UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo has been teasing a move to the lightweight division for years now and was ready to follow through on the idea recently.

However, his head coach and the UFC’s head honcho surprisingly shot the idea down, according to comments Aldo made to MMA Fighting.

"Many people talked about moving up (to 155 pounds), and I’ve asked for that," Aldo said. "But Andre (Pederneiras, his coach) and Dana (White) said it wasn’t the right moment.”

“Moving up to lightweight is closer and closer. When they think it’s time to move up, I’ll do it no problem.”

Aldo has a 23-1 professional record as a mixed martial artist, with his sole defeat coming in a lightweight bout all the way back in November 2005.

Since then, “Scarface” has rattled off 16 straight wins at 145 pounds, including seven title defenses between the WEC and the UFC.

Aldo was also clear that he wants UFC lightweight titleholder Anthony Pettis to be his next opponent, even though “Showtime” is currently set to square off with former Strikeforce champ Josh Thomson at UFC on FOX 9 in December.

Pettis, who won the title from Benson Henderson at UFC 164 in August, was scheduled to meet Aldo in a featherweight championship bout at UFC 163, four weeks earlier, but withdrew from the fight due to a knee injury.

Both fighters have subsequently expressed interest in squaring off with one another in the future, but those plans will likely go up in flames if Thomson takes out Pettis on December 14.