MMA-URLS

Watch the full UFC CENTRAL feature with Showdown Joe joining Jose Aldo and Erik Koch on the helicoptor ride and day with Calgary Stampeders.

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It's Aldo vs. Koch at UFC 149 in Calgary, Nick Diaz makes headlines and UFC heads to Fairfax.

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submitted by iknowdell [link] [3 comments]

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As expected, linemakers have set Jose Aldo as a big favorite over Erik Koch going into their UFC 149 featherweight title bout on July 21st. Due to some timing issues, Koch's title shot was a little surprising to say the least and it's not surprising at all that the line would be so one-sided. Here's the best lines you can get on each fighter at the moment (via BestFightOdds) It should be noted that the -385 line on Aldo comes from Bookmaker, and is way lower than the other established sites have him at. SportsBet has him at -503, and 5Dimes and SBG have him at -530. I wouldn't normally recommend betting on such a lopsided line but considering the difference between Bookmaker and everywhere else, it might not be the worst idea in the world. SBN coverage of UFC 149: Aldo vs. Koch

Posted in: koch, line, jose aldo, erik koch, aldo

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When Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) makes its way into a new market or city or province or country, even, it typically results in a sold out arena with a highly successful gate. UFC 149: "Aldo vs. Koch," which will go down on Sat., July 21, 2012, at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, is no different. Indeed, tickets for the event have already sold out, just days after becoming available for consumption. In fact, hardly any tickets remained once they went on sale to the general public just yesterday. It's good news for the UFC, of course, especially considering the main event features a featherweight championship fight pitting an unproven draw in Jose Aldo taking on a fighter, Erik Koch, who has just two Octagon bouts, only one of which occurred on a main televised card. Hungry Canadians are hungry. The rest of the card is packed with solid match-ups, too, and you can see the entire fight card, as it stands now, after the jump. Main Event: 145 lbs.: UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo vs. Erik Koch Other scheduled bouts: 185 lbs.: Michael Bisping vs. Tim Boetsch205 lbs.: Mauricio Rua vs. Thiago Silva265 lbs.: Cheick Kongo vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira170 lbs.: Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Thiago Alves145 lbs.: Antonio Carvalho vs. George Roop145 lbs.: Bryan Caraway vs. Mitch Gagnon155 lbs.: Mitch Clarke vs. Anton Kuivanen185 lbs.: Court McGee vs. Nick Ring For all the latest and greatest updates on UFC 149 check out our complete news archive by clicking here.

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It's Aldo vs. Koch at UFC 149 in Calgary, Nick Diaz makes headlines and UFC heads to Fairfax.

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The UFC on Saturday announced that UFC 149, set for July 21 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, officially is sold out.

Posted in: ufc, canada, aldo, alberta, calgary

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Those Canadians sure love 'em some MMA. UFC officials today announced that "UFC 149: Aldo vs. Koch" has officially sold out of tickets. The event takes place July 21 at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. UFC featherweight titeholder Jose Aldo meets Erik Koch in the pay-per-view headliner.

Posted in: ufc, erik koch, aldo, calgary, scotiabank saddledome

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In a bit of unsurprising news, UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo has been listed as a big favorite to defeat Erik Koch early on by MMA oddsmakers. In lieu of the fight’s official announcement this week, the crew over at MMAOddsbreakers have released an early line for the fight, with Aldo coming in as the -385 favorite to win. Koch, on the other hand, is listed at a confidence-inspiring +285. Undefeated in his last fourteen bouts, Aldo’s biggest challenge so far as featherweight champion has been the weight cut. During his tenure as champion (both of the WEC and UFC), Aldo has beaten featherweight standouts like Mike Brown, Urijah Faber, Manny Gamburyan, Mark Hominick, Kenny Florian and Chad Mendes and he looked mostly infallible in all of those victories. Spectacular on the feet and with no glaring weaknesses anywhere else, Aldo is a terror at 145. Koch, who earned the unenviable task of challenging Aldo for his title by virtue of a four-fight winning streak, is a Roufusport product whose biggest wins are a knockout of Raphael Assuncao and a unanimous decision over Jonathan Brookins. At a press conference held earlier this week, the UFC officially announced Aldo vs. Koch as the headliner for the upcoming UFC 149 fight card, which will take place on July 21 at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Canada. MMAFrenzy.com

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The promotion on Saturday announced its next visit to the country officially is a sell-out. UFC 149: Aldo vs. Koch takes place July 21 in Calgary, Alberta, and will be the UFC's first visit to the province.

Posted in: ufc, vs, aldo, visit, calgary alberta

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When Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) makes its debut in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on July 21, 2012, at the Scotiabank Saddledome for UFC 149, it will do so with a featherweight championship main event bout pitting titleholder Jose Aldo against warm body number one contender Erik Koch. And to the surprise of no one, "Scarface" is heavily favored. According to MMAOddsbreakers, Aldo has been inserted as a -385 favorite for his next title defense, which had been up in the air until the very last minute when decision makers decided he was a worthy headliner for the promotion's debut in a new Canadian province. The same might not be said for his opponent, Koch, who limps in as the +285 underdog. Agree with that decision or not, all other top division contenders are locked up at the moment -- Dustin Poirier vs. Chan Sung Jung is set for UFC on FUEL TV 3 and Hatsu Hioki vs. Ricardo Lamas likely for UFC on FX 4. That means Koch appears to be the only viable (and logical) competition left standing ... even if there aren't many who are giving him much of a chance. Koch is a Roufusport product who was last seen inside the Octagon winning a closely contested decision against The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 12 winner Jonathan Brookins back in Sept. 2011. "New Breed" was expected to take on a fellow 145-pound rising star, the aforementioned Poirier, at UFC 143 earlier this year. However, Koch was hurt in training and forced to withdraw from the highly anticipated bout. Koch sports an impressive record with Zuffa, at 5-1, while boasting a 13-1 record overall. Anyone think he can shock the world and prove the oddsmakers wrong? For all the latest and greatest news and notes on UFC 149 click here.

Posted in: ufc, koch, decision, aldo, championship ufc

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Pic: UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo gets his kicks as an honorary member of the Calgary Stampeders, who compete in the West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). "Junior" and his fellow main event headliner Erik Koch were bussed to McMahon Stadium as part of their UFC 149 promotional tour following Wednesday's pre-fight press conference. You can catch the live video replay of the "Aldo vs Koch" presser right here. Photo by Ted Rhodes via Calgary Herald

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Showdown Joe takes Jose Aldo and Erik Koch on a helicopter ride through the Rocky Mountains and previews their fights at UFC 149.

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The Jose Aldo vs. Erik Koch staredown from the UFC 149 press conference on May 9, 2012 makes the cover of Canada's Calgary Sun. Get your tickets early, Maniacs, this one is guaranteed to be a sell out. Props: Twitter

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Many fans felt that Erik Koch received a shot at UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo because there was no one else willing to take the fight. However, the sensational Brazilian believes Koch is a worthy contender. “Erik has a good rank,” said Aldo through a translator during a recent press conference to promote the card. “I wasn’t actually so surprised. Even though there were some other interesting names, he’s up for the challenge.” Aldo believes Koch’s resume from WEC helped push him into title-talk. The native Iowan is 13-1 in his career and has won four straight since a defeat to Chad Mendes in 2010. Aldo has carried the strap since the belt was created when the UFC absorbed WEC. Their bout will serve as the main event at UFC 149 on July 21 from Calgary, Alberta, Canada’s Scotiabank Saddledome. Check out the full press conference below: PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, press conference, koch, erik koch, aldo

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When Erik Koch got the call offering him a chance to fight Jose Aldo for the UFC featherweight championship, he ran to his living room, fell to his knees and screamed at the top of his lungs. That was a decidedly difficult reaction from Hatsu Hioki. Truth be told, the Japanese fighter was the promotion's first choice as a challenger, but he asked for one more fight before competing for the belt.So despite the fact that the call came as a bit of a surprise to the 23-year-old Koch, he wasn't about to turn down the opportunity. "It's awesome," he said at a Wednesday press conference in Calgary, the site of July 21's UFC 149. "This is 23 years in the making. I've been doing this since I was a little kid. Just to be here and to get a chance, especially against a dominant champion who's an awesome champion, it's an awesome test. I'm just really excited."If Koch wins, he will become the second youngest champion in UFC history, just behind current light-heavyweight kingpin Jon Jones, who at the time of his title win was about one month younger than Koch will be when he faces Aldo at July 21's UFC 149.If there is one asterisk to that "youngest champion" clause, it's Aldo, who was just 23 years, 2 months, 10 days old when he beat Mike Brown to capture the belt back in 2009, about six months younger than Jones was when he won the belt. Of course, at the time, Zuffa only promoted a featherweight division in UFC sister company WEC. He was later promoted to UFC champ when the brands merged, and he's never relinquished his grip on the belt, mostly by demolishing whoever has been placed before him.For his part, Aldo wasn't surprised about Koch getting the call."I think it was actually a well-deserved nomination," Aldo said through his interpreter. "Erik has a good rank and I wasn't actually so surprised even though there were some other interesting names. I'm up for the challenge. I think it's fair he's going up for the title because he's been going through a long list of fights previously with the WEC."Koch (13-1) has won four straight since his only career loss, which consequently came against Aldo's last challenger, Chad Mendes. Since then, he's rattled off victories against Jonathan Brookins, Raphael Assuncao, Francisco Rivera and Bendy Casimir, with three of the four coming via stoppage.Still, it will be a long leap from that to facing the likes of Aldo (21-1), who hasn't lost a fight since 2005 in fashioning a 14-fight win streak.It may be a challenge, but it's one he's embracing."There's a lot more exposure and a lot of things I've got to do, but to me, a fight's a fight," Koch said. "I've never really gotten super nervous before a fight. It's something I just love to do. So I don't think there will be really any jitters. To be on top of my game, I know I have to be mentally sound. I have to be in the right place, and I'm always good at getting there. So, I don't think I'll have a problem with it."

Posted in: ufc, fight, koch, aldo, he

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I just can't think of anyone who could possibly be more excited about earning a chance to fight Jose Aldo for the title than the actual person who earned said shot, so I had to be a little Captain Obviouc with the article title. I mean its not as though we could call up Kenny Florian or Chad Mendes or any other featherwight and tell them Erik Koch is fighting Jose Aldo and expect them to 'Diego Sanchez YES cartwheel' all over their neighborhoods. They'd actually probably tell the caller to '(expletive) off!' and hang up the phone. Erik Koch is really damn stoked about this fight though, and when MMAJunkie.com asked him about how he felt when he got the call to step in and fight Jose Aldo here's what he had to say: "When I found out I got the fight ... I literally went into my living room, got down to my knees, and screamed at the top of my lungs...This is 23 years in making, I've been doing this since I was a little kid. Just to be here and get a chance, especially against such a dominant champion who is an awesome champion, it's an awesome challenge. So I'm just really excited." The only thing that might come as close to this level of excitement for Erik Koch is him getting offered a free Jimmy John's sandwich. Maybe not get on your knees and scream level excitement but still exitement because Erik Koch really loves a good sandwich. Just ask him about it on twitter one day @NEWBREED. I could probably never make him a sandwich though, because its kind of a requirement that you get on your knees and scream about it if I do. Really great sandwichs and title shot fights with Jose Aldo are scream worthy events in my opinion. Maybe this face off picture form yesterday's press cofnerence will help you get ready to scream about the Koch Aldo fight at UFC 149 in Calgary on July 21st. [source]

Posted in: fight, koch, jose, jose aldo, aldo

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Earlier this year, Jose Aldo defended his UFC Featherweight title for the second time, facing Chad Mendes at UFC 142. Mendes was widely considered as one of the toughest match-ups for Aldo, who was never tested against a high caliber wrestler. However, the result was the same - Jose Aldo knocked out his opponent in Round 1, and celebrated with the jubilant crowd at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Jose Aldo will return on July 21st, this time testing his skills against Erik Koch in the main event

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The UFC held a short press conference today to officially announce the featherweight title fight between champion Jose Aldo and challenger Erik Koch, which is slated to headline the promotion’s first event ever to be held in Calgary, Canada. Both Aldo and Koch were at the press conference, which was run by the UFC’s director of Canadian operations Tom Wright. You can view a video of the press conference (which begins at about the 7:00 mark) to hear Aldo assess the 23-year-old Koch as an opponent, as well as to hear the young challenger open up about what it means to challenge one of the sport’s very best fighters for a title in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. MMAFrenzy.com

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"When I found out I got the fight, this is my dream and I've been trying to get it for a while. When I got the call, I'll tell ya I literally went to my living room, got down on my knees and just screamed at the top of my lungs. It's awesome. This is 23 years in the making. I've been doing this since I was a little kid and just to be here and to get a chance especially against such a dominant champion who is an awesome test. It's an awesome challenge. I'm just really excited." -- So says the next featherweight title challenger at the UFC 149 announcement press conference earlier today. Roufusport product Erik Koch was a surprise selection to be Jose Aldo's next opponent at UFC 149 when he challenges for the 145 pound title in Calgary, Alberta, Canada later this summer (July 21, 2012). Koch is coming off a grueling unanimous decision victory over The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season 12 winner Jonathan Brookins and was originally slated to face fellow upstart featherweight Dustin Poirier earlier this year at UFC 143 before injuries got in the way. Fortunately for him, his rehab coincided perfectly with Aldo's need for a worthy opponent. "New Breed" is currently riding a four fight winning streak which includes three stoppages ever since being controlled on the canvas by previous title challenger Chad Mendes back in the WEC. At just 23 years old, Koch could become the second youngest UFC champion, just one month short of beating Jon Jones' record set last March. Do you Maniacs think he's got a shot? Or will he be just another mark on Aldo's hit list?

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You can watch the UFC 149: Aldo vs. Koch tickets on-sale news conference, featuring featherweight champ Jose Aldo and Erik Koch, on Wednesday at noon Eastern live at HeavyMMA.

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Reigning featherweight champion Jose Aldo from Brazil and American Erik Koch are in Calgary to promote their UFC 149 fight.

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The UFC landed in Calgary Wednesday when reigning featherweight champ Jose Aldo and challenger Erik Koch promoted their UFC 149.

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Jose Aldo said he wants to do the same thing Georges St-Pierre has done for Canadian fans, as he and Erik Koch promoted their UFC 149 headliner in Calgary Wednesday.

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Jose Aldo said he wants to do the same thing Georges St-Pierre has done for Canadian fans, as he and Erik Koch promoted their UFC 149 headliner in Calgary Wednesday.

Posted in: ufc, erik koch, aldo, canadian fans, gsplike love

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will hold a public press conference today (May 9, 2012) in advance of UFC 149: Aldo vs. Koch which will take place later this summer (July 31) at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The press conference will begin promptly at 3 p.m. ET live from Shaw Court in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. . Scheduled to attend will be main card fighters Jose Aldo and Erik Koch. Jose Aldo is the current UFC featherweight champion and is widely regarded as one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world. He's successfully defended his title five times and really made a name for himself in his last fight, stopping then-undefeated Chad Mendes in the first round at UFC 142 in his native Brazil. Erik Koch was in the right place at the right time. "New Breed" is coming off a unanimous decision victory over The Ultimate Fighter season 12 winner Jonathan Brookins and is in the midst of a four fight winning streak. The diverse striker expects to challenge Aldo in some areas he hasn't been tested yet. We'll deliver the minute-by-minute updates from the UFC 149 announcement press conference below, as well as feature the LIVE video feed after the jump. Brian Hemminger here. The press conference is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. ET.

