Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight champion Jose Aldo is looking to return to the Octagon in March.
Aldo was the last featherweight champion in the history of the World Extreme Cagefighting organization. When the UFC absorbed the WEC, Aldo was named the first UFC featherweight champion.
UFC president Dana White presented Aldo his UFC belt prior to UFC 123, which took place on Nov. 20, 2010. Aldo’s first defense of his title was scheduled for Jan. 1, 2011 against Josh Grispi at UFC 125.
Three days after White handed him the UFC strap, Aldo was forced to withdraw from the Grispi fight due to a compacted vertebrae. Sherdog spoke to Aldo’s coach, Andre Pederneiras at the time of the injury. “He has a cervical disc injury and the doctor told him to stop his training for one month, to start the rehabilitation,” Pederneiras reported.
Aldo recently spoke to Tatame and said, “I believe that within a month I’ll be 100 percent. I believe that in March I’ll be ready to defend my belt for the first time, but I’m still only doing physiotherapy.”
At this point, there has been no indication as to whom Aldo will face in his first title defense.
Grispi, who was considered the No. 1 contender, was dominated by the previously unheralded Dustin Poirier at UFC 125; with that defeat Grispi’s stock will surely plummet.
A glance at the Sherdog rankings is no real help in ascertaining Aldo’s opponent for his first title defense.
The No. 3-ranked Manny Gamburyan was knocked out by Aldo in Sept. 2010. Former WEC champion Mike Brown was unimpressive in a loss to Diego Nunes at UFC 125. Two other possible opponents Michihiro Omigawa and Chad Mendes are scheduled to meet at UFC 126 in Feb. Mark Hominick, another contender, will face George Roop at UFC “Fight for The Troops 2” on Jan. 22.
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