Dana White Doesn’t “Hate” Idea of Giving Jose Aldo a Title Shot, Following Controversial Loss

Jose Aldo may have officially, lost his bantamweight debut at UFC 245, but Dana White says he’s not opposed to handing the former featherweight king a title shot.

Henry Cejudo reportedly wants to fight Aldo next

After extensive speculation about whether Aldo would make 135, and how he would perform, the star brought it against Marlon Moraes on Saturday. The fight was very competitive, but after 15 minutes, Moraes was awarded the split decision win.

The decision was met with mixed reactions, as some people scored it for Aldo. Overall, Moraes landed more significant strikes than Aldo, by a 69 to 68 margin. Aldo, however, landed more strikes overall: 63 to 59. Of course, it’s important to remember that fights are scored by rounds, not overall.

Well, while talking about the bout during the post-fight presser, White reported the following (quotes via MMA Junkie):

“Henry Cejudo texted me tonight and said, ‘That’s bull(expletive). He didn’t lose that fight. He won that fight, and I want to treat him like he did,’” White said. “He wants to fight Jose Aldo.”

“I don’t hate it. I don’t hate it,” White said. “Cejudo is the man right now. If you look at what Cejudo has accomplished, if he says, ‘I want Jose Aldo. I think Jose Aldo won’ … I think Jose Aldo won the fight. Most of the room thought he won. If he wants Jose Aldo next, we could do it. I don’t have a problem with it. I’m sure people would want to see it.”

Could Aldo really receive a title shot?

White also said he scored the fight for Aldo, and if Cejudo really wants the bout, then you never know. But, as history tells us, often post-fight narratives shift and change over time. In other words, by say, next week, there will likely be far fewer people talking about the decision. In fact, after more people rewatch the bout, the debate over the scoring could be minimized too.

Finally, there are other options for Cejudo, in terms of opponents who are coming off wins. Aljamain Sterling is knocking on the title shot door, and Petr Yan took out Urijah Faber in emphatic fashion on Saturday. If Cory Sandhagen records another big victory, or if Frankie Edgar still ends up moving to 135, those are other options too.