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Ultimate Fighting Championship will return to Canada on July 21st, with a stacked UFC 149 fight card, headlined by the UFC Featherweight title fight between Jose Aldo and Erik Koch. The event will take place at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Earlier today, Aldo and Koch shared thoughts about their upcoming showdown and went face-to-face for the first time, as part of the official pre-fight press conference. UFC 149 will be co-headlined by the Light Heavyweight clash between Shogun Rua

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After much speculation over the last few weeks, the UFC officially made the UFC featherweight title bout between Jose Aldo and Erik Koch the main event of UFC 149 in Calgary on July 21st. In an official release today, the promotion confirmed all five main card fights and five more on the undercard. They will be holding a press conference on Wednesday at Noon ET9 a.m. PT (streamed live) that features Aldo, Koch, and Canadian fighter Nick Ring. Tickets for the event go on sale this weekend: Tickets for UFC® 149: ALDO VS. KOCH go on sale to the public on Saturday, May 12 at 10 a.m. MTN. Tickets are priced at $650, $400, $275, $200, $125 and $85 and are available through Ticketmaster.ca, charge by phone 1-855-985-5000, at all Ticketmaster outlets, and the Saddledome Box Office. Ticket prices do not include applicable service charges. As usual, Fight Club members and UFC newsletter subscribers will have first dibs a day or two before tickets officially go on sale. You can catch the current card after the jump.SBN coverage of UFC 149 July 21st, live on PPV from Calgary, AB: Jose Aldo (21-1) vs. Erik Koch (13-1) [FW Title] Mauricio Rua (20-6) vs. Thiago Silva (14-3, 1 NC) Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (33-7-1, 1 NC) vs. Cheick Kongo (17-7-2) Michael Bisping (22-4) vs. Tim Boetsch (15-4) Thiago Alves (19-9) vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-5, 2 NC) Preliminary Card: Nick Ring (12-1) vs. Court McGee (13-2) Ryan Jimmo (16-1) vs. Anthony Perosh (13-6) Bryan Caraway (16-5) vs. Mitch Gagnon (9-1) Mitch Clarke (9-1) vs. Anton Kuivanen (16-5) George Roop (12-9-1) vs. Antonio Carvalho (13-5)

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UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo will meet Erik Koch in the main event of UFC 149 this July at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The bout had been rumored as the event’s headliner for some time, but the UFC only made the bout official today. Tickets for the show go on sale to the general public this Saturday, May 12, at 12PM ET. Aldo (21-1) will be attempting to make his fourth straight title defense (sixth, if you count his defenses of the WEC title) against Koch. The 25-year-old dynamo has kept the featherweight division squarely under his thumb since taking the title, having dominantly repelled every challenger to his throne so far. Aldo’s most recent conquest came this past January over Chad Mendes, whom Aldo knocked out in one round. Koch (13-1) will look to accomplish what no man has yet been able to by wresting the title from Aldo’s grasp. The 23-year-old has won four straight bouts since suffering his only loss to Chad Mendes back at WEC 47. The Roufusport representative made his UFC debut just over a year ago, knocking out Raphael Assuncao in the first round of their UFC 128 meeting. In his next and most recent outing, Koch took a unanimous decision over Jonathan Brookins. The current UFC 149 lineup – confirmed or otherwise – looks like this: Jose Aldo vs. Erik Koch Mauricio Rua vs. Thiago Silva Michael Bisping vs. Tim Boetsch Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Cheick Kongo Thiago Alves vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama Anthony Perosh vs. Ryan Jimmo George Roop vs. Antonio Carvalho Nick Ring vs. Court McGee Bryan Caraway vs. Mitch Gagnon Mitch Clarke vs.  Anton Kuivanen MMAFrenzy.com

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Tickets for UFC 149: "Aldo vs. Koch," which was recently made official for the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on Sat., July 21, 2012, will go on sale to the general public on Sat., May 12, 2012, at 10 a.m. MT. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Fight Club members and UFC Newsletter subscribers, naturally, will be able to scoop up tickets prior to them being available for public consumption thanks to two separate special presales. UFC 149 features a main event title fight between reigning featherweight champion Jose Aldo putting his 145-pound title on the line against the dangerous striking attack of division number one contender Erik Koch. Other main card match-ups include Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira's return from injury to face off against Cheick Kongo while Michael Bisping tries to get back into the 185-pound title hunt against middleweight "Barbarian" Tim Boetsch. Here is the UFC 149 tickets sales schedule (all times MT): UFC Fight Club presale: Thurs., May 10 at 10 a.m. UFC Newsletter presale: Fri., May 11 at 10 a.m. General tickets sale: Sat., May 12 at 10 a.m. UFC 149 tickets can be purchased through StubHub.com (Note: StubHub often has seats available even if the event is "sold out"). It will also be available to watch on pay-per-view (PPV) at 10 p.m. ET on fight night. For the latest UFC 149 news and notes check out our complete event archive right here. To check out the latest UFC 149: "Aldo vs. Koch" fight card and rumors click here.

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Featherweight champion Jose Aldo will defend his 145-pound title against Erik Koch on July 21 at UFC 149 at Scotiabank Saddledome.

Posted in: ufc, koch, erik koch, aldo, face aldo

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The Ultimate Fighting Championship on Monday made UFC 149: Aldo vs. Koch official for the promotions July 21 debut in Calgary, announcing several bouts and ticket sales information. Retweet this Share on Facebook • Email • StumbleUpon • Reddit • Digg • Technorati • Instapaper • Tumblr • Google Reader • LinkedIn

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TORONTO – The Ultimate Fighting Championship®, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, announced today that tickets for its inaugural event in Calgary will go on sale to the general public on Saturday, May 12. UFC® 149: ALDO VS. KOCH sees featherweight champion Jose Aldo defend his145-pound crown against tenacious contender Erik Koch on Saturday, July 21 at Scotiabank Saddledome. Both fighters will join local UFC® middleweight Nick Ring and UFC® Director of Canadian Operations Tom Wright for a press conference and other events (as listed below) in Calgary on Wednesday, May 9 at 10 a.m. MTN at Shaw Court.The July 21 event marks the first of three UFC® events taking place in Canada in 2012 as Toronto (Sept. 22, location to be determined) and Montreal (Nov. 17, Bell Centre) are also set with UFC® dates this calendar year.Reigning UFC® featherweight champion Jose Aldo (21-1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) is undefeated in the UFC as he puts his belt on the line against knockout artist Erik Koch (13-1, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisc.). Considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters on the planet, Aldo has reeled off 14 straight wins and has not lost since 2005. For his part, the 22-year-old Koch has but one career loss and has won four straight with two Knockout of the Night awards in those performances.Two former UFC® champions add to the star power in Calgary as former light heavyweight champion Mauricio Rua (20-6, fighting out of Curitiba, Brazil) faces off against Thiago Silva (14-3, 1 NC, fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) while former interim heavyweight champ Minotauro Nogueira (33-7-1, 1 NC, fighting out of Bahia, Brazil) returns to action to face the always dangerous Cheick Kongo (27-7-2, fighting out of Paris, France). Seasoned veterans also clash as Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-5, 2 NC, fighting out of Osaka, Japan) meets welterweight Thiago Alves (24-8, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) and Michael Bisping (23-4, fighting out of Manchester, England) faces middleweight Tim Boetsch (15-4, fighting out of Sunbury, Penn.).Five Canadians will also step into the Octagon on July 21 as Edmonton’s Mitch Clarke (9-1) faces lightweight Anton Kuivanen (16-5, fighting out of Helsinki, Finland), Calgary’s Nick Ring (12-1) battles middleweight Court McGee (13-2, fighting out of Orem, Utah), Sudbury, Ontario’s Mitch Gagnon (8-1) takes on bantamweight Bryan Caraway (16-6, fighting out of Goldendale, Washington), Oshawa, Ontario native Antonio Carvalho (13-5) will challenge featherweight George Roop (12-10-1, fighting out of Tucson, Arizona), and Saint John, New Brunswick’s Ryan Jimmo (16-1, fighting out of Edmonton) meets light heavyweight Anthony Perosh (13-6, fighting out of Sydney, Australia).Tickets for UFC® 149: ALDO VS. KOCH go on sale to the public on Saturday, May 12 at 10 a.m. MTN. Tickets are priced at $650, $400, $275, $200, $125 and $85 and are available through Ticketmaster.ca, charge by phone 1-855-985-5000, at all Ticketmaster outlets, and the Saddledome Box Office. Ticket prices do not include applicable service charges.UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event on Thursday, May 10 at 10 a.m. MTN via the website ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers on Friday, May 11,starting at 10 a.m. MTN. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.UFC® 149 will be available live on Pay-Per-View at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST on UFC.TV, iN DEMAND, DirecTV, DISH Network, Avail-TVN, and in Canada on Shaw Communications, Bell TV, Sasktel and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.99 US/$49.99 CAN for Standard Definition and $54.99 US/$59.99 CAN for High Definition.SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:UFC® 149: ALDO VS. KOCH PRESS CONFERENCEWHEN:                       Wednesday, May 9 – 10:00 a.m. MTN (media check starts at 9:00 a.m.)WHERE:                     Shaw Court, 630 3rd Avenue SW, CalgaryWHO:                        Jose Aldo, UFC® Featherweight Champion                                   Erik Koch, UFC® Featherweight Contender                                   Nick Ring, UFC® Middleweight and Calgary native                                   UFC® Director of Canadian Operations Tom WrightNOTE:                         ***This press conference will be streamed live on UFC.com. Please note, this media event is not open to the public however fans are encouraged to come meet the fighters Wednesday evening at the Chinook Centre Boston Pizza from 7-9 p.m.CANADIAN FOOTBALL INITIATION WITH CALGARY STAMPEDERSWHEN:                       Wednesday, May 9 – 4:00-5:00 p.m. MTNWHERE:                     McMahon Stadium, 1817 Crowchild Trail Northwest, Calgary, ABWHO:                                     Jose Aldo, Erik Koch and Nick Ring, members of the Calgary StampedersNOTE:                         Calgary native Nick Ring and members of the Calgary Stampeders will introduce Canadian football to Aldo and Koch with a training session at McMahon Stadium. Fans are encouraged to follow @calstampeders and @UFC_CA for a chance to attend thisprivate session with the fighters and players.UFC® AUTOGRAPH SIGNINGWHEN:                       Wednesday, May 9 – 7-9 p.m. MTNWHERE:                     Boston Pizza, Chinook Centre, 6455 Macleod Trail SW, Calgary, ABWHO:                        Jose Aldo, Erik Koch and Nick RingNOTE:                         The first 25 fans will receive a free autographed UFC EncyclopediaAdditional bouts will be announced at UFC.com in the weeks to come. All bouts live and subject to change. For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit UFC.com.

Posted in: ufc, koch, event, aldo, calgary

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UFC fighter pay is a constant issue. Why shouldn't it be? Professional athlete salaries are typically treated as public knowledge and are in any case interesting. Zuffa's choice to keep matters private (except official fight purses declared by commissions) only increases fan interest. If things are a secret, you want to find out what the secret is. That impulse will never wane. That's especially true in light of FUEL TV's recent trip to UFC welterweight Josh Koscheck's home in Fresno, California. For a guy who has to fight to earn money, he seems to be earning quite a bit. 'Seems' being the operative word. Koscheck is a college graduate and obviously a very intelligent guy, so we have reason to believe his own personal financial management is in order. Still, wait until you see this place and all the toys he has. I'll admit I never pegged him to live that large. If he's been getting bonus checks, those are mighty hefty. Be sure to check out the FUEL TV piece linked in our top 5 stories section. Also of note: former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia is still out there asking for a return to the UFC. How long do you think he has to ask before he either gets an opportunity or realizes that's never coming? I say at least another six months. 5 MUST-READ STORIES Nate Diaz Flies Family Flag. With Nick Diaz on ice for now, Nate Diaz is the one representing the family name. UFC on FOX 3 Open Workouts Coverage. There's Diaz and Miller scrums, photos, Hendricks' beard, Belcher's easy-going style and a lot more. Lack of Star Power at UFC on Fox 3 Will Test UFC Brand. Without any major stars on the card, this weekend's fights could prove just how much the UFC brand by itself can draw ratings on television. Tim Kennedy Talks Dwindling Strikeforce Roster. The Special Forces soldier speaks to Bloody Elbow about the challenges of fighting in Strikeforce now that the competition roster is shrinking. UFC on FUEL TV Visits Koscheck's Crib. I can't tell if Koshceck makes an absurd amount of money, spends an absurd amount of money, is going to be rich for life or broke in five years. Either way, he's got a lot of nice stuff. MEDIA STEW Daniel Cormier talks about how wrestling helped him overcome the loss of his daughter: And here's Josh Barnett discussing fighting at an early age: Jon Jones' life days out from his fight with Rashad Evans gets documented in 'On The Brink': Former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia says he feels amazing and desperately wants back in the UFC (HT: Middle Easy): INVICTA CLAIMS TO SCORE BIG Our final viewing numbers for Invicta FC One were 233,580 we are appreciate your support and interest in WMMA andInvictaFC next event — InvictaFights(@InvictaFights) May 2, 2012 R.I.P. JUNIOR SEAU Depression and suicide deserve a hell of a lot more than 140 characters. — Stipe Miocic (@smiocic) May 2, 2012 Junior Seau #55 #respect — Frank Mir UFC (@thefrankmir) May 2, 2012 Here's Miguel Cotto. Yes, the Miguel Cotto. The one who is reportedly going to make $8 million for his upcoming bout with Mayweather. FANPOST OF THE DAY Today's Fanpost of the Day comes courtesy LYHL and it's a look at how the featherweight division stacks up. Here's how he sees UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo's two top challenges right now: "In The Fray" Contenders 1. Erik Koch, 14-1, (Last Fight - W against Jonathan Brookins, Dec) The next man chosen to have a crack at knocking Aldo off the top perch. Koch is an exciting prospect that trains alongside former and current champions such as Anthony Pettis and Ben Askren. The sole loss on his record comes against Chad Mendes, but that's not too disparaging considering that Mendes has managed to outwrestle everyone he has fought, barring Aldo. However, his last fight against Brookins didn't really show his capabilities as the TUF Champion gave him a harder fight than many expected. Based on that performance, many believe that the odds are heavily stacked against him when he fights for the Featherweight title at UFC 149, but one should look beyond his last fight to see that he brings new challenges for the current champion with his height, range and creative striking. Against Aldo, perhaps it's a case of "too much, too soon". But regardless of whether he wins or loses, Koch looks to be a name amongst the Featherweights for some time too come. 2. Hatsu Hioki, 26-4-2 (Last Fight - W against Bart Palaszewski, Dec) The UFC's Japanese import was regarded at the time as being one of the few 'credible' challenges to Aldo's reign. Unfortunately, a lackluster debut against George Roop quelled the fire, only for a spark to reignite in his decision win against the game Bart Palaszewski. Although it was rumored that he had a chance to fight Aldo, he turned the opportunity down in favour of having one more fight against Ricardo Lamas. This puts him in a risky position: although Lamas has looked like a reborn fighter in the ranks of the UFC's featherweight division, he still lacks name value. Hioki risks losing more if he lost than he would gain if he won. However, if he did win (and he should), expect him to be offered either an immediate title shot against the Aldo/Koch winner, or to face the loser of Zombie/Poirier in another title eliminator. Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @SBNLukeThomas and we'll include it in Monday's post.

