Jose Aldo's manager wants Aldo vs. Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 237

MMAfighting.com

Many fighters have called out Jose Aldo right after his impressive UFC Fortaleza win over Renato Moicano last Saturday, and it appears that Alexander Volkanovski is the frontrunner for the spot.

The former UFC featherweight king is coming off TKO wins over Jeremy Stephens and Moicano, his first back-back-to-back finishes since 2009, while Volkanovski improved his winning streak to 16 with a second-round finish of Chad Mendes in December.

Aldo has made it pretty clear that he wants to hang up his gloves by the end of 2019, competing in all three UFC events that are planned for this year in Brazil. With UFC Fortaleza in the books, Aldo now turns his attention to UFC 237, scheduled for May 11.

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Aldo apologized to Volkanovski at the post-fight press conference when asked about his callout on social media, saying he wasn’t familiar with his name. However, his longtime coach and manager Andre Pederneiras said in an interview with Confraria da Porrada on Wednesday that “The Great” would be his ideal opponent for UFC 237.

”We wanted him to fight Alexander Volkanovski, the guy that knocked out Chad Mendes and who is the highest-ranked (fighter),” Pederneiras said. “Here’s the truth: we have the dream of fighting for the belt in our last fight, which is tough. There are only two ways for this to happen: Max Holloway moves up a division and vacates the belt, or we eliminate all the contenders.

”Moicano was the first, in our minds, and the second one would be Alexander Volkanovski, who is the fourth in the ranking today. I don’t believe Frankie Edgar (would be necessary), especially because he lost to Aldo.”

Prior to UFC Fortaleza, Pederneiras explained that he decided against headlining the event on Feb. 2, facing Moicano in a five-round bout, since a shot at the 145-pound belt wouldn’t be next for Aldo after losing twice to Holloway in 2017. By ending Volkanovski’s winning streak, Aldo would have a better chance of convincing the UFC to give him a shot at the gold in his retirement fight later this year.

”We already know we’re screwed,” Pederneiras said. “The only chance we have is this situation. Since we can’t play, we destroy the toy [laughs], deflate the ball. That’s the only chance we got, there’s no other way. Or let them put the No. 10 to fight for the belt.

”The only one Aldo hasn’t fought for the down to the No. 7 was (Brian) Ortega, but he just fought for the belt so they won’t put him to fight for the belt again. There’s no one else. If we get Alexander now, they will have to put the No. 8, No. 9 to fight for the belt because there will be no one else.”