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Should the UFC book Anthony Pettis against Jose Aldo if he wants to drop down, or should Ricardo Lamas get the next shot at the Featherweight Championship, and why?
Ed. note: This question was posed prior to the UFC actually booking Pettis against Aldo this week.
RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
I fail to see the motivation for Pettis to want to drop to 145, other than the possible thought that he knows he'd have to wait until August or September to get a shot at Ben Henderson or Gilbert Melendez, but Jose Aldo is going to be ready in May or June. What exactly does it say about the featherweight division if they keep giving immediate title shots to lightweights who drop down? I understand that Pettis only cuts a couple of pounds to make 155, but if he wanted to be a featherweight, he's had years to make that decision. I can't blame the guy for exploiting the current situation and striking whilst the iron is hot, and it may very well be in both his and the UFC's best interests to let him fight Aldo next. But all that said, I'd book Aldo vs. Lamas and Henderson vs. Pettis.
FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
There's a part of me that says yes, but another part that says no. It would be exciting to see Pettis fight Aldo, but both Lamas and Chan Sung Jung would be very deserving contenders as well. I suppose you could have Chan Sung and Lamas fight, with the winner facing the winner of Aldo vs. Pettis. I couldn't complain too much about that because Pettis is a very deserving lightweight contender. I think that Aldo vs. Pettis would be the more marketable fight, so they'll probably go with that.
YANNI KYRIACOS, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
I love the 'should' questions, as it makes us UFC overlords without any of the accountability. I briefly touched on the matter in the previous roundtable: Whilst the question isn't explicitly asking me to address it as such, I don't believe it is a good move for Pettis for a few reasons.
1) He doesn't have to. He has not absorbed the damage Frankie Edgar has, and therefore making it unsafe in the long term
2) He doesn't have to. He is as guaranteed as guaranteed gets, in being next in line for a Lightweight title shot
3) Better the devil you know #1; lightweight. The cut, speed, power, agility and endurance.
4) Better the devil you know #2; The Champ; he has already beaten Ben Henderson, understands his game well, whilst holding a mental edge
5) Worst Case Scenario; stays at lightweight and loses to Benson (no way it isn't going to a decision), which sets up a trilogy. Goes to Featherweight and loses to Aldo, and in the process loses his Lightweight title shot (he aint no Chael Sonnen)
Back to the actual question though; should the UFC book the fight? Absolutely. It will be a barn burner and ensure the talent pools between Featherweight and Lightweight divisions are closer to even.
Since neither are as marketable as Showtime, but not far off, Ricardo Lamas and TKZ can have themselves a Co-Main Event show down to determine the next challenger... unless Melendez decides to drop to featherweight after losing to Benson, or Cub Swanson flying wheelkick's Dustin Poirier's face into his own title contention. Ah, the 'shoulds'...
TONY BECERRA, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Yes. Why? Simple, it will SELL! Don't get me wrong, Ricardo Lamas is a top contender and looked impressive against Erik Koch, but I don't see the UFC passing on another potential "Superfight" opportunity. Whether Anthony Pettis is next in line against Jose Aldo remains to be seen. Things will be clearer after the Henderson-Melendez fight in April.
ERIC HOBAUGH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
This fight should happen as soon as possible. This is two of the best strikers on the planet going at and this will not only sell extraordinarily well, but it should be a fight that lives up to the hype. I will be counting the days till this one happens. The UFC should and will book this fight because it is the most exciting fight out there today.
DAN MOORE, MMATORCH UK CONTRIBUTOR
On the one hand, I love the sound of Jose Aldo vs. Anthony Pettis, who doesn't? Then I keep referring back to my general hatred for fighters moving divisions, without good reason. Let's be honest, Pettis doesn't have a good enough reason to drop down. After his win over Cerrone, he's all but guaranteed a title shot against the winner of Henderson vs. Melendez.
How on earth does it make sense for him to move weight classes. Six months ago yes, but not now. He beat Henderson before for christ sakes, and he'll have a fantastic chance of doing it again. If he drops down to face Aldo, he's going into the unknown. He's never fought at 145 lbs and he'd end up going straight into a fight with one of the best fighters on the planet.
On top of that, if I was Ricardo Lamas, The Korean Zombie, or even the winner of the forthcoming Cub Swanson vs. Dustin Poirier fight, i'd be p***** off. They've just watched one lightweight move down and fight for the title without ever fighting at 145 lbs. To watch another man do the same, and one who's not been a former UFC champion, would be a bitter pill to swallow. I hope it's just publicity and the UFC turn down his suggestion.
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Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/roundtables/article_15861.shtml
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