Posted in: ufc, fight, champion, featherweight, aldo

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FanPost edited and promoted by MMAmania.com. Littered amongst the path of Jose Aldo's rise to the top of Zuffa's Featherweight division are the bodies of his opponents. Many have fallen due to the flurry of strikes, knees and vicious leg kicks that he has delivered in his quest to claim, and retain, the 145-pound championship belt. With his iron grip cast over the division, the idea that "Junior" can be challenged seems preposterous in the wake of the destructive manner of his victories, including his vicious knockout of Chad Mendes at UFC 142 earlier this year. However, as opponents fall, new ones rise up to take their place on the featherweight ladder. Who can step up to the challenge and dethrone Aldo? A look at some possible contenders, after the jump. "In The Fray" Contenders 1. Erik Koch, 14-1, (Last Fight - W against Jonathan Brookins, Dec) The next man chosen to have a crack at knocking Aldo off the top perch. Koch is an exciting prospect that trains alongside former and current champions such as Anthony Pettis and Ben Askren. The sole loss on his record comes against Chad Mendes, but that's not too disparaging considering that Mendes has managed to outwrestle everyone he has fought, barring Aldo. However, his last fight against Brookins didn't really show his capabilities as the TUF Champion gave him a harder fight than many expected. Based on that performance, many believe that the odds are heavily stacked against him when he fights for the Featherweight title at UFC 149, but one should look beyond his last fight to see that he brings new challenges for the current champion with his height, range and creative striking. Against Aldo, perhaps it's a case of "too much, too soon". But regardless of whether he wins or loses, Koch looks to be a name amongst the Featherweights for some time too come. 2. Hatsu Hioki, 26-4-2 (Last Fight - W against Bart Palaszewski, Dec) The UFC's Japanese import was regarded at the time as being one of the few 'credible' challenges to Aldo's reign. Unfortunately, a lackluster debut against George Roop quelled the fire, only for a spark to reignite in his decision win against the game Bart Palaszewski. Although it was rumored that he had a chance to fight Aldo, he turned the opportunity down in favour of having one more fight against Ricardo Lamas. This puts him in a risky position: although Lamas has looked like a reborn fighter in the ranks of the UFC's featherweight division, he still lacks name value. Hioki risks losing more if he lost than he would gain if he won. However, if he did win (and he should), expect him to be offered either an immediate title shot against the Aldo/Koch winner, or to face the loser of Zombie/Poirier in another title eliminator. 3. Dustin Poirier, 13-1 (Last Fight - W against Holloway) and Chan Sung Jung, 12-3 (Last Fight - W against Hominick) Along with Aldo, Koch and Mendes, "The Diamond" is one of young talents that Zuffa recruited into their Featherweight ranks. His only loss comes against Danny Castillo at Lightweight, but since dropping down to 145, Poirier remains an undefeated force. He recently submitted Max Holloway, who was making his UFC debut at the age of just 20. Although Holloway showed prowess on his feet, Poirier managed to drag him down to the ground and submitted him inside the first round. Strong performances have seen him touted as a potential contender, but first he must get past...The Korean Zombie. His headkick KO loss against George Roop seems a universe away in light of his "Twister" against Leonard Garcia and his spectacular 7 second KO against Mark Hominick. Always willing to fight, and seemingly impervious to everything except headshots, if he wins against Poirier, he might find himself in line for a title shot against Jose Aldo due to his popularity and wild style of fighting. "Looking In" - Potential Contenders 4. Chad Mendes, 11-1 (Last Fight - L against Aldo) Ignoring the loss against Aldo, Mendes was on a tear in the Featherweight division, and had defeated the likes of Koch, Vasquez, Omigawa and others to claim his title shot. Unfortunately, when the time came, his dreams were shattered by way of an Aldo knee in the last second of the first round. However, despite the loss, Mendes remains a tough test for any fighter in his division, and even more worryingly, it looks to stay that way as the former contender is only 27. The dilemma for Zuffa now is how to utilize him. If it wasn't for Aldo, there is a huge possibility that the featherweight gold would be around Mendes' waist right now. Do they wait for Aldo to leave the division, then push Mendes to become champion? Or do they give him fighters, and hope that he doesn't become the featherweight Jon Fitch - perennial number 2 fighter in a division dominated by the champion? 5. Dennis Siver, 20-8 (Last Fight- W against Nunes) If Siver was a boxer, he would be considered a journeyman. Journeymen in boxing rarely get even a sniff of a title shot. Fortunately for Siver, he competes in MMA, and also, as of his last fight, in a division that is only just beginning to find its feet. Furthermore, his first foray down from Lightweight has been successful, winning a hard-earned decision against Diego Nunes. With that win, and the lack of recognizable names in the division, he stands on the edge of entering the fray of potential title contenders. Perhaps the next few fights will bring him closer to the final destination on his journey - a Featherweight title shot. 6. Charles Oliveira, 15-2-1 (Last Fight - W against Wisely) Before his drop to Featherweight, Oliveira was a widely touted Lightweight prospect. Having won two Submission of the Night awards, the hype was somewhat derailed when he fought against Jim Miller. For some bizarre reason, the bookies must have let Oliveira's previous performances get to their heads as he was a huge favourite against Jim Miller, who had at that point been fighting in the UFC for 2 years and had compiled a record of 18-2 against credible opponents. The knowledgeable fans were the real winners, as Miller submitted "Do Bronx" in under 2 minutes of the first round.After a tough loss, Oliveira rebounded against Nik Lentz, and would seemingly go on to become the first person to stop Lentz in the octagon. However, it was not to be as it was held that Oliveira had delivered an illegal knee, and with that, his W was changed to a No Contest. Oliveira was then matched against a rejuvenated Donald Cerrone, and in that fight, Oliveira's age (he's only 22) really showed as he looked completely dwarfed against "The Cowboy". A KO loss against Cerrone made him drop to 145lb, a wise choice as he sought to even the physical disadvantages of fighting at Lightweight. A successful debut placed him back in people's minds and on the fringes of the prospects radar once more, and now Oliveira should not be overlooked as he attempts to revive his hype in the Featherweight division. Part 2 to follow.

Posted in: fight, division, featherweight, aldo, mende

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Jose Aldo will defend his UFC featherweight title against Erik Koch in Calgary after all. According to sources close to the fight, Aldo (25-1) vs. Koch (13-1) will headline UFC 149 on July 21 in Calgary. The UFC considered booking the fight on June 23 in Brazil, but Aldo wasn't ready to fight then. They had originally offered the title fight to Hatsu Hioki, however, Hioki asked for one more fight before facing Aldo, so they booked him against Ricardo Lamas on June 22 in Atlantic City, N.J.CagePotato.com first reported the possibility of the bout last week. The 25-year-old Aldo enters the fight riding a 14-fight winning streak. He's 3-0 since entering the UFC against Mark Hominick, Kenny Florian and Chad Mendes. Koch, 23, has won his last four fights in a row. He most recently defeated Jonathan Brookins in September, and while he was booked against Dustin Poirier at UFC 143, he was forced to pull out of the fight due to an injury.UFC 149 will mark the promotion's first trip to Calgary. The main card will air live on pay-per-view.

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It looks like Canadian fans are likely to get a glimpse of UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo after all. Retweet this Share on Facebook • Email • StumbleUpon • Reddit • Digg • Technorati • Instapaper • Tumblr • Google Reader • LinkedIn

Posted in: jose, jose aldo, aldo, canadian fans, bull

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) may have been flirting with the idea of moving Jose Aldo's next featherweight title defense up to the UFC 147 event set for June 23, 2012, in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, but it looks like that's simply not happening. Instead, as originally announced, Aldo will remain on the UFC 149 fight card scheduled for July 21, 2012, at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, according to a report from Sportv.Globo.com. That would mean, of course, that the Jon Jones vs. Dan Henderson light heavyweight championship showdown isn't likely to happen at the event, though it's not impossible. Surely the UFC wouldn't put two title fights on the same show two events in a row, would they? Aldo's opponent, though not officially announced, is expected to be Erik Koch. Agree with that decision or not, all other top division contenders are locked up at the moment -- Dustin Poirier vs. Chan Sung Jung is set for UFC on FUEL TV 3 and Hatsu Hioki vs. Ricardo Lamas likely for UFC on FX 4. That means Koch appears to be the only viable (and logical) competition left standing. Koch is a Roufusport product who was last seen inside the Octagon winning a closely contested decision against The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 12 winner Jonathan Brookins back in Sept. 2011. "New Breed" was expected to take on a fellow 145-pound rising star, the aforementioned Poirier, at UFC 143 earlier this year. However, Koch was hurt in training and forced to withdraw from the highly anticipated bout. Koch sports an impressive record with Zuffa, at 5-1, while boasting a 13-1 record overall. UFC 149 is the first event held by the world's largest fight promotion in the province of Alberta. Aldo vs. Koch is expected to headline the event with other bouts announced for the card including Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Cheick Kongo, Thiago Alves vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama, and Nick Ring vs. Court McGee. For all the latest news and notes on UFC 149 click here.

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It appears that UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo will be defending his title in Canada, not Brazil. And the opponent will be Erik Koch. The bout will serve as the main event of UFC 149 on July 21st in Calgary, Alberta, according to multiple sources. Aldo was originally expected to fight at UFC 149, and Dana White announced as much when they held a press conference in Calgary about a month ago. But when the company had troubles finding a venue for UFC 147 and the Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen bout was moved to UFC 148, White said that Aldo would "probably" be fighting at UFC 147 instead. That will not be the case now, which was confirmed by Brazilian site Globo late last night. Apparently Aldo said he wouldn't be ready in time for a late-June bout. The Globo article doesn't mention an opponent for Aldo, but other sources have confirmed it will be Koch, and it will be the headliner. This apparently means that the UFC light heavyweight title bout between Jon Jones and Dan Henderson will not take place in Calgary, but who knows at this point. SBN coverage of UFC 149: Aldo vs. Koch

Posted in: ufc, bout, koch, aldo, sources aldo

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After being discussed as a possible headliner for UFC 147 in Brazil, Jose Aldo will remain in Calgary on the UFC 149 card in July, as he will take on Eric Koch in a featherweight title matchup. UFC 149 takes place at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary on July 21st. Aldo (21-1) fought in Brazil in his last fight, a title defending win over Chad Mendes at UFC 142 in January. He was expected to make his return to his home country for UFC 147, but according to MMAJunkie, his training camp feels he will not be ready in time for the June 23rd event. This will be his fourth UFC title defense, as he has defeated Mark Hominick, Kenny Florian, and Mendes within the past year. Koch (13-1) has also enjoyed an undefeated run in the UFC, having gone 2-0 since transitioning over from the WEC. He last fought in September, defeating Jonathan Brookins via unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 25. He was expected to take on Dustin Poirier at UFC 143 in February, but withdrew due to injury. The matchup was expected to determine the number one contender in the featherweight division. Poirier went on to defeat Max Holloway, and is now scheduled to take on Chan Sung Jung at UFC on Fuel TV 3 on May 15th. The other top featherweight contender, Hatsu Hioki, also has a fight scheduled, against Ricardo Lamas at UFC on FX 4 in June. Now Koch will be the one that takes on the champion in Aldo. UFC 149 will also feature a heavyweight matchup between Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Cheick Kongo. For complete coverage of UFC 149, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com

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A featherweight title fight between champion Jose Aldo and challenger Erik Koch will headline July's UFC 149 event in Calgary. MMAjunkie.com today confirmed the plans with multiple sources, who said bout agreements will soon be finalized. At a recent press conference, UFC president Dana White suggested Aldo could be moved from UFC 149 to UFC 147 in Brazil, but a source close to the fighter told MMAjunkie.com the champ wouldn't be ready in time for the earlier date.

Posted in: ufc, champ, bout agreements, aldo, champ wouldnt

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  The previously reported Featherweight title fight between Jose Aldo and rising contender Erik Koch that was rumored for UFC 147 in Brazil will now actually take place at UFC 149 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on July 21. The move was made when it became clear that reigning champion Aldo would not be ready for the June 22 date of UFC 147. So, UFC 147, an event surrounded by a whirlwind of changing plans, will still seek a main event. All of the confusion has stemmed from a scheduling conflict in Rio de

Posted in: ufc, jose aldo, aldo, scheduling conflict, champion aldo

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With Hatsu Hioki off the table and Dustin Poirier scheduled to fight next month it appears UFC featherweight phenom Jose Aldo’s next title-defense will come against Roufusport product Erik Koch. However, while the pairing seems to be in place, the actual date/location are up in the air until the UFC makes an official decision on whether Aldo will stay on the UFC 149 lineup as previously planned or fight in Brazil at UFC 147 with the card’s recent loss of Anderson Silva-Chael Sonnen Part Deux. News of the match-up was first reported by MMAWeekly, confirming things with sources close to both fighters. Koch holds an overall record of 13-1 with ten stoppages including seven by way of submission. His only loss came more than two years ago in a decision defeat to Chad Mendes while under WEC’s banner. The 23-year old has not fought since September but has won his last four fights including success against Raphael Assuncao and Jonathan Brookins. In Aldo he will be facing one of the premier pound-for-pound fighters on the planet and easily the best 145er out there. The 21-1 Aldo has emerged with his hand raised in fourteen consecutive outings with a January knockout of Mendes in his most recent appearance. UFC 147 is scheduled for June 23 and is already slated to feature a rematch between TUF Brasil coaches Wanderlei Silva-Vitor Belfort as well as Fabricio Werdum fighting Mike Russow. Comparably, UFC 149 is set for July 21 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada with bouts between Thiago Alves-Yoshihiro Akiyama and Cheick Kongo-Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira attached to the lineup. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo will likely defend his title against Erik Koch at UFC 147 in Brazil, not at UFC 149 in Calgary.

Posted in: ufc, title, koch, erik koch, aldo

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According to MMAWeekly.com, Erik Koch will step up to face Jose Aldo in the main event of UFC 147 in Brazil. Earlier this week, UFC President Dana White spoke at UFC 148 press event in Rio abot the possibility of having Jose Aldo on the card, in light of the fact that the rematch between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen is now re-scheduled for July 7th. Erik Koch is 13-1 in his MMA career, with 7 Submission and 3 KO/TKO victories. Koch's only loss came against Chad Mendes (via Decision), who was viciosly

Posted in: ufc, koch, jose, aldo, erik

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The list of possible opponents for UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo’s next fight was reduced by one after the UFC revealed Hatsu Hioki will face Ricardo Lamas on June 22 as part of the UFC on FX 4 lineup. Hioki is seen by many as the #2 145-pounder in the world behind Aldo, though the Japanese grappler himself had previously stated he wanted one more warm-up fight before taking a test as stiff as the one Aldo issues each time he steps into the cage. UFC on FX 4 is set for Atlantic City, New Jersey and is headlined by a bout between top lightweights Gray Maynard-Clay Guida. Hioki is currently on a six-fight winning streak including a pair of decisions inside the Octagon, the most recent of which came in February against Bart Palaszewski. He holds an overall record of 26-4-2 including twelve instances of success by way of submission and victories over Jeff Curran, Ronnie Mann, Marlon Sandro, and Mark Hominick. The 11-2 Lamas may not have Hioki’s hype but is a competent competitor nonetheless, going 2-0 inside the Octagon with a pair of stoppages since coming over to the UFC from WEC. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, fx, aldo, hioki, lama

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It has been a tumultuous week of scheduling for UFC 147 but the dust finally appears to be settling as UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo is likely to face Erik Koch in the main event. According to MMAWeekly, the bout has not been officially signed but it has been confirmed by sources close to both parties. Aldo had been expected to fight the winner of the “UFC on Fuel TV 3″ main event between Dustin Poirier and Chan Sung Jung at UFC 149. That changed when the UFC moved an anticipated middleweight title rematch between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen was moved from UFC 147 to UFC 148 in Las Vegas. With Aldo’s fight date being moved up, it was difficult to expect that either Poirier or Jung would be able to be medically cleared, much less ready for a title fight, in little over a month. Koch had originally been expected to face Poirier in February to decide to the number one contender until Koch suffered an injury. Now healed, the dynamic Duke Rufous product will look to take the title in the champion’s home nation. UFC 147 is set for June 23 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil and is expected to co-headlined by a middleweight bout between Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva. The event is also expected to have both the middleweight and featherweight finals of TUF Brazil, as well as a heavyweight bout between Fabricio Werdum and Mike Russow. No venue has currently been set as this post. For complete coverage of UFC 147 and all things MMA, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.

