Jose Aldo Announces Fight with Max Holloway at UFC 208

UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo has confirmed he will face Max Holloway at UFC 208 on Feb. 11.

Holloway beat Anthony Pettis to clinch the interim belt at UFC 206 and made it clear afterward he was ready to fight the Brazilian. Speaking to the press in Brazil on Monday (h/t Guilherme Cruz of MMA Fighting) Aldo suggested a date has already been set for the aforementioned Brooklyn showpiece.

"He’s saying 'where's Aldo?', you have to talk to the UFC," said the champion. "About the fight in February, I already knew that, I only didn't know who I would fight. It was between him and Pettis, whoever won the fight. It’s not something new. This fight will happen on Feb. 11."

Given the qualities of both men, MMA Fighting’s Shaheen Al-Shatti doesn’t think this will be one to miss:

Indeed, Holloway continued his brilliant recent form with a win over Pettis on Saturday night, stopping his opponent in the third round after a dominant display. The victory was Holloway’s 10th in succession in the UFC, with his previous defeat coming against former champion Conor McGregor in 2013.

Following the win, the 25-year-old made it clear who he wants to go up against next.

“I told you guys earlier in the week that if I won I'd be looking for one man,” he said, per Peter Carroll of the MailOnline. “[Aldo], meet me in Brooklyn in February. Let's get the f-----g real one.”

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Holloway has established himself as one of the top featherweight fighters in the UFC with his recent displays, and Aldo would be tested significantly if the two men face off. John Kavanagh, who coaches McGregor, thinks the interim champion would get the better of the veteran:

Aldo suffered a shock loss to McGregor last year, losing his title after being knocked out after just 13 seconds; it was a belt the Irishman was recently stripped of, as he beat Eddie Alvarez to clinch the lightweight strap.

Despite that shuddering loss, Aldo offered a reminder why many consider him to be one of the greatest featherweights of all time, dominating Frankie Edgar to win the interim title at UFC 200.

The featherweight division has been under scrutiny recently after McGregor was stripped of the belt. But Holloway’s progression and recent run of wins has breathed fresh life back into the 145-pound class, and a bout with a star like Aldo will get pulses racing among the MMA fanbase.