Dana White: Petr Yan vs. Jose Aldo Targeted for Vacant UFC Bantamweight Title

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A clash between Petr Yan and Jose Aldo is in the works to decide the UFC’s new bantamweight champion.

UFC president Dana White revealed the news during an appearance on SportsCenter Wednesday.

“My people are probably gonna kill me for this one,” White said. “[Henry] Cejudo has retired. So we’re talking right now about Petr Yan vs. Jose Aldo for the vacant title. We don’t have a date or a place set for that, but that’s the fight we’re looking at right now.”

Cejudo announced his retirement following a victory over Dominick Cruz in the UFC 249 co-main event on May 9. While many speculated that it was a negotiating ploy, the promotion removed him from its bantamweight rankings over the weekend, signaling that the Olympic gold medalist had vacated the crown.

While there is no location confirmed for Yan vs. Aldo, it is likely that the bout will take place on “Fight Island.” The COVID-19 pandemic has restricted international travel, and the venue was designed to accommodate fighters who are unable to enter the United States.

Yan has lost just once in 15 professional fights and is 6-0 in UFC competition. In his last outing, “No Mercy” knocked out Urijah Faber in the third round at UFC 245, adding “The California Kid” to a resume that also includes wins over Jimmie Rivera and John Dodson.

Widely regarded as the best featherweight of all time, Aldo made his 135-pound debut at UFC 245, where he dropped a contentious split verdict to former title challenger Marlon Moraes. After that loss, Cejudo requested a matchup with the Nova Uniao star, and the fight was booked for Sao Paulo, Brazil, in May before the pandemic forced the UFC to restructure its event schedule.