wait for the Champ.

"Chad is looking to fight Aug. 6, for sure," Roberts said. "We're not going to wait for Jose Aldo. Chad wants to fight. If Aldo can't fight, Chad will move on and fight somebody else."

"We never received a bout agreement. We were hoping to fight him then, but it doesn't appear that that's going to happen."

Penick's Analysis: It's a bummer that we won't see this fight next, as it would have been a fantastic title fight, but that doesn't mean Aldo's without valid and viable challengers. There are a couple fights taking place over the upcoming stretch of events that could provide a new challenger for him for a September fight, with Kenny Florian a likely choice should he defeat Diego Nunes and Dustin Poirier a definite possibility if he beats UFC newcomer Jason Young. Mendes will keep his spot in line as long as he doesn't lose a fight, and if he wins in August he'll likely fight the winner of Aldo's September fight.