According to Combate, the UFC is zeroing in on a controversial title fight between Henry Cejudo, and Jose Aldo. The question is, why?
Henry Cejudo has been out of action since his championship-winning effort over Marlon Moraes at UFC 238 last June due to injury. The win solidified Cejudo as a two-weight world champion, having also saved the flyweight division by defeating TJ Dillashaw at the beginning of 2019. He would up end relinquishing his flyweight title due to inactivity. However, it appears that he will back in action soon to defend his bantamweight strap according to the Brazilian MMA website Combate. Combate reported that the UFC is looking at Cejudo’s first title defense to be in Brazil against former featherweight champion Jose Aldo at UFC 250.
That initial report by Combate was later confirmed by Dana White. White said in a comment to ESPN: “I told you guys at the press conference after that fight, this is the fight Henry Cejudo wants. I thought, personally, Jose Aldo won that fight, but either way, it was that close. Jose wanted this fight. Cejudo wanted the fight. And who wouldn’t want to see that fight?”
Aldo is coming off of back to back losses to current UFC featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski, and the previously mentioned Moraes, however many did see Aldo winning that latter fight. Despite that, he would lose the fight via split-decision to Moraes in what was his bantamweight debut. Despite Aldo losing, Cejudo began calling out the former champion, and Dana White seemingly approved of the fight at the UFC 245 post-fight press conference. Aldo is currently ranked #8 in the UFC’s bantamweight division and hasn’t won a fight since February of 2019.
The fight, if it is to be made, will be a controversial one for many reasons. Aside from Aldo’s current losing streak, the fact is that bantamweight is overflowing with solid contenders, with the likes of Petr Yan, Aljamain Sterling, and Cory Sandhagen waiting in the wings. Yan last fought on the same card as Aldo, earning a dominating knockout win over Urijah Faber.
Should the fight be confirmed, it would likely be the main event on May 9th, in Sau Paulo, Brazil. No other fights have currently been announced for the UFC 250 card.
