UFC 156′s Jose Aldo: Talking Your Way to a Title is Not Right

UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo

Aldo Avid on Fighters Earning Title Shots Fairly

You know the controversy concerning number one contenders in the UFC has reached new levels when even the soft-spoken featherweight champion feels the need to voice his opinion on the subject.

Many fighters and fans believe that the entire promotion is losing its honorable reputation because matchmakers are now in the habit of awarding title shots to people who are the best trash-talkers, not fighters, in their division.

Several UFC superstars (the most recent being Vitor Belfort) have publicly expressed their distaste for the idea of a competitor earning a match with a champion for any other reason than an admirable streak of consecutive victories over top-tier fighters.

The latest to agree is Jose Aldo, who will defend the 145 lb. crown against former lightweight champion Frankie "The Answer" Edgar at UFC 156 on February 2nd. Aldo, who is never one to talk or create any sort of drama, gave his thoughts on undeserving number one contenders on (Jan. 21st) UFC 156 media conference call:

"Fighters calling people out or trash talking doesn't bother me. I don't think it's correct. Each person has a way to promote a fight to get an opportunity for their career. I don't like it, but it doesn't make me mad. Everybody should go up there and fight and go through opponents and earn their opportunity at the title, not talk their way to the title."

Aldo has had only had good things to say about his upcoming opponent, who, like Nick Diaz and Chael Sonnen, is receiving a title shot even though he lost his last fight.

However, it is quite likely that the reason Aldo still believes Edgar is a worthy challenger is because he shares the overwhelming opinion that it was Frankie and not Benson Henderson who should have won the judge's decision at UFC 150.

This doesn't mean that Aldo wouldn't reject the opportunity to face someone who had only garnered attention by the use of trash-talk. Unfortunately for Jose, those might be the only guys left to worry about after he defeats every formidable threat in the featherweight division.

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