Posted in: ufc, koch, fabricio werdum, aldo, janeiro brazil

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There has been a bunch of confusion over what is actually going to happen at UFC 147 since Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen was moved off the card. Dana White said at the Brazil press conference that Jose Aldo would "probably" be moved onto the card to defend his UFC featherweight title, as opposed to UFC 149 where he was originally scheduled. But who would he fight? Hatsu Hioki was just booked against Ricardo Lamas. Dustin Poirier vs. Chan Sung Jung is only five weeks before UFC 147 (which is tentatively scheduled for June 23rd in Belo Horizonte, Brazil), so who's left? MMA Weekly has your answer: Erik Koch looks like the "to be named opponent" for Aldo's next title defense, whenever the UFC decides on a date for the featherweight champion to get back in action. Sources close to the two fighters confirmed that Koch is the likely candidate to get the shot at Aldo, although bout agreements have not been issued for the 145-pound title fight showdown. 23-year-old Koch (13-1) is currently on a four-fight winning streak. He last stepped into the cage at UFC Fight Night 25 last September, where he defeated Jonathan Brookins by decision. He was scheduled to face Dustin Poirier at UFC 143, but was forced off the card due to injury. Apparently he's healed up now, and will skip the line and get a shot at the champ. We just need to find out when. SBN coverage of UFC 147 SBN coverage of UFC 149

Posted in: ufc, title, koch, aldo, jonathan brookins

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It appears Jose Aldo's next opponent will be one that will gladly stand and trade with him. Retweet this Share on Facebook • Email • StumbleUpon • Reddit • Digg • Technorati • Instapaper • Tumblr • Google Reader • LinkedIn

Posted in: jose, erik koch, aldo, bull, jose aldos

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When the UFC announced that UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo would main event the event in Calgary later this year, it seemed weird that no opponent was ever announced. Now, it appears Aldo is headed to UFC 147 and Brazil, as UFC president Dana White disclosed Monday during a press conference in the South American [...]

Posted in: ufc, press conference, event, jose aldo, aldo

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With the news that the championship fight between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen has been moved to Las Vegas for UFC 148, UFC President Dana White announced that Brazil still very well may be hosting a championship fight, as the organization is discussing the possibility of moving Jose Aldo’s scheduled fight from UFC 149 to UFC 147. Aldo has not had an opponent announced for the July 21st event. White stated “We have talked about moving Jose [Aldo] to this card here. It is probably going to happen. We are working with his camp right now” Aldo (21-1) last fought in Brazil, as he defeated Chad Mendes at UFC 142 in Rio de Janeiro in January. This was his first fight in his home country since May 2007. Since that time, Aldo has become one of the top fighters in Zuffa, first in the WEC and then the UFC. Aldo’s win over Mendes was his third consecutive UFC featherweight title defense, and fifth overall when including defenses of the WEC title. In March, the UFC announced the first event for Canada in 2012, as the UFC will make its debut in Calgary for UFC 149 in July. Aldo was announced as the headliner, but an opponent for “Junior” was not announced. Potential opponents include Hatsu Hioki, Eric Koch, and the winner of the upcoming fight between Dustin Poirier and Chan Sung Jung aka “The Korean Zombie”. That fight headlines UFC on Fuel TV 3 on May 15th. UFC 147 will still feature all other scheduled matchups, including Wanderlei Silva vs. Vitor Belfort, Fabricio Werdum vs. Mike Russow, and The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil finals. For complete coverage of UFC 147, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com

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Calgary is likely getting a new main event with Jose Aldo moving to the new Brazil card and Jon Jones-Dan Henderson a possible replacement.

Posted in: jose aldo, aldo, calgary, calgary calgary, brazil card

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Calgary is likely getting a new main event with Jose Aldo moving to the new Brazil card and Jon Jones-Dan Henderson a possible replacement.

Posted in: brazil, jose aldo, aldo, calgary, brazil card

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The names Frankie Edgar and Jose Aldo have been linked together too many times to count over the past year, a unique feat when considering neither UFC fighter competes at the same weight. However, former lightweight champ Edgar has long been viewed as a small 155er and was even offered a shot at Aldo’s featherweight title if interested. With Edgar seemingly fated to a date with Aldo at some point in their respective careers it appears “The Answer” has resigned himself to the notion, openly admitting he expects to fight the talented Brazilian down the road. “I’m all about fighting big fights, and fighting the best guys, and Jose Aldo’s one of them,” said Edgar on the subject while serving as a guest on The MMA Hour. “We’ll see where it’s at, whether it’s at 145 or 155.” Contrary to Edgar, Aldo is considered a large 145-pounder and has talked about moving up in weight before. Edgar Refuses to Be Pressured Into Dropping Down a Division Edgar’s statement also implied a match-up with Aldo at featherweight is a possibility, backing off his previous stance about staying at 155 pounds for the foreseeable future. “We’ll see what the future holds, but I think it’s inevitable that I’ll eventually get down there. I just don’t know when,” Edgar explained. No date has been set for Edgar’s rematch with current lightweight champion Benson Henderson, while Aldo also remains without an opponent but is expected to fight at UFC 149 in July. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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After years of ignoring frequent suggestions to move to featherweight, former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar now says the shift to a lighter weight class is no doubt in his future. Now, it's just a matter of time. He'll try to ward it off as long as possible after successfully lobbying for a rematch with Ben Henderson, but at some point, he says, he's moving to featherweight."We’ll see what the future holds, but I think it’s inevitable that I’ll eventually get down there," he said during a recent press event in Atlanta. "I just don’t know when." Edgar might have made the move if he hadn't been granted the rematch. Edgar recently met with UFC president Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta at a New York hamburger restaurant, where he convinced them he was worthy of a second opportunity to beat Henderson."I was set on getting this belt back," he said. "We don’t know what the future holds, but I didn’t want to go down on those terms."Edgar said he is hoping that the championship fight will get scheduled for August or September, but White said as of now there was no timetable in place.White had promised that if Edgar chose to drop to 145, he would get an immediate title match with current champ Jose Aldo. According to Edgar, fighting Aldo is still a targeted goal. The only questions are where and when."I’m all about fighting big fights, and fighting the best guys, and Jose Aldo’s one of them," he said. "We’ll see where it’s at, whether it’s at 145 or 155."If Edgar's the champ, maybe he can get Aldo to come to him. If not, he might be the one moving to a newer, smaller neighborhood. That would be welcome news to White, who has repeatedly voiced a preference of Edgar dropping to the lighter weight class."He stressed that he thinks for the longevity of my career, 145 would be better," Edgar said. "I told him I could see what points he was talking about, but right now I wanted the rematch, so he granted it."Mark it down as another case of Edgar's resilience winning out.

Posted in: rematch, future, edgar, aldo, itrsquo

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In the thin Featherweight division, division champion Jose Aldo is fresh off a one-round decimation of then-top contender Chad Mendes. With a the cupboard somewhat bare compared to other weight classes, the ranks of marketable Aldo challengers took another beating when Mark Hominick was blitzed by Chan Sung Jung last December in a stunning seven-second knockout. The shocker wasn't just with how quick it was, but the fact that Hominick's previous bout was a gritty, five-round war with Aldo, where he absorbed a frightful beating early, a massive hematoma en route, and then rallied strong to punish the champion in a dramatic fifth round as Aldo gassed. And, the fact that Jung had never displayed such numbing knockout power before. Such are the fickle fates of mixed martial arts (MMA). That said, Hominick is still a couple wins away from getting another shot at Aldo, simply because he's given the champ more moments of competitive action than everyone else in Aldo's Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) career combined. That road back to the top begins anew tonight (April 21, 2012) when Hominick collides with Eddie Yagin on the UFC 145 pay-per-view (PPV) main card, which will emanate from the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. Yagin is a tough customer with a ground-based style, and he, too, will look to bump his name up a couple notches with a win over a former title challenger. Follow me after the jump for a complete breakdown of the UFC 145 fight between Mark Hominick vs. Eddie Yagin: The Breakdown How Hominick rebounds from the Jung disaster will go a long way toward perception of his viability as a contender. Getting knocked out is always a confidence-tester for a fighter, particularly one like Hominick, whose stock in trade has been the stand up game and his ability to absorb punches in order to deliver his own. He remains a slick stylist with an outstanding guard game, while Yagin will have to assert his own compact frame and turn it into a down-and-dirty kind of match, with clinching, dirty boxing, ground and pound and sticking to Hominick like burnt eggs on a skillet. A game of angles, movement and smooth striking exchanges will be all in Hominick's favor -- I'm not yet convinced that the Jung loss was more than a simple glitch, which happens in MMA with those tiny gloves -- and Hominick has enough confidence in his jiu-jitsu to negate Yagin should he get takedowns. At the very least, Hominick can simply stall for a standup or work back to his feet. The Pick Fights and rounds start standing, and Yagin will be too outgunned on the feet to close the distance and score consistent takedowns. He may get one or two, but Hominick is pretty good as using jiu-jitsu to shut down opponents, and as the Aldo bout showed, he can take a lot of punishment from his back and still keep a clear head. Yagin will eat strikes standing and simply take too much damage over the long haul to be effective enough, outside of the occasional counter strikes and limited ground and pound he'll scrape by on, while getting picked apart. However, Yagin is pretty resilient and Hominick will cruise to a confidence-building win, piling up points and surging late to take a clear-cut decision. Hominick via decision Be sure to join MMAmania.com this evening for LIVE, detailed UFC 145 results of all the "Jones vs. Evans" pay-per-view (PPV) action. It will include blow-by-blow coverage of the Facebook video stream, FX "Prelims" bouts, and of course, the PPV broadcast. We'll start RIGHT HERE at around 7:00 p.m. ET and carry straight on through early Sunday morning. See you then! Jason Probst can be reached at twitter.com/jasonprobst or jasonprobst@gmail.com

Posted in: ufc, fight, hominick, yagin, aldo

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ATLANTA - Former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar is getting his wish: a rematch with current titleholder Benson Henderson. Despite an urging from UFC president Dana White to drop to 145 pounds and face current featherweight champ Jose Aldo, Edgar will instead face Henderson sometime later this year. But that doesn't mean Edgar is ruling out a potential fight with Aldo. In fact, he believes a future meeting with the Brazilian is a near certainty, though he's not sure if it will be 145 or 155 pounds.

Posted in: ufc, jose aldo, edgar, aldo, future date

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Pat Curran has proven he's one of the top featherweights in the world with his recent winning streak, but does that land him just behind Jose Aldo in terms of the best 145-pound fighters?

Posted in: world, jose, jose aldo, aldo, curran

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What says Happy Easter better than UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo and his coach, former UFC heavyweight contender Pedro Rizzo, donning bunny ears and handing out candy ? Nothing at all. They gave chocolate and other Easter goodies to more 400 children in Rio de Janeiro. Aldo looks the exact opposite of intimidating in this picture. Just by looking at the man in bunny ears, you would never think he could knock you out with one flying knee.

Posted in: aldo, bunny ears, candy nothing, easter goodies, easter

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Seasoned UFC veteran Kenny Florian knows what it is like to step inside the Octagon with  featherweight champion Jose Aldo. Florian, who lost to the dynamic Brazilian last year, recently pegged Hatsu Hioki has the #1 contender to face “Scarface” at UFC 149 while lending some insight during this week’s episode of UFC Tonight. So far, only Aldo has been announced for the July 21 card with his opponent being left up in the air. “Hatsu Hioki should be the contender,” Florian said on the show, pointing out both Hioki’s divisional standing and overall skill. “He is the #2 featherweight in the world. He has the reach, length, and experience to give Aldo a hard time.” However, despite Florian’s feelings, Hioki has stated he wants to wait at least one more fight in the UFC before taking on Aldo. The 28-year-old is 28-4-2 in his career and 2-0 inside the Octagon with wins over Bart Palaszewski and George Roop. Aldo, meanwhile, is 21-1 with three wins in the UFC since the WEC was absorbed by the promotion. He has defended his title against Florian, Mark Hominick, and most recently Chad Mendes. Other possibilities besides Hioki include Dustin Poirier and Chan Sung Jung who are destined to dance together in May at UFC on Fuel 3. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, florian, aldo, hioki, bart palaszewski

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On Tuesday’s episode of “UFC Tonight,” Kenny Florian and Ariel Helwani gave their takes on who should be the next contender to UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo. Last week, the UFC announced that Aldo would be in the main event of UFC 149 in July. Florian pointed to Hatsu Hioki as the man to receive the shot at Aldo, but Helwani said Hioki doesn’t want the match yet. “(Hioki) is the No. 2 featherweight in the world,” Florian said. “He has the reach, length and experience to give Aldo a hard time.” Helwani, however, said, “Hioki doesn’t want the fight. I think the UFC should wait for the FUEL TV fight with Chan Sung Jung vs. Dustin Poirier to happen and if Poirier wins on May 15, he should fight Aldo on July 21.” By announcing Aldo as the main event, but holding off on naming his opponent, it would seem the UFC is waiting to figure things out or have someone step up and demand a title shot. For now, “Scarface” will just wait and see who wants to try and knock him off the UFC’s featherweight throne. Photo credit: Tracy Lee/Yahoo! Sports

