Although it didn't happen the way he probably expected, Jose Aldo recently regained the UFC featherweight belt.

After his longtime rival Conor McGregor was stripped in the aftermath of his lightweight championship victory over Eddie Alvarez Nov. 12, the UFC decided to take away McGregor's featherweight belt the Irishman had won from Aldo almost one year earlier. And even though they now sit atop different divisions, a rematch against the European superstar still is part of the plan for the Brazilian.

Even if he has to gain a few pounds as well.

André Pederneiras, who seemed delighted that his top student got a belt back around his waist during an Interview with FloCombat via Ag. Fight, made it clear that a rematch against McGregor is still very much part of the plan for the team and expects it to happen at some point in 2017.

"There is a chance [to fight for the lightweight belt]," Pederneiras said. "Of course there is, because he wants his revenge against Conor. The rematch is the plan, but [McGregor] preferred to return the belt to Aldo. By the end of next year, I believe [that the fight will happen]. Since the loss [Aldo] only thinks about having his rematch. For him, the rematch is worth more than the belt."

Just when he was informed that Aldo would be getting back his belt, in the middle of a series of emails and phone calls with UFC staff and journalists trying to confirm the news, Pederneiras learned that Aldo's next fight would be against either Anthony Pettis or Max Holloway. The two top featherweights are set to headline UFC 206 Dec. 10 in Toronto, Canada, for the division's interim title. Pederneiras hopes that the unification bout between the winner of that fight and his pupil will take place in February or March of next year.

"I was promised by Dana White [that Aldo would be given a chance to get his belt back] a long time ago. It took a while, but it happened," Pederneiras said. "Regarding the manner in which that was resolved, with an interim title, it does not make a difference to me. I think everything that comes from the UFC is always a surprise. I'm glad that, in my opinion, it doesn't make a difference for people."

Finally, Pederneiras, who trains athletes such as Renan Barão, Thales Leites, Yan Cabral, Hacran Dias and Jussier Formiga, played down the recent controversy that emerged over Aldo's potential retirement. The former champion said he wanted to quit MMA and be released from his UFC contract when the organization granted Conor McGregor a shot at the lightweight title after already having fought twice in a different weight class in the wake of his featherweight title win.

"It's hard for a champion like Aldo to not get his immediate rematch", Pederneiras said. "I think Aldo's big advantage is that he's never satisfied and always wants more. That makes him different from most champions who lose their titles who cannot get it back. He lost and then he fought the toughest guy available [Frankie Edgar], and he won."

Aldo defeated Edgar at the historic UFC 200 back in July, winning the interim featherweight title in the process. Before that fight, Aldo and Conor McGregor met in December 2015 in the main event of UFC 194. After almost one year of promotional buildup, McGregor knocked out Aldo in just 13 seconds, ending the WEC- and UFC-champion's 10-year unbeaten streak.