UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo (22-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) is now one win away from a shot at the promotion’s lightweight title.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) on Monday confirmed with UFC President Dana White that if Aldo is victorious in his August fight with Anthony Pettis (16-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC), he will move up to 155 pounds for a shot at the title in that division.

White’s revelation is the latest development in a matchup that just 48 hours ago the UFC boss said the Brazilian champ wasn’t interested in accepting. However, after a discussion with Aldo’s manager, Andre Pederneiras, Aldo is now not only happy to accept the fight but also has an impressive reward waiting on him should he have his hand raised.

The Aldo vs. Pettis bout is expected to headline an as-yet-unannounced Aug. 3 event at a location yet to be determined.

It was Aldo, himself, that first revealed to Brazilian website Tatame.com the reason for accepting the matchup, essentially requesting that if Pettis could change divisions and be considered a No. 1 contender, then he should also receive similar treatment. He also told Brazilian media outlet SporTV.com that “heads will roll” when he steps into the cage against “Showtime.”

Should he earn a crack at the lightweight title, Aldo would look to join Randy Couture and B.J. Penn as the only men to own UFC championship belts in two different weightclasses. Whether or not Aldo would have to relinquish his 145-pound belt has yet to be determined, but he has often discussed a desire to move up one division.

Current UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson (a fellow WEC veteran, along with both Aldo and Pettis) defends his belt against former Strikeforce champ Gilbert Melendez in the headlining bout of April’s UFC on FOX 7 event.

For more on Aldo-Pettis at the UFC’s August event, as well as the rest of the UFC’s upcoming schedule, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Jose Aldo)