Posted in: ufc, florian, helwani, aldo, hioki

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Well folks, we're halfway there. 21 days up, 21 days down, and now just 21 days left until the UFC hits with a blistering summer lineup. If you missed it, The Ultimate Fighter: Live and Bellator found a new weekend friend -- TUF: Brazil (which can be seen in its entirety here). Given that Brazilians make up 43-percent of the current UFC champions, expectations for the first international TUF season were understandably high, but if your violence quota was in any way lacking, it admirably filled the void. Plus, where else could we hear Wanderlei Silva bragging about his junk? (More on that later.) 5 MUST-READ STORIES Weekend MMA & boxing results. Catch up on another busy combat sports weekend with MMA results for The Ultimate Fighter: Live, The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil, Bellator 62, United Glory 15 and BAMMA 9, boxing results for Erik Morales vs. Danny Garcia, and fight videos of Patricky Freire vs. Lloyd Woodard, Rick Hawn vs. Ricardo Tirloni, and Kimbo Slice's absurd match against Brian Green. (And again, if you haven't seen the debut episode of TUF: Brazil yet, you can check it out here.) The Ultimate Fighter 15 post-fight power rankings. Cristiano Marcello fell in the weekly TUF 15 power rankings after Justin Lawrence's crushing knockout. M-1 Global sues Vyacheslav Vasilvsky. Bellator middleweight semifinalist Vyacheslav is being sued by M-1 Global over an alleged breach of contract, and could be forced to pay €1,000 for each day in violation (over 365 days, according to M-1), €5,000 for each fight in different promotion (five since 2010), and court fees. Miguel Torres UFC 145 fight blog. Torres talks about his love of Montreal, training for his upcoming bout against Michael McDonald, and the difficulty of locating tacos in Canada in his debut UFC 145 fight blog. Yasubey Enomoto defended M-1 Global title with open wound infection. Former M-1 Global welterweight champ Yasubey Enomoto fought at M-1 Challenge 31 with a large open infection on his shin, which has now spread to his knee as a result of the weight cutting process. Enomoto is currently hospitalized and receiving treatment. MEDIA STEW Where else but a Japanese game show could you see Cyborg Santos duke it out with a shockingly capable male comedian? This battle of the sexes actually gets pretty heated. (HT: Bloody Elbow) Another under the radar nugget from the weekend: Sergei Kharitonov returned to action for the first time since his Strikeforce loss to Josh Barnett. Now watch this ridiculousness and tell me you wouldn't love to see him on the UFC's all-heavyweight card. Three weeks into TUF 15 and not only is Team Cruz dominating the Octagon, they're crushing the YouTube battle as well. Check out The Dominator clowning on Faber in this reenactment. Nice extra touch: the sharpie'd Faber chin. Today's episode of This Week in Questionable Reffing comes from CFC 12, featuring Mark "The Great White Shark" Potter knocking out Larry Watts, a guy wearing a t-shirt waving off the bout, but not actually waving off the bout, and the bout continuing for another one-sided 30 seconds. (HT: Cagepotato) Easily the best part of last night's TUF: Brazil debut: THE CARNY DROPS DOWN I dont have a fight scheduled yet, but my next fight will be at 145 lbs! #UFC #MMA — Nik Lentz Ufc mma (@NikLentz) March 23, 2012 YOU WIN THIS ROUND, ROCKHOLD I have broken through the lines and infiltrated your base camp. @rockholdMMA #CreepingOnAKA twitter.com/TimKennedyMMA/… — Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) March 25, 2012 @rockholdMMA BLASTED!!!! CIA failed again. — Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) March 26, 2012 FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS Announced over the weekend (Friday, March 23, 2012 - Sunday, March 25, 2012): - UFC 148: Jeff Hougland (10-4) out, Ivan Menjivar (24-8) in against Renan Barao (28-1) - UFC on FX 3: Scott Jorgensen (13-5) vs. Eddie Wineland (18-8-1) - UFC on FX 3: Josh Neer (33-10-1) vs. Mike Pyle (22-8-1) - UFC on FX 4: Jim Hettes (10-0) vs. Steven Siler (20-9) - UFC on FUEL 3: Mike Easton (12-1) out, Jeff Hougland (10-4) in against Yves Jabouin (17-7) - Titan Fighting Championship 22: Anthony Johnson (10-4) vs. Dave Branch (10-2) - Super Fight League 2: Gabe Ruediger (17-8) out, Ryan Healy (19-10) in against Paul Kelly (12-4) FANPOST OF THE DAY Today's Fanpost of the Day is a fantastic rundown on the future of the 145-pound division by Bloody Elbow's fightinghistorian: Can Jose Aldo be Beaten? A Meditation on Perfection in MMA Today Jose Aldo is currently riding a fourteen-fight winning streak, with eight of those wins coming by absolutely vicious knockout. He has not been seriously tested during that time: in fact, he has only lost three or at most four rounds out of twenty-eight since making his debut in the WEC, and has never found himself anywhere close to being finished or losing a decision. I say this not to rehearse the obvious point - that Aldo is really, really good - but to emphasize the sheer enormity of his dominance since reaching the biggest stage in MMA. It's possible that we've never seen a fighter as well-rounded as Jose Aldo, GSP included, and I would argue that we've never seen anyone with his combination of well-roundedness, explosive athleticism, and absolutely vicious finishing ability. At this point, then, one question stands out: who is capable of beating Jose Aldo? My intention here is to briefly discuss all possible challengers, with the goal of discerning who precisely has the best chance of beating him at featherweight; there are potential matchups at 155 as well, but I'd like to focus on the here and now. Let's start with the obvious contenders first. For each, I'll give a brief rundown of when they might expect to receive a title shot, the most likely fashion in which such a fight would play out, and finally my guess at what the betting line would be, purely as a means of quantifying the likelihood of a win by the contender. (Note: -400 means that Aldo would be a 4-to-1 favorite, for example). After running through the list, I'll conclude with a discussion of what Aldo's dominance means for the sport of MMA as a whole. Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.

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This fan post has been promoted to the front page Jose Aldo is currently riding a fourteen-fight winning streak, with eight of those wins coming by absolutely vicious knockout. He has not been seriously tested during that time: in fact, he has only lost three or at most four rounds out of twenty-eight since making his debut in the WEC, and has never found himself anywhere close to being finished or losing a decision. I say this not to rehearse the obvious point - that Aldo is really, really good - but to emphasize the sheer enormity of his dominance since reaching the biggest stage in MMA. It's possible that we've never seen a fighter as well-rounded as Jose Aldo, GSP included, and I would argue that we've never seen anyone with his combination of well-roundedness, explosive athleticism, and absolutely vicious finishing ability. At this point, then, one question stands out: who is capable of beating Jose Aldo? My intention here is to briefly discuss all possible challengers, with the goal of discerning who precisely has the best chance of beating him at featherweight; there are potential matchups at 155 as well, but I'd like to focus on the here and now. Let's start with the obvious contenders first. For each, I'll give a brief rundown of when they might expect to receive a title shot, the most likely fashion in which such a fight would play out, and finally my guess at what the betting line would be, purely as a means of quantifying the likelihood of a win by the contender. (Note: -400 means that Aldo would be a 4-to-1 favorite, for example). After running through the list, I'll conclude with a discussion of what Aldo's dominance means for the sport of MMA as a whole. Hatsu Hioki: It seems likely that Hioki will receive the next title shot (slated for July), and frankly I'm not thrilled about his chances. He has a solid standup game, and relies heavily on his long jab, straight right, and low kicks; in the clinch, he shows good takedowns and the ability to generate some offense. His top game, however, is by far his best asset: alternately suffocating and vicious, Hioki is capable of dropping heavy ground and pound, usually in order to set up a submission. I'm not familiar with his guard game, but given his build and otherwise good BJJ game I'd assume that it's solid at worst and potentially excellent (if anyone has more information, please say so in the comments). In a potential fight with Aldo, however, Hioki would be badly overmatched: his standup game is light years behind Aldo's, and the champion's speed would likely be the difference maker. It's also unlikely, given Aldo's astounding takedown defense, that Hioki would be able to implement his top game, and even if he did Aldo's own ground skills are far from meager. I'd bet on Aldo by knockout. Potential betting line: Aldo -400. Chan Sung Jung: The Zombie's impressive wins over Garcia and Hominick have catapulted him from entertaining brawler to potential title challenger, with a title shot likely on the line (presumably to be contested in the fall) in his upcoming matchup with Dustin Poirier. Even if Jung manages to get past Poirier - and I doubt that he will - a fight with Aldo would be like a lamb to the slaughter. If Leonard Garcia was able to repeatedly tag him in both of their fights and Roop could land a flush high kick, Aldo can do bad, bad things. Given the difficulty involved in getting Aldo to the ground, it's difficult to imagine the Zombie implementing his creative submission game, either. Aldo by KO would be the pick here. Potential betting line: Aldo -600. Dustin Poirier: I'm much, much higher on the long-term prospects of Poirier than I am of Hioki or Jung, for several reasons. First, Poirier's game is very well-rounded, especially considering his relative youth: he's been fighting as a professional for less than three years (with several amateur fights before then), but is capable of finishing both on the feet and on the ground, and possesses a deep arsenal of submissions. Second, he has the kind of explosive athleticism that's now a prerequisite for competing at the highest levels of MMA; he might not be on Aldo's level in that regard, but is still light years beyond Jung or Hioki. Third, and perhaps most important within the context of a potential matchup with Aldo, Poirier is a finisher. When he smells blood or gets his opponent in a bad position, the ground and pound and submission attempts come fast and furious. Of all the fighters currently competing at 145, I'd give Poirier the best chance of eventually dethroning Aldo, but he's still very green and ideally could use another three fights (roughly a year) to deepen his skills. Given the likely timeframe for a fight with Aldo, however, give me Aldo by decision in a fight that happens this fall; too much speed and too much experience would be the difference-maker here. Potential betting line:Aldo -300. Erik Koch: Koch is another potential challenger on whom I'm very high. He could potentially be slotted in to face Aldo this summer, though I think it's more likely that Hioki gets the shot, or he could be tapped for that match in the fall or sometime next year. Simply put, the more time the better: Koch has only recently made the jump from prospect to legitimate top-10 contender, and while he's made enormous strides from his first fight in the WEC to his last performance against Brookins, he's still raw. Though he may not possess the athleticism of his stablemate Anthony Pettis, his skill sets are quite similar: unorthodox, powerful kickboxing, solid clinch work, excellent takedown defense (with the exception of the Mendes fight more than two years ago), and a good if not spectacular ground game. Out of all of the fighters I've mentioned here, Koch presents the most interesting challenge on the feet for Aldo: he's long and rangy, and knows how to emphasize his reach by means of the jab and his kicking game. It would be fascinating to see whether Aldo could use his speed advantage to close the distance. Still, if the fight were this summer, I'd take Aldo by submission or ground and pound TKO; next year, I think Koch would have progressed enough to weather out a decision loss. Potential betting line: Aldo -350. Frankie Edgar: Although he's slated to receive a rematch with Ben Henderson this summer, there's still a good chance that Frankie makes the cut to 145 at some point in the future. Out of all the potential challengers to Aldo's throne, I think Edgar has the best chance of beating him right now. He has the cardio to really push the pace - the one area in which Aldo's shown even a sliver of weakness in the last several years - and his technically sound movement could make it difficult for Aldo to stalk him down and land his strikes. Moreover, Edgar's ability to mix his strikes and takedown attempts gives him a legitimate shot of putting Aldo on his back despite the champ's preternatural defensive skills; although Edgar hasn't shown much of a top game, successful takedowns would be essential to breaking up Aldo's rhythm on the feet. While there's a clear path for Edgar to win that fight, I don't rate his chances too highly: the real difference-maker, in my opinion, would be Aldo's use of low kicks to first redirect Frankie's movement and eventually take it away altogether with cumulative damage to the legs. Additionally, for a fighter as hittable as Frankie, the power in Aldo's strikes could easily spell disaster. Potential betting line: Aldo -200. It should be clear at this point that I don't believe Aldo can be beaten by anyone currently capable of making the cut to 145. Should he move up to 155, I think the monsters of the division, most notably Henderson and Maynard, could physically overpower him. Henderson in particular would be a nightmarish matchup on the feet in terms of his ability to use kicks to control the range, and he could match Aldo's speed and explosiveness with a much bigger frame. Even then, I'd still have Aldo as a favorite over Maynard and probably even money with Bendo. At 145, however, there's nobody who fits that profile, and barring the meteoric rise of a new prospect the belt is his for the foreseeable future. The more interesting question, to my way of thinking, is precisely what the past and potential future dominance of Jose Aldo tells us about the current state of MMA. I touched on this earlier, but I'd like to go into more specific depth: that dominance is a function of several factors. First, Aldo is possibly the most well-rounded fighter in MMA. He possesses technically sound boxing skills, vicious step-up knees and kicks, preternatural takedown defense, an explosive wrestling shot, and the ground skills to get the better of Kenny Florian, a well-respected black belt. Second, I'd argue that he's the best athlete, in the sense of speed and explosiveness, currently competing in MMA: the other contenders would be GSP and Jon Jones, but neither of them appears to be operating in a different gear in the way that Aldo does when compared to his opponents. Third, Aldo is a true finisher, with a prime-Shogun level of killer instinct; he was battling a serious illness during the Hominick fight, and still put a beating on him, while Florian survived only by following the most conservative possible gameplan to a T. What's more striking, however, is that Aldo's finishes aren't a product of the wild, unorthodox techniques that someone like Jones uses to set up his more conventional top game and submission attempts. Instead, he throws everything from his low kicks to flying knees with picture-perfect technique, and his finishes are a product of that repeated technical perfection (see the excellent Bloody Elbow Judo Chop on his low kicks, for example). Aside from the speed with which it was thrown (something you could say about any Jose Aldo strike), the knee that nearly decapitated Mendes was nothing special: it's a pretty standard Muay Thai technique that any competent instructor will have you practice hundreds, if not thousands, of times a year. via www.mma-core.com What is special about it, however, is the context in which Aldo threw the strike: Mendes had his back, but Aldo broke wrist control, spun, and then delivered the knee flush to Mendes' chin. That sequence incorporates a transition from clinch-grappling to striking in the space of a heartbeat, and transitions of that kind are the core of what makes modern MMA a sport in its own right, rather than a simple amalgamation of different styles. Aldo's ability to generate knockout offense from any position, especially during those fleeting transitional moments, makes him the perfect fighter for this day and age of MMA, and truly puts him in a league of his own.

Posted in: fight, mma, year, game, aldo

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UFC president Dana White announced that featherweight champion Jose Aldo will headline UFC 149 in Calgary on July 21, topping out what he promises will be a "sick card."

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Posted in: jose, jose aldo, aldo, reminder, villagejester

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UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo has been announced as one-half the main event for UFC 149, UFC president Dana White revealed during a press conference in Calgary, Alberta, Canada on Wednesday. “The headliner here will be Jose Aldo. He’ll be defending his title here. We don’t know that (an opponent). This card is still so far away, we’re working on it.” Aldo has previously defended his title in Canada, downing Mark Hominick at UFC 129 in 2011. That fight took place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Since joining the UFC from the WEC, “Scarface” has downed Hominick, Kenny Florian and Chad Mendes. He carries a 21-1 record in his career. Anthony Pettis was once rumored as a possible opponent for Aldo, but he has said that he will not move down from lightweight to featherweight. Hatsu Hioki, who has won both his UFC bouts, is a possible opponent for Aldo, as he does not have a match on the horizon. Photo credit: Felipe Dana/AP Photo

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UFC president Dana White announced that featherweight champion Jose Aldo will headline UFC 149 in Calgary on July 21. “The headliner here will be Jose Aldo. He’ll be defending his title here,” said White during a press conference in Calgary on Wednesday. One side of the UFC 149 main event is in place, but Aldo’s opponent will be named at a later date. “We don’t know that. This card is still so far away, we’re working on it,” answered White when asked who Aldo will face.

Posted in: ufc, jose, jose aldo, aldo, calgary dana

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The Ultimate Fighting Championship announced on Wednesday tha featherweight champion Jose Aldo will headline UFC 149 on July 21 in Calgary

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The UFC made official its first trip to Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on Wednesday, announcing UFC 149 for the city on July 21 with featherweight champ Jose Aldo headlining against an opponent still to...

