Andre Pederneiras Doesn’t Expect T.J. Dillashaw to Accept Jose Aldo’s Challenge

Shortly after he defeated Pedro Munhoz via unanimous decision at UFC 265 in arguably his best performance as a bantamweight, Jose Aldo suggested a fight with ex-champ T.J. Dillashaw to decide the division’s next No. 1 contender.

Andre Pederneiras, the Nova Uniao leader who serves as Aldo’s trainer, mentor and manager, approves of his fighter’s attitude but told Sherdog.com that he doesn’t believe a showdown with Dillashaw is likely. Dillashaw is coming off a split-decision triumph against Cory Sandhagen in the UFC on ESPN 27 main event in his first bout in more than two years.

"I would love for T.J. to say yes, but if I were his manager, right after he beat the No. 2 of the division, I would pressure the UFC to give him an immediate title shot and avoid a tough opponent like Aldo,” Pederneiras said. “But I hope I'm wrong and T.J. accepts the call to face him by December as Aldo suggested. I have no doubt that this clash of former champions would be monumental.”

Pederneiras revealed that Aldo will spend the next three weeks on vacation with his family at his Orlando home before returning to Brazil to help Johnny Eduardo and Leonardo Santos prepare for their Oct. 2 bouts in Las Vegas.

Pederneiras also confirmed that Rafael dos Anjos will be holding his camp for UFC 265 foe Islam Makhachev at Nova Uniao. The trainer disagreed with a recent statement from Roan Carneiro of ATT Atlanta that he made a mistake in not bringing in a Division I-caliber wrestler to help ex-Bellator champ Douglas Lima prepare for his recent fight against Yaroslav Amosov. Lima would go on to lose a unanimous decision to Amosov at Bellator 260.

Bringing in a high-level wrestler isn’t necessarily something Pederneiras has planned for dos Anjos’ camp.

"I dont see Khabib and Makhachev as top wrestlers,” he said. “Their judo and sambo takedown techniques are what make them special, even against wrestlers. They use much more ‘ashi’ throws (like Deashi Baraia, Kouchi Gari and Ouchi Gari) than doubles and singles.

“The other day I saw on the internet a takedown sparring sessions between Makhachev and [Daniel] Cormier where the Russian made DC fall on his butt using a Kouchi Gari. So instead of bringing Division I wrestlers, I´ll bring Division I judo fighters to help RDA in this camp.”