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[dbader08]

A featherweight title fight between champion Jose Aldo (21-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) and challenger Erik Koch (13-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) will headline July's UFC 149 event in Calgary.

MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com) today confirmed the plans with multiple sources, who said bout agreements will soon be finalized.

At a recent press conference, UFC president Dana White suggested Aldo could be moved from UFC 149 to UFC 147 in Brazil, but a source close to the fighter told MMAjunkie.com the champ wouldn't be ready in time for the earlier date.

Instead, Aldo remains on the Canadian card, which takes place July 21 at Calgary's Scotiabank Saddledome. The main card airs on pay-per-view, and FX and Facebook are expected to carry the prelims.

Multiple reports recently have attached Koch's name with the Aldo title fight, though UFC 147 was considered the likely date. Just today, though, Globo reported Aldo would fight at UFC 149, not UFC 147, though a finalized opponent wasn't identified.

Officials announced Aldo as a UFC 149 participant during the kickoff press conference for the event this past month. However, when a middleweight title fight between champion Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen was moved from UFC 147 to UFC 148 this past week, White said the Brazilian-born Aldo could be moved to UFC 147 to fight in his home country. But he now remains on the UFC 149 lineup and looks to defend his belt for the second time on Canadian soil.

Aldo enters UFC 149 with a 14-fight win streak. Since ruling the WEC's featherweight division and moving over to the UFC, the well-rounded Brazilian has racked up title defenses over Mark Hominick (in Toronto at the record-breaking UFC 129 event), Kenny Florian and Chad Mendes. Overall, the 25-year-old is a remarkable 11-0 under the Zuffa banner.

Koch, meanwhile, competes for the first time since September, when he earned a dominant unanimous-decision victory over "The Ultimate Fighter 12" champion Jonathan Brookins at UFC Fight Night 25. The 23-year-old's only career loss came to recent UFC title challenger Chad Mendes at WEC 47. Since then, "New Breed" is 4-0, which included a first-round knockout of Raphael Assuncao at UFC 128 in his promotional debut.

Champ Jose Aldo vs. Erik Koch title fight headlines UFC 149 in Calgary | MMAjunkie.com

Not a big fan as I don't think Koch is ready yet, but this will allow Zombie and Poirer to determine a true #1 contender. It could also still be a great fight as Koch is a very good fighter (who will likely get alot better too, as he is so young), but I must take the supremely talented Aldo in this fight, as most others will.

[Flynnja]

Meh. How Koch got a title shot is beyond me.

[macewen]

I'm rather let down about this. I hate that Koch is main eventing anything...let alone a ppv/event I was hoping to attend

[NLRepublic]

Blah, not liking Koch getting the shot, I don't think he's earned it

Should be an exciting fight though, hopefully Aldo showcases

[Fedorlei Gomipierre]

If Joe Silva called me right now and said that his list of FW contenders just blew out his car window and he'd really appreciate a brief rundown of the top challengers at 145 to Jose Aldo, Koch is a damned FAR ways down this list.

1. Obviously Hioki- Ok, if he did turn this fight down, I can see him wanting to gain a little more traction and confidence prior to challenging Aldo, but it feels as though ZUFFA wasn't frothing at the bit to make this fight, hence why he isn't fighting for it.

2. Hold off to see the winner of Poirier/Zombie

3. Yuri Alcantara

4. Da Bronx Oliveira- I know he's got a bout coming up with Brookins, but he's a far more established name and entertaining as all hell. Again, another fight that probably draws more interest and excitement.

5. Honestly, bring in Crusher Kawajiri who's looked very good since his drop to FW would probably be the far more entertaining bout. It probably doesn't last too long, but as a wrestler with more recognition than Koch, I think he's a superior matchup.

Something tells me Dana was banking on Nunes pulling out the win over Siver and then rewarding him with the shot after the Hioki matchup fell through and when Nunes lost the razor close on, it put his options in quite a tizzy.

I know that Siver's only gotten one FW bout under his belt and he didn't make weight, but that fight has dynamite written all over it and the fight trailer would be ridiculous. He again, wouldn't be my first or even third choice, but Koch just doesn't have the name, nor the overall experience at this juncture to really be considered a legitmate challenge to the belt.

I just don't get this fight from a marketing standpoint, ranking standpoint, heck by almost ANY standpoint. I can appreciate that with Nunes, Bart, Roop and Grispi all coming off losses doesn't really give too many alternatives for VIABLE challengers, but this IMO, is a fucking goofy matchup.

Waste of Aldo's time.

[Sakara=Excitement]

But Kevo said it wasn't true because Bloodyelbow reported it dammit!

[Fedorlei Gomipierre]

Originally Posted by Sakara=Excitement

But Kevo said it wasn't true because Bloodyelbow reported it dammit!

I too didn't think it was true. BE is pretty suspect at times and this matchup is fucking wonky, almost too much to believe as legit.

[lwbrewer]

Koch best chance is Aldo serously over looks him and gets caught. May not be to far fetched either

[MickeyKnox]

I don't understand how Koch is getting the shot but okay?

Koch is a good fighter but he is not ready for Aldo, IMO. He's already unconscious.

[goodtimes]

I understand they just want to keep Aldo busy, but this is an awful fight for Koch. I don't think his managers should let him take this fight now, he looked pretty crappy against Brookins who Aldo destroyed, and Mendes beat Koch who is another guy Aldo destroyed.