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  Contrary to popular belief the key to a successful relationship is not shutting up, making sandwiches and providing sexual relations at will. Although these things are important in providing temporary surface level happiness, if you plan on sticking with someone for the long haul you've got to get a little deeper than ham and cheese on rye and frequent acts of fellatio. It seems the key to successful relationships is a little something called self sacrifice and the balance of give and take. Shocking to many of you I know, but trust me-it works. If you want to keep that special sandwich maker in your life, you need to give a little-to get a little. This applies to all kinds of relationships-not just the ones that consist of slapping some meat and special sauce between buns. It also applies to friendships and work realtionships. Let's take Frankie Edgar and Jose Aldo as an example. There's been plenty of talk amongst the MMA community about Frankie dropping down to featherweight to face the champ Jose Aldo. Frankie though, is not feeling this idea at all and has refused to entertain that kind of sacrifice. There's nothing wrong with that. That's his prerogative. Jose Aldo on the other hand, has evaluated this situation and according to a recent talk with Sherdog.com, looks like he is willing to make a personal sacrifice in order to maintain a working relationship with Frankie Edgar: "Edgar thinks he won against Henderson, so he really had to stay in his division and get the rematch. If he comes to featherweight, we’ll fight. Many people want to see it. Having Edgar, a former lightweight champion, would be amazing for the featherweight division, but if he doesn’t come down to 145 pounds, in the future, I’m going to have to move to lightweight." Frankie is happy with things how they are and doesn't want them to change, but Jose is ready to take their relationship to the next level. Story of most of our lives. It's like the conversation you have with your girlfriend every Saturday when she forces you to watch another "Say Yes to the Dress" marathon on TLC. [source]

Posted in: jose, jose aldo, edgar, frankie, aldo

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Contrary to popular belief the key to a successful relationship is not shutting up, making sandwiches and providing sexual relations at will. Although these things are important in providing temporary surface level happiness, if you plan on sticking with someone for the long haul you've got to get a little deeper than ham and cheese on rye and frequent acts of fellatio. It seems the key to successful relationships is a little something called self sacrifice and the balance of give and take. Shocking to many of you I know, but trust me-it works. If you want to keep that special sandwich maker in your life, you need to give a little-to get a little. This applies to all kinds of relationships-not just the ones that consist of slapping some meat and special sauce between buns. It also applies to friendships and work realtionships. Let's take Frankie Edgar and Jose Aldo as an example. There's been plenty of talk amongst the MMA community about Frankie dropping down to featherweight to face the champ Jose Aldo. Frankie though, is not feeling this idea at all and has refused to entertain that kind of sacrifice. There's nothing wrong with that. That's his prerogative. Jose Aldo on the other hand, has evaluated this situation and according to a recent talk with Sherdog.com, looks like he is willing to make a personal sacrifice in order to maintain a working relationship with Frankie Edgar: "Edgar thinks he won against Henderson, so he really had to stay in his division and get the rematch. If he comes to featherweight, we’ll fight. Many people want to see it. Having Edgar, a former lightweight champion, would be amazing for the featherweight division, but if he doesn’t come down to 145 pounds, in the future, I’m going to have to move to lightweight." Frankie is happy with things how they are and doesn't want them to change, but Jose is ready to take their relationship to the next level. Story of most of our lives. It's like the conversation you have with your girlfriend every Saturday when she forces you to watch another "Say Yes to the Dress" marathon on TLC. [source]

Posted in: jose, jose aldo, edgar, frankie, aldo

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will today announce at a special press conference at Flames Center it will bring an event to Calgary, Alberta, Canada, for the very first time with UFC 149 on July 21, 2012, at the Scotiabank Saddledome. And Jose Aldo will be defending his featherweight championship on the card. That's the word from Yahoo! Sports reporter Kevin Iole, who tweeted the news yesterday. He also revealed that it's unlikely Aldo's title defense will be announced by the promotion at the press conference today. That could be because UFC President Dana White is loathe to let such things out of the bag, especially when he hasn't yet made a match-up for his 145-pound king. And that could be because there isn't quite a convincing challenger to "Scarface's" throne. Just days ago, I broke down a few potential names for the Brazilian's next defense. Tops on the list was Anthony Pettis, who we now know will undergo surgery and be out until late in the summer. Second was Dustin Poirier, but he's booked to fight Chan Sung Jung on May 15 at UFC on FUEL TV 3 in Fairfax, Virginia. Number three on the list? None other than Hatsu Hioki, who is currently without a fight booking and on a six-fight winning streak. Do we have a winner? Stay tuned.

Posted in: ufc, jose aldo, aldo, hatsu hioki, championship ufc

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Despite the fact that the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) as we know it today is not yet 20-years-old, we've gone through a few eras. I won't bother to get into what they are, I just make mention of them because we're now in the era of the dominant champion. Five of the seven major weight classes (let's not add flyweight just yet) in the UFC feature a champion with multiple title defense under their belt and no end in sight to their respective reign at the top of their divisions. One of them, featherweight king Jose Aldo, can't even find a challenger to his throne. It's not for lack of trying on part of matchmakers. UFC President Dana White has done his damnedest to find a suitable lightweight to shed some skin for an immediate title shot at 145-pounds. Just as soon as Frankie Edgar lost the lightweight championship to Ben Henderson, White was on the phone attempting to set up a fight against Aldo. "The Answer" resisted, though, and was eventually granted a rematch. Then talk turned to Anthony Pettis, another top 155-pound contender with enough credibility to earn an immediate crack at "Scarface." But after initial flirtation with the idea, "Showtime" emphatically denied he was seriously considering it and vowed to win the belt he actually wants, which is the title currently sitting somewhere close to Henderson. Other lightweights who made the drop (Ross Pearson, Dennis Siver) simply don't measure up. It's difficult to understand why exactly elite lightweights are passing up a chance to square off against one of the pound-for-pound best fighters in the world. This is cagefighting, of course, so fear certainly isn't something to consider, or at least you wouldn't think. It's baffling, though, that multiple men have been told they could headline a UFC event and fight one of the best in the world for a title and have said no. Aldo, meanwhile, languishes on the sidelines, lying in wait for someone, anyone, to step up to the plate. The list of potentials is short -- let's go with five -- but let's see if we can't find one for him. Anthony Pettis -- Okay, so he already said no and he's not dropping down. But someone needs to get in his ear and explain to him that he could headline an event against one of the best in the world with a title on the line that he could help bring prestige to. Is featherweight as deep as lightweight? Of course not, but considering he's a far more marketable champion, if he had the title, the promotion could get behind him and push him to the sky. Dustin Poirier -- He first made waves when he destroyed Josh Grispi, who had previously been scheduled to fight Aldo. Since then, "The Diamond" has fine tuned and sharpened his skills to the point that a win over Chan Sung Jung this upcoming May 15 in Virginia will put him next in line. Can he win? Maybe. That's enough to give him a shot. Hatsu Hioki -- He's on a six fight winning streak and is 2-0 inside the Octagon but hasn't exactly blown anyone away with his performances since making his way stateside. Still, he's solid when the fight hits the floor and could avoid Aldo where he's most deadly. He's a long shot to win but a viable challenge nonetheless. Frankie Edgar -- His inclusion on this list is based on two things: 1) Featherweight seriously lacks depth and 2) Aldo really, really wants to fight him. It's too bad, really, that he feels like it would be a slight to the 155-pound weight class to move down because he would bring out the very best in "Scarface." At the end of the day, it's one of the best match-ups available that may never happen. It would also be one of the most competitive main event level matches ever. This fight needs to happen sometime or another, even if Edgar loses to Ben Henderson again when they hook back up. Chan Sung Jung -- Believe it or not, he's the next best option. If he bests Poirier at UFC on FUEL TV 3, that will only give him four wins in his last seven fights but he will have ripped off three in a row, two in seriously impressive fashion. Remember the twister submission of Leonard Garcia? Or the seven second knockout of Mark Hominick? Destroy Poirier and he's headed for the big time, even if a rude awakening awaits him. That's the lay of the land, folks. Sadly, we're rapidly approaching the point where we'll start bugging UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz to move up in weight to challenge Aldo. One thing is for certain, though: the sooner the Brazilian butt-kicker gets back inside the cage, the better. Now, Maniacs, tell me who you want to see him fight next.

Posted in: ufc, fight, title, aldo, he

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With Bellator getting its sixth season underway, and Pat Curran beating Joe Warren to become the promotion's featherweight champion, take a minute to consider just how much Curran's profile has risen in the mixed martial arts world since he signed with Bellator two years ago. Curran originally entered the promotion for its Season 2 lightweight tournament, and at the time he was a little-known fighter whom people figured was just a throw-in for a tournament that was expected to anoint Roger Huerta as the No. 1 contender for champion Eddie Alvarez. Instead, Curran beat Huerta on the way to winning the tournament. Although Curran lost his title fight against Alvarez, he then moved down to featherweight for last summer's Bellator tournament, and he was even more impressive at 145 pounds. His brutal knockouts of Marlon Sandro and Joe Warren in his last two fights have been extraordinary, and he has now firmly established himself as one of the truly elite featherweights in MMA. So where does he rank? Find out below. Top 10 Featherweights in Mixed Martial Arts (Number in parentheses is the fighter's previous ranking.) 1. Jose Aldo (1): The champion is so far ahead of the pack that the UFC isn't quite sure what to do with him: UFC President Dana White wanted Frankie Edgar to move down to featherweight and challenge Aldo, but Edgar didn't want to do it. It's still not clear who Aldo will face next, but it is clear that he'll be heavily favored. 2. Hatsu Hioki (2): Hioki left Japan as Sengoku's champion and has now improved to 2-0 in the UFC. He's the most likely challenger for Aldo, although the UFC's hesitance to put that fight together suggests they question whether Hioki is ready. 3. Pat Curran (4): One of the many reasons to love Curran is that he is still only 24 years old -- younger than Aldo. He's only going to get better, and he may some day be the best featherweight in the world, period. 4. Chad Mendes (3): Mendes suffered a tough loss to Aldo in January, but with his wrestling prowess he can take down and control almost anyone else at 145 pounds. I could see him winning a whole lot of decisions and becoming the Jon Fitch of the featherweight division. 5. Erik Koch (5): Koch is still on the shelf with an injury after dropping out of his planned fight with Dustin Poirier at UFC 143, and there's no word when he'll be back. 6. Dustin Poirier (8): Poirier's May 15 main event against Chan Sung Jung could give the UFC its next featherweight title contender. Poirier is now 4-0 since moving into the UFC featherweight division and coming off a great submission win over Max Holloway in February. 7. Chan Sung Jung (9): The Korean Zombie has a huge opportunity against Poirier. He's already beloved by hard-core fans but fighting in a main event will give him a big chance to get the UFC's promotional muscle behind him, and a chance to earn a shot against Aldo. 8. Tatsuya Kawajiri (7): Kawajiri earned his 30th pro win on New Year's Eve and has now earned two very impressive wins since dropping down to featherweight. The only problem is the Japanese MMA scene has dried up to such an extent that there aren't many good opponents for him. 9. Bart Palaszewski (6): Hioki ran right through Palaszewski at UFC 144, but his punching power makes him a threat to anyone at 145 pounds. 10. Charles Oliveira: Dropping down to featherweight was a great move for Oliveira. His calf slicer submission of Eric Wisely was one of the best submissions of the year so far, and with his height and at age 22 he has a great future in the featherweight division.

Posted in: ufc, featherweight, aldo, curran, poirier

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The idea of Anthony Pettis dropping to featherweight to fight for Jose Aldo's 145 pound title picked up a lot of steam when his manager made the statement that Pettis would do it "for the right terms." While the idea of the fight seemed amazing as Pettis and Aldo almost certainly couldn't put on a bad fight, there were immediate rebuttals to the idea that Pettis would actually drop in weight. Anthony took to his Twitter late last night to make it clear he was not dropping any time soon: @ShowtimepettisAnthony Pettis I'm not dropping to 145 to fight aldo! 155 is my home and I'll get that belt soon!!! #fb Mar 14 via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet Reply Thoughts after the jump... You can't really blame Pettis as he is probably only one win away from a lightweight title shot. I've said it before but it bears repeating; MMA fans are becoming way to quick to call for fighters to jump around in weight. Maybe it's my having watched boxing for far too long, but asking guys to drop over 6% of their total body weight is no small request and can have a significant impact on performance. I'd love to see Pettis and Aldo mix it up at some point in the future, but I'd rather wait until it makes sense for either guy.

Posted in: fight, anthony pettis, petti, aldo, right terms

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I get the feeling Jose Aldo really wants to fight Frankie Edgar. It was a fight that almost came to fruition when UFC President Dana White offered the former lightweight Champion an immediate title shot if he was willing to drop to 145 pounds. Unfortunately "The Answer" was "no," and Edgar was instead granted a rematch against Ben Henderson later this summer. Aldo is undeterred. While he maps out a rough gameplan for fighting the winner of Dustin Poirier vs. Chan Sung Jung, who battle for the right to face "Junior" for the featherweight strap later this year, Aldo still maintains the desire to fight Edgar somewhere down the road. Even if it means moving to lightweight. "Having Edgar, a former lightweight champion, would be amazing for the featherweight division, but if he doesn’t come down [to 145 pounds], in the future, I’m going to have to move to lightweight," Aldo told Sherdog.com. But is it too early to start planning a trip north? Perhaps. Anthony Pettis, who continues to miss out on the chance to compete for 155-pound gold, has also teased a drop to featherweight if he gets the same deal as Edgar. Namely, an immediate title shot. But he'll have to get in line. Right now the Brazilian's primary focus is the outcome of Poirier vs. Jung at UFC on FUEL TV 3, which goes down on May 15, 2012, from the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia. After that? Well, that remains to be seen.

Posted in: title shot, featherweight, edgar, aldo, fight edgar

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The last man to hold the World Extreme Championship (WEC) lightweight title, Anthony Pettis, wanted to prove that beating Ben Henderson to earn that distinction was not a fluke. In order to do that, he required a "Smooth" rematch against "Bendo," who took over the 155-pound throne under the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) banner by outpointing Frankie Edgar last month in Japan. "Showtime" held up his end of the bargain by cleaning the clock of Boston grappler Joe Lauzon, also at UFC 144, and put himself in prime position to make it two in a row against Henderson. Unfortunately nobody cleared it with Edgar. His "Answer" to UFC President Dana White, who urged the Jersey Shore native to drop a few pounds and challenge Jose Aldo for the featherweight crown in the promotion's desolate 145-pound division, was an emphatic "No." Edgar instead wanted a Henderson rematch based on the (mildly) controversial finish from their championship tilt at the Saitama Super Arena. Wish granted. That means Pettis will have to fend off another round of lightweight hopefuls to keep his spot in line. Or he can do what Edgar wouldn't, and shed some skin to give "Junior" the fits in a featherweight title fight. A move his manager tells Ariel Helwani (via UFC Tonight) is currently under consideration. "I spoke to Anthony's manager just a few hours ago and he told me that he was really disappointed, but he respects the decision. He would consider going down to 145 to fight Aldo. This is definitely something to monitor." Pettis (15-2) is currently 2-1 as a ZUFFA employee and already coughed up one lightweight title shot after getting mugged by Clay Guida in June 2011. Does he stick around and risk another possible loss to a decorated wrestler like Gray Maynard, or see what kind of impact he can make against Aldo? Thoughts?

