(Well that explains why he’s so vicious. Apparently Dede keeps Aldo chained up in the basement and feeds him nothing but raw meat between fights.)

Jose Aldo revealed to Tatame today that he turned down the opportunity to move up a weight class to take on UFC lightweight Kenny Florian in December.

According to Aldo, who has fought as a lightweight before, after talking it over with his managers, Ed Soares and Joinha and his coach, Andre Pederneiras they came to the conclusion that the timing wasn’t right for him to make the move up to 155, partially because it takes time to put on the mass required to move up a weight class and also because he doesn’t want to have to fight any of his Nova Uniao teammates.

"Actually I started in a lighter division, then changed to this one and tried the division above, but it’s up to [Andre] Dedé [Pederneiras] and he knows better," Aldo explained. "When I was fighting on the division above he thought there were many people of the gym on that division, and on my division there’s me and Marlon [Sandro] and I can play pretty hard on this one and I’m the champion, so I think it’s best for me to stay on this weight division."


Disagreeing with the assertion that he has run out of viable competition in the WEC’s featherweight division, Aldo says he still sees some challenges for himself in the Zuffa-owned promotion.

"I see some more challenges. Like I’ve said before, I’m just an employee, so I fight against whoever they tell me to. I can fight anybody, I respect all fighters, so there’re many fighters I can fight.," Aldo said. "Many people speculate about the possibility of changing divisions, but it’s up to Dedé, Joinha and Ed… Whatever they think is best for me, we’ll do."

Set to take on Mark Hominick in January at WEC 54, Aldo says he isn’t ruling out a move up to 155 in the near future.

"Well, for now I’m much focused on my belt defense, and if God helps me we’ll get a win," he explained. "But we do think about it, not only because of this fight, but also because of the previous ones and because the Americans want to see it, but it’s not up to me… If Dana wants to put me there, we’ll fight."