Jose Aldo calls out T.J. Dillashaw after UFC Vegas 17 win, former champion responds

After a disappointing three-fight losing streak, Jose Aldo got himself back in the win column with a victory over a very game opponent in Marlon Vera at UFC Vegas 17. The two-time featherweight champion led the striking exchanges in the first two rounds, then held back control through the entire final stanza.

Here’s an extract from our play-by-play:

Round 3 – Vera charges across, but Aldo deftly grabs him and spins to his back. He jumps up and he’s high, but Aldo drags him down and secures the body triangle. Vera looks to break it by getting heavy on the one side, but Aldo just rolls him back. Vera scoots and gets up. but human backpack. He doesn’t have anything so Aldo drags him back down. Body triangle has Vera without any options. 10-8 and 30-26 Aldo.

Many saw glimpses of vintage Scarface” with his leg kicks, along with the body shots he’s added into his game over the last few years. Now back with a W after a 22-month drought, the 34-year-old is ready to take on more of the division’s elite.

The next name on his list: T.J. Dillashaw.

“As far as the next fight, it would be Dillashaw,” Aldo told Daniel Cormier during the post-fight interview through his interpreter. “We’ve been talking about Dillashaw a lot.

“Hey Dana, make it happen.”

It didn’t take long for the former 135-pound champion to respond.

Dillashaw has been out of commission for the last 23 months because of a failed drug test in relation to his flyweight title fight against Henry Cejudo in early 2019. He will be eligible to return in January 2021.