Top 5 Stories of the Week

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Jose Aldo has drawn the gaze of another world-class lightweight.

Top Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight contender Anthony Pettis will cut to 145 pounds to challenge Aldo for his featherweight crown at a still-unnamed event on Aug. 3. No venue has been selected and no other bouts have been announced for the event, which will likely be headlined by the Aldo-Pettis blockbuster.

Pettis was expected to challenge the winner of the April 20 showdown between lightweight champion Benson Henderson and Gilbert Melendez, but it appears as though “Showtime” has grown weary of waiting for his opportunity. Instead, the 26-year-old Roufusport product will make his 145-pound debut on the heels of three consecutive victories. Pettis last appeared at UFC on Fox 6 in January, when he struck down Donald Cerrone with a first-round liver kick. The Milwaukee native has won seven of his past eight bouts and has delivered 13 of his 16 career victories by knockout, technical knockout or submission.

Aldo has rattled off 15 consecutive wins, most of them in one-sided fashion. The Brazilian juggernaut last fought in the UFC 156 main event on Feb. 2, when he took a unanimous decision from former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar. Aldo owns other notable victories over Urijah Faber, Kenny Florian, Chad Mendes and Cub Swanson.

The stories of interest on Sherdog.com this week:

It’s ‘Showtime’ for Aldo

Brutal Reality

Bellator’s Big Guns

Caught Cheating

‘Storm’ Snatches Gold

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