If Jose Aldo Moves Up, “What Makes Sense is Cub Swanson vs. Chad Mendes” for Featherweight Title

While everyone’s focus has been on UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo vacating his belt to move up to 155 pounds to challenge current champion Anthony Pettis, there’s another matter that needs to be addressed.

If and when Aldo makes the move, who gets the shot at his vacated belt?

Well, UFC president Dana White has an answer for that.

“It would probably be – listen, I’m not making a fight announcement here or anything – but what would make sense is Cub Swanson and Chad Mendes would probably be fighting for that title, and Pettis and Aldo would fight at 155,” said White on Wednesday night’s Fox Sports Live.

Mendes is currently the UFC’s No. 1 ranked featherweight, while Swanson is ranked No. 4. The fight makes sense, even though Frankie Edgar and Ricardo Lamas currently hold the second and third spots, respectively.

Edgar and Lamas each has a recent loss to Aldo. The champion has defeated Mendes and Swanson, as well, but they are both currently riding extended winning streaks.

Mendes (16-1) lost to Aldo in early 2012, but has since won five consecutive fights, all but one via knockout.

Aldo defeated Swanson (20-5) when the two were still fighting in the WEC in 2009. Swanson is also on a five-fight winning streak, since his most recent loss.