Former UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo is reportedly challenging UFC Bantamweight Champion Henry Cejudo for the gold at UFC 250, while Yoel Romero is reportedly set to face UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 248.
There have been some criticisms levied against the UFC for potentially putting the two bouts together, but UFC President Dana White says both title bouts are what the champions really wanted.
“A lot of people think Jose Aldo won. A lot of people think he didn’t. I told you guys the night of the fight, Henry Cejudo hit me up and said ‘Aldo won that fight, that was bullsh*t.’ He wants that fight,” White said during a UFC 246 media event (via Damon Martin of MMA Fighting). “Israel Adesanya wants to fight Yoel Romero. How does that make sense? It doesn’t make sense. You know what makes sense? Israel Adesanya’s such a bad ass he wants to fight the guy nobody wants to fight. First of all, [Paulo] Costa’s the guy he was supposed to fight is hurt but we could wait a couple more months and do that fight. He doesn’t want to wait. He wants to fight one of the baddest dudes ever in the history of the division. A guy nobody else wants to fight and feels that his legacy will not be fulfilled if he doesn’t fight him. That’s bad ass. I’m in.”
Aldo has gone winless thus far since dropping to bantamweight, while Romero comes into his title shot on a two fight losing streak.
White would also be the first to admit that both title fights do not really make much business sense.
“Does that make sense for me in any way shape or form for my business? No,” White said. “Is Yoel Romero the easiest dude in the world to deal with? No. And the list goes on and on but who gives a sh*t. That’s incredible. I’m in.”
UFC 248 is scheduled for Saturday, March 7 and UFC 250 is scheduled for Saturday, May 9.
