There has been loads of talk about the future of featherweight supernova Jose Aldo after he demolished another overmatched 145lb opponent (in this case, Manny Gamburyan) a few weeks ago. Most of the talk revolves around the 24-year-old’s need to leave the WEC, gain 10 pounds and join the “major leagues” – the UFC lightweight division. It is thought that Aldo has no further challenges awaiting him in the featherweight division and the only way for him to continue his rise to MMA superstardom is to join the UFC. While all that is probably true, from my point of view, this is less of a question of Jose Aldo needing the UFC and more of a question of the UFC needing Jose Aldo.
Why does a billion dollar corporation like the UFC need a 5’7″, 145lb kid? Simple – star power. Take a look at the current state of the UFC’s lightweight division. Do you see a star among the ranks that can successfully headline a pay-per-view (i.e. make the company loads of money). The BJ Penn Puzzle has appeared to be solved, at least by Frankie Edgar, and Penn’s next fight is at 170lbs. He might not fight at lightweight again, and if he does he might not be a star anymore, at least not based on performance. There goes your one, true lightweight star. Currrent champ Edgar is an exciting guy to watch, but he’s not exactly a dynamic personality and the UFC will be hard-pressed to sell any PPVs based on his name alone (even his two headlining events against Penn drew less than average). Top challenger Gray Maynard might consider himself a bit of a trash-talker now, but his “lay and pray” style is as boring as watching paint dry and he doesn’t finish fights (eight of his 11 pro matches have gone the distance). The only guys at 155 that do have star power have come up short when the chips have been down in the UFC (I’m looking at you Kenny Florian, Clay Guida, Takanori Gomi and Joe Stevenson). So, unless one of those guys steps their game up, or the UFC pulls off a coup and steals Gilbert Melendez and/or Shinya Aoki away from rival organizations, their lightweight division is in serious trouble.
Which brings us to Jose Aldo. Plain and simple, the UFC needs Aldo, and they need him now. Sure he is only 24, but fighters careers can end at the blink of an eye (or, rather, at the impact of a hard overhand right), and you never do know when they’re due for that career-ending nosedive. So strike while the iron is hot. Aldo will supply the UFC with one of the most exciting and talented fighters on the planet, regardless of weight class. And he wants to fight Frankie Edgar and the fans want to see it. Make it happen, Zuffa – Aldo could make your 155lb weight class viable for the next five to 10 years. And while you’re at it, it’s time to end the WEC’s lightweight division and bring the best fighters from there into the UFC’s lightweight ranks, also. Fighters like Ben Henderson and Donald Cerrone would look mighty good in the Octagon.
So, my fellow citizens of the MMA world: ask not what the UFC can do for Jose Aldo – ask what Jose Aldo can do for the UFC.
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