Jose Aldo might not face Anthony Pettis in next fight, per Dana White
Anthony Pettis has been targeting a return to the UFC in July. Will that really be possible? He should find out next week.
Pettis is scheduled to meet with his doctor then, reports UFC Tonight' Ariel Helwani, and he'll get a better sense of his return timeline. The UFC lightweight champion is rehabbing right now from surgery to repair a torn PCL in his knee. Dr. Robert Klapper, UFC Tonight's resident sports medicine expert, said last month that a return in July would be very optimistic - it could take longer.
Pettis and UFC featherweight Jose Aldo have both verbally agreed to fighting each other, but the weight class is still being determined. Pettis is on record saying he would do it at 155, 145 or at a catchweight.
However, that anticipated fight might not be Aldo's next bout. UFC president Dana White told Helwani that there's a chance Aldo might take on someone else while he's waiting for Pettis to get back. It's still up in the air as to who that might be, but last week White said on FOX Sports Live that if Aldo went up to 155, a fight between Cub Swanson and Chad Mendes for the vacant 145-pound belt would make sense.
What happens next is contingent on Pettis' doctor's appointment next week.
