UFC: Jose Aldo vs Jeremy Stephens targeted for an event in Canada on July 28

An important featherweight bout between former two-time UFC featherweight champion José Aldo (26-4 MMA, 8-3 UFC) vs Jeremy ‘Lil Heathen’ Stephens (28-14 MMA, 15-13 UFC) is targeted for an event in Calgary, Canada on July 28.

Aldo and Stephens were slated to fight at the already stacked UFC 224 card in Rio de Janeiro on May 12. However the fight was later shifted and promoted as a main event for Fight Night Singapore on July 23. The fans were again left disappointed as a welterweight scrap between Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone vs Leon ‘Rocky’ Edwards was announced to serve as a main event for the Singapore card.

Well, according to a report from Combate, this pivotal match up would serve as co-main for a card in Canada on July 28. According to Ariel Helwani, Calgary would be the frontrunner to host it.(via Twitter):

According to multiple sources, UFC has earmarked July for its next show in Canada. Currently, Calgary is the frontrunner to host the event (7/28). Nothing finalized at this moment, though. Could this be it, Calgary? Will the post-149 promise finally come to fruition? Stay tuned.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) March 28, 2018

Jose Aldo is coming off two consecutive TKO stoppages against featherweight champion Max Holloway. He would like to snap his two fight losing streak. Aldo is 1-3 in his last four fights. Stephens on the other hand has drastically improved since his last setback against Renato Moicano in April 2017. ‘Lil Heathen’ is riding a three fight winning and bonus streak against Gilbert Melendez, Doo Ho Choi and Josh Emmett respectively.

Stephens dropped Melendez for a total of five times in the entire fight to secure a victory via unanimous decision at UFC 215 in September 2017. His next two fights were in quick successions, as he secured second round TKO victories against both Choi and Emmett.

Although #1 ranked featherweight Brian ‘T-City’ Ortega is next in the line for featherweight strap against Max Holloway, the winner of this important fight would definitely be in the conversation for the title shot next.