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RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Jose Aldo believes it’s time for the UFC to make a decision about the future of the lightweight division.
The former featherweight champion, who is slated to rematch Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 218 on Dec. 2, spoke with reporters about the current state of the 155-pound division during a media day in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Conor McGregor won the lightweight title in Nov. 2016, but has yet to defend the gold since “The Notorious” spent the year of 2017 preparing for a boxing match with Floyd Mayweather. Tony Ferguson was crowned interim champion in the meantime.
“Thank God my division is moving. It would be bad if it was stuck, but my division is moving,” Aldo said. “It’s hard, right? Every athlete dreams of becoming champion, fighting for the title, and the guy is holding up the division. But it’s up to the UFC to make the decisions.
“The UFC needs to do what has to be done: you take the belt away or make him defend it. I think everyone is waiting for that.”
It’s highly unlikely that McGregor returns to action this year, and “Scarface” believes that even if The Notorious competes in an unification bout versus Ferguson next, there’s a chance he loses the UFC belt.
“Yes, this time is coming,” Aldo said, “He has to defend it, has to put his belt on the line in order to become champion. He only won the title. For me, Ferguson has great possibilities of becoming champion in the future.”
The former featherweight champion, who is slated to rematch Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 218 on Dec. 2, spoke with reporters about the current state of the 155-pound division during a media day in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Conor McGregor won the lightweight title in Nov. 2016, but has yet to defend the gold since “The Notorious” spent the year of 2017 preparing for a boxing match with Floyd Mayweather. Tony Ferguson was crowned interim champion in the meantime.
“Thank God my division is moving. It would be bad if it was stuck, but my division is moving,” Aldo said. “It’s hard, right? Every athlete dreams of becoming champion, fighting for the title, and the guy is holding up the division. But it’s up to the UFC to make the decisions.
“The UFC needs to do what has to be done: you take the belt away or make him defend it. I think everyone is waiting for that.”
It’s highly unlikely that McGregor returns to action this year, and “Scarface” believes that even if The Notorious competes in an unification bout versus Ferguson next, there’s a chance he loses the UFC belt.
“Yes, this time is coming,” Aldo said, “He has to defend it, has to put his belt on the line in order to become champion. He only won the title. For me, Ferguson has great possibilities of becoming champion in the future.”
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