Posted in: ufc, petti, ben henderson, edgar, aldo

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Last week, my elbow looked like an artist’s canvas from the expressionist era. It’s the result of partnering with someone who’s considerably better than me at my local Thai boxing institution. At the end of the night, I thanked my partner for the ass whooping and proceeded to drown my sorrow over a fishbowl-size glass of horchata. A few hours later, I was contemplating what it would be like to work with someone like Jose Aldo and expressed heartfelt glee that I was thousands of miles from the UFC featherweight champion. In the case of Aercio Medina, he actually won the opportunity to train with Jose Aldo and immediately boarded a plane from Sao Paulo to Nova Uniao HQ to collect his battle wounds from the best 145 lb male MMA fighter in the world. Props to TATAME for the banner. [Source]

Posted in: jose, mma fighter, jose aldo, aldo, world props

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [comment]

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[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on FighterXFashion.com, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] Over the past few years Dethrone has dropped some great looking signature tees. But the Jose Aldo signature collection has always stood out with a samurai warrior theme that’s been tough to beat. From his days as the WEC featherweight champion, to his current title reign in the UFC, the Dethrone Jose Aldo T-shirt collection has grown to include several walkout styles like the Aldo Storm T-shirt, Aldo Battle Call tee, and the classic samurai mask design which the champ wore for his walkout back at WEC 51 when he defended his title against Manny Gamburyan. Now you can add Aldo’s signature style just about anywhere with these limited edition Jose Aldo stickers from Dethrone. Scoop up the 10 pack shown below and score a free Dethrone Royalty lanyard while you’re at it. Check out the Stickers

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Jose Aldo is still the man to beat in the UFC‘s featherweight division given the talented Brazilian’s ability to withstand multiple challengers to his crown. One man who seemed poised to break into the role of contender recently had an injury ending his hopes, though now he seems ready to fight again in the next few months. Erik Koch, who is on a four-fight winning streak, was set to face Dustin Poirier last month before being knocked out of the bout for health-related reasons. Now, according to manager Mike Roberts, Koch is targeting a return in June and will be seeking a bout with a 145er who can help advance him towards his goal of challenging for Aldo’s belt. “A training injury required him to take a little bit of time off,” explained Roberts to MMAWeekly. “He took the time off, got his body back healthy. He should be back in there around June. I’ll be pretty excited for that.” Koch, who trains with Duke Roufus, could become the top threat to Aldo by default with another big win. Poirier has set he doesn’t feel ready to compete for the title quite yet, while Hatsu Hioki could be next in line for “Scarface” already based on his big win over Bart Palaszewski at UFC 144. “I’m looking for him to be back in June with a big fight, as well,” Roberts said of his 13-1 client. “Getting him right in there and getting a crack at Jose Aldo.” “New Breed” has earned three early stoppages in his four consecutive victories, while his lone career loss has come at the hands of former #1 contender Chad Mendes in 2010. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, koch, robert, aldo, june

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Even with an immediate shot at Jose Aldo dangled before him, former UFC lightweight champ Frankie Edgar wants his rematch against Benson Henderson.

Posted in: jose, jose aldo, frankie, aldo, henderson rematch

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Leading up to his unsuccessful bid to remain UFC lightweight champ this past weekend at UFC 144, former title-holder Frankie Edgar fielded countless questions surrounding the possibility of him dropping down to 145 pounds. After losing to Benson Henderson the level of speculation was amped up even further with Edgar responding to more queries about his weight than his actual performance against Henderson. Though fans, media members, and even his employers may be pushing for Edgar to make the move to featherweight, at least one person with an intimate knowledge of the division thinks Edgar would be wise to reconsider. Andre Pederneiras, who is divisional champion Jose Aldo’s primary coach at Nova Uniao, recently went on Twitter to warn Edgar about the risk of swimming in the pool with a shark like his star pupil. “The biggest advantage that Edgar has he would lose at 66kg…his speed,” the widely respected trainer wrote before adding, “Aldo keeps the belt.” Edgar himself has also been opposed to the idea of joining the featherweight roster, stating he wants an immediate rematch with Henderson based on how close their original encounter was not to mention how competitive he’s been in general at 155 pounds. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, henderson, featherweight, edgar, aldo

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It's lonely at the top, especially when you are decimating challengers. That's definitely applicable to current featherweight boss Jose Aldo, whose January knockout of Chad Mendes made the case for future challengers seem hopelessly remote. Troubled in his previous two defenses with a tough weight cut, the Brazilian seemed somewhat human in taking decisions against Mark Hominick and Kenny Florian before returning to vintage form in his last outing. Watching the next best guy, Hatsu Hioki, plow through an over-matched Bart Palaszewski at UFC 144 last night (Sat., Feb. 25, 2012) in Japan, I couldn't help but contemplate Aldo moving to up to 155-pounds. That's no knock on Hioki, a tough fighter who's put together a solid set of performances, including a big win over Marlon Sandro, a stablemate of Aldo's. I just didn't see anything in any phase of the game that would remotely threaten Aldo, who possesses perhaps the best takedown defense in the game along with incredible stand-up skills. Aldo's takedown defense is so good, in fact, it has effectively obscured his jiu-jitsu, which may, incredibly enough, be the best weapon in his arsenal, at least credentials-wise. He was a four-time Brazilian champion, and won a world title, as well. We'd probably know a lot more about it if it weren't for the fact that he dominates people on the feet and is so incredibly hard to take -- and keep -- down. At a certain point of dominance, champions can still be marketable if they're exciting in dominant wins. That's pretty much where Anderson Silva has been for many of his nine title defenses, though he's had a couple of forgettable duds in there. A look at the USA Today/SB Nation rankings only strengthens the case for Aldo moving up. Of the top 10 fighters -- and we're bumping up Chan Sung Jung from 11 to 10 in place of Palaszewski -- there isn't a lot of viable promotional material to supply compelling contenders. Mendes was built on an undefeated record and a solid streak of wins over increasingly tough opposition. With Jung squaring off against Dustin Poirier on May 15 as the headlining attraction at UFC on Fuel TV 3, that supplies a contender in the short-term. But while those two are decent fighters, I doubt the victor would be less than a 6-1 dog at the betting window against Aldo. When pretty much every existing challenger is a long shot like that, the pressure to move up only grows. Ironically, I'd still make Mendes the best shot to beat Aldo. But the champ won so quickly, he effectively scuttled any rematch talk until Mendes puts together an unreal streak of wins mixed with exciting performances to merit another shot. It also simply makes sense for Aldo to move up. He's having trouble making the weight at 145-pounds, and his style probably translates better than any existing champion. It could even be similar to Silva's moves up to light heavyweight, where Aldo takes on a respectable contender to test the waters and create some additional buzz. Who wouldn't want to see him against Clay Guida? It's also a no-lose proposition. If he's beaten, he can always return to featherweight for the time being. It's just another promotional angle to help showcase an extremely talented fighter, one running out of challenges in his division, and a guy that is definitely deserving of all the attention he can get. Dominick Cruz is dug in at 135-pounds for the time being. The lightweight title is going to be hard for anyone to hold, much less send them to welterweight. Georges St. Pierre is never moving to 185-pounds as long as Anderson Silva's there, in my opinion. And Silva has made it clear that he's not overly interested in tackling Jon Jones just yet (give each of them two more defenses, though, and circumstances will be ideal for a Silva vs. Jones superfight). And Jones, while perhaps eventually destined to compete at heavyweight, is in the beginning of what could be one of the greatest title runs ever. There's no need to fix what isn't broken, there. I'd give Aldo as good a shot as any of them at capturing a belt in the next weight class up. It's definitely preferable to seeing him keep destroying outmatched challengers, because that's pretty much all you can envision given the featherweight rankings. Jason Probst can be reached at Jason@jasonprobst.com or twitter.com/jasonprobst.

Posted in: shot, defense, move, weight class, aldo

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The miracles ran out for Frankie Edgar. What's likely to continue though, are the questions. Questions about where he truly belongs. Long considered an undersized lightweight despite his title reign, Edgar didn't have to wait long after his UFC 144 loss to be asked about where his future lies. Is it at 155, where he'll continue to be outsized, or at 145, where he'll be an instant contender and might get an immediate title match against Jose Aldo?Edgar had no answer on Sunday afternoon in Saitama, Japan, moments after losing his belt to Ben Henderson. "It's not something I'm thinking about now, to be honest with you," he said in his typically understated style. He'll have to consider it soon though, especially with UFC president Dana White repeatedly implying that Edgar could be offered a fight with Aldo. But for right now, how can you blame him? It's not as if he was blown out of the water by Henderson. It was a fight that was fairly competitive, aside a powerful Henderson upkick that may have broken Edgar's nose. That strike led to visible damage that made the bout look more lopsided than it actually was.Edgar thought he won the fight, but he wasn't the only one. White said he scored the fight for Edgar. So did Dan Henderson. So did Kenny Florian. So did many others. How confusing was it? FightMetric reported that Henderson out-struck Edgar 100-81, while Compsutrike disagreed, with Edgar landing 124 strikes to Henderson's 114.And because of that -- because it was close enough that there was doubt around the MMA world -- Edgar feels that he deserves the same benefit of the doubt as each of his last two challengers: an instant rematch."I’m not trying to shoot anybody out of anything they deserve, but I had to do two rematches, so what’s right?" he asked rhetorically.In the immediate aftermath of the fight, White seemed to indicate that would not be in the offing for Edgar, and that Pettis would get the first crack at Henderson. If Edgar doesn't get his do-over, then what? Despite his size disadvantage, he's never been truly physically dominated, and in fact, threw Henderson around a few times during the bout. Both FightMetric (5) and Compustrike (7) agreed that Edgar had more takedowns in the fight than Henderson, so there was no real strength disparity.But would Edgar want to work his way back up to No. 1 contender when he might be able to move to 145 and challenge immediately? That division seems to be wide open. Aldo stands alone at the top, virtually unchallenged. But who's out there waiting for him? He's beaten Chad Mendes and Kenny Florian. Other top featherweights like Dustin Poirier and Chan Sung Jung are locked into fights later this spring. And top-five ranked Hatsu Hioki, who won impressively at UFC 144, says he's not quite yet ready to fight for the belt (and on top of that, White didn't exactly give him a ringing endorsement, declining to even officially proclaim him to be "in the mix"). Speaking of White, he also didn't sound too enthused about the possibility of Edgar continuing on as lightweight, reminding the media that he's been "asking the kid to go to 145 for a long time." Despite that, White insists it's ultimately Edgar's decision."If you look at what he’s accomplished, for me to come in and… the kid's a world champion," he said. "He beat BJ Penn two times and everybody else in that division. His only loss is to Gray Maynard, which he avenged big time. It’s going to be up to him, but I'd love to see him do it. I think a fight between him and Jose Aldo would be fun."That last part of his answer might be the most important, White perhaps tipping his hand at an offer to come. If White offers Edgar a chance at Aldo -- and I think he will -- what then? His goal is to be champion again, but is that belt good enough? For Edgar, this is his reality. These are the circumstances surrounding his decision. In the past, when Edgar was the champ, he referred to the possibility of moving down a division as "an ace in my pocket." But then it was just a hypothetical. Then it was just an exercise in debate. There was no miracle for Edgar at UFC 144, but perhaps it is to come, a disappearing act to a new division, and a new shiny gold belt around his waist.

Posted in: ufc, fight, henderson, edgar, aldo

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SAITAMA, Japan - Once again, Frankie Edgar proved why he's often called the Rocky Balboa of MMA. At Sunday's UFC 144 event, the diminutive Edgar battled the much-larger Benson Henderson tooth and nail for the course of 25 minutes, but he came up short in a unanimous decision and was forced to relinquish his lightweight title. Following the result, UFC president Dana White admitted he'd like to see Edgar make the move to 145 pounds and challenge current featherweight champ Jose Aldo.

Posted in: ufc, champ, edgar, frankie edgar, aldo

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On Thursday in the grand ballroom of the Ritz-Carlton in Tokyo, six UFC fighters graced a stage for a press conference to publicize UFC 144. Scattered somewhat anonymously in the audience along with journalists and MMA cognoscenti was one of the highest ranking fighters in the world at his weight class, ignored until the end of the proceedings.Given the laborious process the UFC undertook to return to Japan for the first time in over a decade, the Saitama event is a headline subject unto itself. Add in Quinton "Rampage" Jackson rekindling his love affair with the Land of the Rising Sun, and sprinkle in the expected barnburner between lightweight champ Frankie Edgar and challenger Ben Henderson, and that's about all the story lines one can handle.But there is also a forgotten man in UFC 144, the highest-ranked fighter on the card aside from Edgar. If you're looking for at least a small way of jump starting MMA in Japan, how about the possibility that featherweight Hatsu Hioki wins in front of his home countrymen, and is immediately granted a championship match against Jose Aldo? Perhaps it's because Hioki (25-4-2) was a bit underwhelming in his octagon debut against George Roop last October, but few have seemed to notice or care or even believe that his bout with Bart Palaszewski is among the most significant on the card.Remember, it was only a few months ago when many felt Hioki was worthy of an immediate title shot against Aldo upon signing with the UFC.Instead, he got the rangy Roop at UFC 137, and struggled with his length in a fight that went the distance and was scored as a controversial split-decision win for Hioki. That performance seemed to lighten his bandwagon a bit, with many wondering how he would fare against some of the UFC's top strikers, particularly those with enough wrestling ability to keep things standing. Others looked at it and saw yet another Japanese fighter coming into the UFC and appearing unable to adapt to the perceived increase in competition level.On the other hand, many fighters seem to get the benefit of the doubt upon struggling in their UFC debuts, with "octagon jitters" often cited as the cause. In those cases, there seems to be a built-in expectation for improvement in their second effort.Things don't get any easier for Hioki in his next try. In Palaszewski, he faces an opponent who largely prefers the striking game. Palaszewski (36-14) has won five of his last six, and most recently, knocked out the durable Tyson Griffin in a bout that was supposed to serve as his featherweight debut (Griffin missed weight, making it a catchweight bout). Palaszewski is also a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, and since Hioki is mainly a grappler (12 of his wins are by submission), the prospect of him running over Palaszewski on the ground seems slim. Instead, it will be a win he must work for and earn. In other words, a win that would prove him to be deserving of a title opportunity.A look around the division shows there isn't much else out there for Aldo. He's already beaten Chad Mendes and Mark Hominick. Top 10 contender Dustin Poirier is locked into a May bout with Chan Sung Jung, and no else -- aside from Palaszewski -- seems seasoned enough to challenge him right now. Despite all that, the UFC hasn't made a peep about the possibility of the winner drawing Aldo next. Perhaps it's to temper expectations, or unleash a surprise, or more likely, they simply haven't decided what to do next.But the landscape of the division certainly makes Hioki-Palaszewski a bout where the winner can legitimately stake a claim as Aldo's next opponent. Hioki isn't a major star in Japan right now, but winning this weekend would be a good start for him, and for Japanese MMA. The sport there needs a shot in the arm, even if it's as simple as a tap from Hioki's opponent.

Posted in: ufc, fighter, aldo, palaszewski, hioki

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Ed Soares' more than two-year business relationship with UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo came to an abrupt end last week.According to Soares, he was sent an e-mail from Soares' trainer Andre Pederneiras of Nova Uniao informing him of the decision to severe ties with Soares and his business partner Jorge Guimarães."It wasn't really much of anything," Soares told MMAFighting.com, "other than his coach, who used to be his manager, felt like he didn't need our services. It pretty much was one of those things." News of Aldo's decision was first reported by Tatame.com. Aldo hired Soares/Guimarães to manage his career in November 2009, around the time he defeated Mike Brown to win the WEC featherweight title. "It was really strange the way it all went down. His coach sent us an e-mail and that was it." Soares insisted that there was no bad blood with Aldo, who recently defeated Chad Mendes at UFC 142, and said that he will continue to manager Nova Uniao fighters Diego Nunes, Luis Ramos and Johnny Eduardo.Soares/Guimarães also currently manage the likes of Anderson Silva, the Nogueira brothers and Lyoto Machida, among others.

