D. Mandel/Sherdog.com
LAS VEGAS -- Reigning World Extreme Cagefighting featherweight champion Jose Aldo does not feel slighted by the fact that his first title defense will take place in his opponent’s hometown.
Aldo will collide with former titleholder and promotional poster boy Urijah Faber at WEC 48 “Aldo vs. Faber,” the company’s first-ever pay-per-view event, on April 24 at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, Calif. The Brazilian welcomes the challenge of competing in a hostile environment.
“There’s no pressure at all,” Aldo said. “There could be a million people there cheering for Urijah. The only people I’m going to be listening to are in my corner. I’ve fought three times in Sacramento. I know it’s Faber’s hometown, but I feel at home there, too.”
Nearing the end of a 30-day stint in the United States, Aldo spent the last month training at Blackhouse MMA in Los Angeles. The 23-year-old also trained briefly with famed boxing coach Freddie Roach but plans to return to his native Brazil on Monday, when he will begin formulating his game plan for Faber with Nova Uniao founder Andre Pederneiras.
“It was great training [in America], a lot of new opportunities,” Aldo said. “My team’s down there [in Brazil]. I need to go down there and talk about strategies and a game plan. Those are the people I like to be around. I like having that team atmosphere. There are tons of guys down there at Nova Uniao at my weight.”
The ever-confident Faber, who submitted Raphael Assuncao with a rear-naked choke in January, admits to a certain level of anticipation in matching up with one of the few martial artists who can test him athletically.
“I’m excited about it. It’s a challenge,” Faber said. “You wait for fights like this. I’d fight it in my backyard with my girl watching. It’s a good thing that I’m older and experienced but not old and out of my prime. I think I have more tools on my side. I’m going against a guy who I have no doubt is going to be a huge name in this sport for a long time, and I’m going to get a win.”
At the forefront of the push to move the WEC onto pay-per-view, Faber concedes he was caught off guard by the official announcement.
“It kind of snuck up on me,” he said. “When you’re in a situation like I am, you have to focus on the fact that you’re going against a guy who’s trying to kill you. All I did was focus on that.”
Just six fights into his meteoric rise through the WEC, Aldo sits alone atop the 145-pound weight class. He understands the opportunity being placed before him.
“I’m glad to be in the position I’m in,” he said. “I’m going in there to do my job. My goal is to keep that belt. I worked hard for it. Every athlete’s dream is to be recognized. It just motivates me to go back to Brazil and train even harder. I want to carry the flag for my team. Urijah wants to take my dream, wants to take my belt, and I’m not going to let that happen.”
