Jose Aldo vs. Anthony Pettis UFC featherweight title fight booked for Aug. 3

"Sir, you have Ricardo Lamas on line one."

"Tell him I'm not in!"

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White received a text from Anthony Pettis at the conclusion of the UFC 156 pay-per-view last Saturday night (Feb. 2) in Las Vegas, asking for a 145-pound title shot against Jose Aldo, who was able to dispatch lightweight import Frankie Edgar by way of unanimous decision (see it here).

Apparently, that's all it takes these days to get yourself a championship bout.

Pettis, who held the 155-pound strap under the World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) banner, was expected to fight the winner of Ben Henderson vs. Gilbert Melendez; however, "Showtime" doesn't feel like rolling the dice and betting against a controversial decision or possible injury, both of which could delay his crack at the crown.

USA Today has it straight from the boss himself:

"Two of the baddest dudes in the fight business are going to fight at 145 pounds. These guys are two of the most amazing, gravity-defying athletes in the sport. I am so pumped for this fight."

Aldo vs. Pettis is expected to take place on Aug. 3, 2013 at a venue to be named. Leading candidates are Texas, Chicago, Las Vegas and Rio de Janeiro. No question Aldo would love to have the homefield advantage if the event indeed takes place in Brazil.

It would also mark the second straight fight for "Junior" against a former -- or in this case current -- lightweight fighter, a tough pill to swallow for 145-pound contenders like Lamas and Chan Sung Jung. "The Korean Zombie" called out the champ on Twitter (again), but that got him nothing but a bunch of retweets.

Better luck next time.