There were initial rumours about a rematch between longtime rivals Jose Aldo and Cub Swanson at UFC 233 on January 26, 2019, at Honda Center in Anaheim, California. However before even the talks could go any further, the rematch was shot down by Cub Swanson.
Swanson is having tough times at the moment as he is riding on a three-fight losing streak, with his latest loss coming to Rene Moicano at UFC 226.

However, Aldo didn’t have to wait long as UFC lightweight contender Michael Johnson has called out a former longtime champion on Twitter and said he is willing to fill for Cub Swanson.
Since cub can’t make that date in January @josealdojunior. I have no problem going back to Cali Cali. pic.twitter.com/dVwUIcGQSR
— Michael Johnson (@Menace155) December 3, 2018
Aldo who has plans to have three outings in 2019 has welcomed the call.
“We accept Michael Johnson,” Aldo’s coach Andre Pederneiras told Combate. “That’s an interesting fight for us. It would be a great fight for the fans. They’re both strikers, just like it was against Jeremy Stephens. It’s not that we want to pick opponents for these last three fights, but Aldo intends to finish his career with big fights. It’s no use facing a wrestler who’ll try to grapple and make a boring fight. We must pick the right fights, great ones, no matter the results, but they must be great. I wanted Aldo to have those fights at featherweight so he could finish his contract with a title shot. That’s the truth. We’re waiting on the UFC.”
Michael Johnson has offered to fight Aldo at UFC 233, on January 26, However, Jose told Combat he would be even willing to fight one week later, at UFC Fortaleza in Brazil
“I don’t like to talk about fights before the contract is signed because these things can happen,” Aldo said. “But we were already in agreement. I was training for Cub for one week. I don’t want to fight three weeks after (UFC 233) because it would jeopardize my goal to fight three times until December 2019. If I don’t fight on January 26, it could be in Fortaleza.”
Aldo last fought in July at UFC Calgary where he defeated Jeremy Stephens via TKO with a brutal body shot thus breaking his two-fight losing streak to Max Holloway.
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