Posted in: ed soares, aldo, soare, nova uniao, johnny eduardosoaresguimaratildees

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It’s ironic to an extent that two of the most anticipated weight-changes in MMA history involve a pair of current champions who many fans and media members would like to see flip-flopped despite their divisional dominance. Frankie Edgar and Jose Aldo constantly field questions surrounding their futures based on being seen as undersized/oversized. While Edgar is off the hook for a few more weeks until hype starts building for his upcoming title-defense against Ben Henderson in February, Aldo is still in the wake of a recent win at UFC 142 over top contender Chad Mendes both memorable in finish and post-fight celebration. During an interview with TATAME the phenomenal 145er spoke about the possibility of fighting as a lightweight where he, as always, deferred to his head coach as making the decision but did reveal an interesting tidbit indicating he’s been thinking about making a move for quite some time. “I’m feeling great on the featherweight. I really wanted to test myself a while ago, since I was at WEC, but Andre (Pederneiras) knows better. I’ll fight if he wants me to, otherwise I’ll just stay here.” Pederneiras, who heads Nova Uniao, has come out to say Aldo would fight at 155 pounds but only if given an immediate title-shot. “The next step is to keep defending my title for a long time,” continued Aldo. “We’re achieving our goals now, I’m seeing some of my personal dreams coming true, so we gotta keep working and I’m sure we’re gonna break much more records.” The starry-eyed 25-year old also touched on his memorable dash into the crowd after knocking Mendes out in the opening round. “It was big, man,” Aldo exclaimed! “Since the UFC matched us up people were being very affectionate…fans sent me messages, so I thought to myself, ‘If I win this thing, I’m gonna run to the fans.’ Thank God everything worked out, I could run. The fans liked it, everyone liked it, so it was great,” Aldo concluded before joking that it may have actually been everyone BUT the security guards. No definite opponent has been set yet for Aldo’s next title-defense but upcoming bouts featuring Hatsu Hioki and Dustin Poirier are likely to have a significant impact on the contendership picture. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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Sara McMann broke down her bout against Hitomi Akano at Pro Elite 3 “Grove vs. Minowa” with Greg Savage.

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Filed under: DREAM, UFC, Bellator, Rankings, FeatherweightsThe No. 1 featherweight in mixed martial arts returned to the cage at UFC 142 and needed less than one round to dispatch an opponent who entered the fight undefeated and widely regarded as the No. 2 featherweight in MMA. So where does Jose Aldo go now after defeating Chad Mendes? Aldo's camp has indicated he doesn't intend to move up to 155 pounds unless it's to fight for the UFC lightweight title. So that's probably not in the offing. And that raises the question: Are there any challengers left for Aldo at 145 pounds? For the identity of some potential opponents for Aldo going forward, check out the latest list of the top 10 featherweights in mixed martial arts below. Top 10 Featherweights in Mixed Martial Arts (Number in parentheses is the fighter's previous ranking.) 1. Jose Aldo (1): What's been so impressive about Aldo is how none of his fights are even close. Since signing with Zuffa in 2008 Aldo is 11-0, with four wins by first-round knockout or TKO, three wins by second-round knockout or TKO, one win by third-round TKO, and three wins by unanimous decision. He didn't lose more than one round in any of the three decisions, all of which were five-round fights. 2. Hatsu Hioki (3): Hioki has a great resume, with wins over Marlon Sandro, Takeshi Inoue, Ronnie Mann and Mark Hominick twice. But he looked just so-so in winning a split decision over George Roop in his UFC debut. He'll have to look better when he faces Bart Palaszewski back home in Japan at UFC 144 if he wants to prove he belongs in the Octagon with Aldo. 3. Chad Mendes (2): The best hope Mendes had of beating Aldo was getting him down and getting on top of him, and Aldo's takedown defense proved to be too good. (Aldo did benefit from grabbing the fence at one point.) Mendes is a good enough wrestler to threaten almost anyone at 145 pounds, but Aldo is leaps and bounds better than him as a striker. 4. Pat Curran (4): Curran looked outstanding in defeating Marlon Sandro in the Bellator featherweight tournament final, and Bellator has a great featherweight title fight lined up for March 9, with Curran taking on Joe Warren. 5. Erik Koch (5): Koch was supposed to fight Dustin Poirier at UFC 143 in what could have given the UFC its next No. 1 contender at featherweight. Unfortunately Koch is injured and had to drop out of the fight, and a return date for Koch has not been announced. 6. Bart Palaszewski (NR): Palaszewski's impressive win over Tyson Griffin establishes him as a potential future contender to the featherweight belt. Moving down to featherweight was a great move for him, but he'll have a tough test on his hands against Hioki at UFC 144. 7. Tatsuya Kawajiri (9): After dropping down to featherweight last year, Kawajiri submitted both Joachim Hansen and Kazuyuki Miyata. A fight with Dream featherweight champion Hiroyuki Takaya would be great. 8. Dustin Poirier (10): Poirier will take on Max Holloway at UFC 143, and if he puts on a good show he might find himself getting Aldo next. 9. Chan Sung Jung (NR): After Aldo, the Korean Zombie might be the hottest featherweight in the sport right now. He was recognized as having the Fight of the Year in 2010 with Leonard Garcia and the Submission of the Year in 2011 for finishing Garcia with a twister in their rematch, and then he needed just seven seconds to knock out Mark Hominick. Jung is on such a roll right now that there's some talk he could be next in line for Aldo, although that would be an extremely tall order: Jung is a lot of fun to watch, but Aldo is on another level as a striker. 10. Mark Hominick (6): Hominick is now on a two-fight losing streak after falling to Aldo and Jung, but he'll hold onto his spot in the Top 10 for now. He's a skilled striker who's still only 29 years old and has a good future in the featherweight division, but he should get a step down in quality of competition, which is just what he will get when he takes on Eddie Yagin, tentatively scheduled for UFC 145. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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If Jose Aldo is going to move to lightweight, it’s only going to happen if he’s granted an immediate title shot and paid more money. Or at least that’s what his trainer, Andre Pederneiras, told Brazilian website R7.com recently. Translation via Sherdog: “No one knows how difficult it was to achieve the hegemony of Jose Aldo. We suffered a lot to achieve this status. It was not from night to day. There was years of preparation. Junior managed to win again big competitors in his class. But Junior will not just drop everything on a silver platter. Far from it. He is the featherweight champion and has the recognition of the direction of the UFC. “He needs to have a really high offer to change category. Something worthwhile. Besides money, Junior only goes up if it´s directly for the belt. With Frank Edgar or who is the champion. This decision has been taken by us. He will not fight, unless it´s for the belt. If the UFC wants him in the category above, they have to compesate him. And put the lightweight belt on the line. It’s simple. Or he can continue happy among the feathers. With the belt and waiting for challengers. He earned it. So put an end to this story.” As much as I’d like to see Frankie Edgar vs. Jose Aldo, I really don’t see it happening at this point. Dana White may be open to letting Aldo fight at 155, but is he really willing to pay Aldo a lot more money to do it? As Fightlinker pointed out, the UFC’s probably better off continuing to establish the featherweight division with a rising star like Aldo leading the charge than another random featherweight the public barely knows. At this point, they need him at 145 more than they need him at 155 where Frankie Edgar has plenty of contenders lined up waiting to get a crack at him. It may not seem like Aldo has any featherweight challengers at the moment, but we thought the same thing about GSP last year and now he has Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit. Someone will emerge eventually. They always do. Image via Tracy Lee for Yahoo! Sports

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Welcome to another edition of Payout Perspective. This week we look at the UFC’s return to Brazil in which Jose Aldo defended his featherweight title against Chad Mendes. Aldo finishes Mendes and celebrates in crowd Jose Aldo’s explosive power was on display as a knee coming out of a clench ended Chad Mendes’ title shot. After the fight, Aldo ran into the crowd which provided a great moment albeit a gasp for UFC security. Realistically, Aldo’s security breach is much ado about nothing. He knew that he had the crowd behind him and he wanted to celebrate with his fans. Sure, someone could have done harm to him, but as I stated, he knew his audience. If someone wanted to do harm to him, they could have done so on the walkout. While the trampling of fans may have occurred, it seems as risky as when fans storm the court or field as they do in football or basketball. Do fans feel concerned when a Green Bay Packer does a “Lambeau Leap” after a touchdown? Yet, this was a “teachable moment” for UFC security for next time. It was awkward seeing Aldo trying to shake UFC security as he was trying to celebrate. Even Reed Harris tried to step in to direct Aldo back to the cage. For Aldo, he’s cleaned out the Featherweight division. It will be interesting to see what he’ll do next. A possible superfight with Frankie Edgar (or Ben Henderson) would be a great matchup and something that could be promoted as a battle of current division champs. Belfort chokes out Johnson What a bad trip for Anthony Johnson. A failed weight-cut, losing a portion of his show purse, a first round submission and Johnson returns to the United States without a job. Johnson weighed in on Friday at 197 pounds for his middleweight fight. That means he was 11 pounds over (considering the 1 pound allowance). Belfort, understandably would agree to take the fight if Johnson weighed no more than 205 pounds on Saturday. If Johnson didn’t make it, it certainly would have killed the top end of the PPV. Fortunately, he made weight Saturday. Still, making Dana White sweat the night before whether one of his fighters would make weight was the likely nail in the coffin for Johnson’s UFC career. Johnson has had past problems with cutting weight. He definitely is a chiseled athlete, but an athlete that should fight at 205. For Belfort, its another step back toward Anderson Silva’s title. Attendance and Gate According to the Wrestling Observer (subscription required), the attendance at the HSBC Arena garnered 10,605 paid fans for a gate of $2.8 million. The arena is said to hold 14,000 so we may extrapolate the number of comps assuming the arena was at capacity. In Brazil, UFC 142 was seen on Globo, its top-rated network. Although the three live fights were shown between 12:45am to 2:00am, it garnered 23 million viewers (Wrestling Observer). Bonuses MMA Junkie reports that the bonuses were worth $65,000 each. Edson Barboza won KO of the night for his spectacular spinning heel kick of Terry Etim. Barboza and Etim also won Fight of the Night. The leg lock machine, Rousimar Palhares won for submission of the night. UFC Prelims on FX This was the first time that the UFC Prelims appeared on FX and it received an 880,000 viewer average. The ratings were lower compared to its regular showings on Spike TV. We will try to update you with the UFC 142 Countdown rating  on Fuel. Sponsorships The Octagon included MetroPCS, Xyience, Burger King, Bony Acai, Manguinhos Refinaria, and IntegraMedica with Bud Light in the center of the Octagon. In addition to these sponsors, the UFC advertised its upcoming video game UFC Undisputed in the Octagon. Burger King also ran a promotion with Anderson Silva in which he would have lunch with a fan that won a contest for what the Spider should do to celebrate 1 million twitter followers. The Burger King sponsorship has only been in Brazil but we shall see if the relationship will extend to the United States. KMart is back with the UFC as it placed a voiceover at the beginning of the first round of each fight for its new promotion offering $10 off for UFC 143. It was a nice form of brand activation as its logo and the promotion reminded viewers at the beginning of each first round on the PPV. MMA Junkie reported on soccer clubs getting into the sponsorship of UFC fighters in Brazil. The UFC was said to be cautious about the newfound sponsor money due to the intense rivalries between the clubs. Along with his normal pre-fight sponsor banner, Belfort had another banner in honor of his kidnapped sister. He also spoke about the rash of kidnappings in Brazil at the post-fight press conference. Silva also participated in the UFC’s #Hunt4UFC promo where he gave out tickets to lucky fans. It will be interesting to see how much value the Brazilian sponsors such as IntegraMedica and Manguinhos will bring to the UFC and vice versa. Odds and ends -Another set of fights which ended with first round stoppages. UFC 134’s main events all ended in the first round and the same occurred for UFC 142. -Aldo’s crowd surf and Barboza’s heel kick were featured on Deadspin right after the fights. Barboza’s heel kick made number 3 on ESPN’s top plays of Saturday night. -No word whether there were any glitches with the XBox Live platform as many of those shut out of UFC 141 were given 142 for free. -For you pro wrestling fans, Aldo’s run in the crowd, reminded me of DDP of WCW fame heading into the crowd after a match. -Mike Pyle embraced the “heel” role in his victory over Brazilian Ricardo Funch as he egged on the crowd after his victory. Conclusion UFC 142 was a success from the perspective of its further ties with its Brazilian fan base. There were many PR events during the week including UFC fighters taking surf lessons and open workouts. No doubt the UFC has reengaged with the fans and it bodes well for local viewership of the first international Ultimate Fighter held in the country this year. But, the U.S. buy rate will not reflect the same as it ran opposite the NFL Playoffs. In addition to the playoffs, the fact that this card catered to Brazilian fans meant less known names to the U.S. fan base which will affect the final buy rate results. We also have the factor that a lighter weight division was at the top of the card which has meant (in recent history) a lower buy rate.

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Welcome back to Brazil! After waiting nearly 13 years before returning to the country for UFC 134 in August, this time the UFC waited just four months to make another trip back with UFC 142 this past Saturday in Rio de Janeiro. Featuring some holdovers from UFC 134, including Edson Barboza and Rousimar Palhares, the UFC has committed to featuring the massive amount of talent from the country when it visits. But the story of the weekend was American Anthony Johnson, who has long been known as a massive welterweight since his debut in 2007 and was making his long-awaited middleweight debut against Vitor Belfort in the co-main event. Only, one problem: Johnson failed to make the 186 pound middleweight limit. Weighing 197 on the day of weigh-ins, Johnson embarrassed himself for the last time. As Dana White put it, it was “three strikes and you’re out”, as this was the third time Johnson failed to make weight for a fight. Why Johnson failed to make weight we may never know for sure. His camp mentioned Johnson feeling ill the day of weigh-ins, making his weight cut more difficult. He was able to make it close to the limit before doctors told him they would not allow him to cut any more weight. Regardless of the circumstance, weight cutting and weight limits are a pivotal part of the job, as evident by Johnson being cut from the organization for failing to comply by those rules. Waking up for school was a chore as a child. Is it as tough as cutting 30+ pounds for a weigh-in? Just about. And much like I was able to fake a cough and convince my mother a few times that going to school just was not an option, the excuses run out, and quickly. Eventually my mother caught on, and Anthony Johnson’s mother, Dana White, has caught on as well. Where he goes from here is a story to be written on another day. Johnson still holds supreme talent, but being told by his camp, along with convincing himself, that he can consistently make 170 pounds was a mistake that hampered his career. Johnson should have been at middleweight this entire time. If he is to continue in another organization, he should do so at middleweight, where he is still formidable in both stature and talent. Biggest winner: Rousimar Palhares While Edson Barboza’s spinning wheel kick was insanely impressive, Palhares put himself into title contention by just doing what he does- grab your leg and make it hurt. I am beginning to think that his new slogan will be “Heel hooks and flexing! That’s what Palhares does!” He is certainly a formidable foe for anyone in a division that could use some new blood at the top. While he has been stuck in neutral for the last few years, losing to the two top contenders he has faced in Dan Henderson and Nate Marquardt, Palhares definitely belongs in the top echelon of middleweight contenders. Biggest loser: Anthony Johnson Who else could be put here? It almost seems too literal, as Johnson was weighed in too big, and did indeed lose his job over it. Biggest question: Can anything be done concerning strikes to the back of the head? Mario Yamasaki stopped the Erick Silva/Carlo Prater fight early in the first round, as Silva was pummeling Prater. It made sense, and everyone assumed Silva was the victor. But then Yamasaki declared Prater the winner, as he had disqualified Silva for a punch to the back of Prater’s head. You can argue whether that was the correct call or not. And trust me, Joe Rogan will do it. But aside from that, this is not the first time the infraction has occurred during the end of a fight. One solution for the problem that has been discussed is implementing a replay system, as much like the NFL institutes a mandatory replay for every score during a game, the UFC would replay every finish. This does seem like it could work, as the referees would have the benefit of looking over their call, and at least have comfort in knowing that they can definitely make the correct decision. Future matchups: Jose Aldo vs. Hatsu Hioki Now, this is only if Hioki wins at UFC 144 against Bart Palaszewski in February. If he loses, the spot probably goes to Dustin Poirier. Unfortunately, prime candidates for Aldo is not a very big list. He easily put away a big test in Chad Mendes, who was supposed to challenge Aldo with his strong wrestling. That never happened, as Aldo knocked Mendes out with a knee in the last seconds of the first round. Aldo’s camp has stated that he will not be moving up to lightweight immediately, so he still has a few title defenses to make until then. Vitor Belfort vs. Wanderlei Silva This matchup has already been announced, as the pair will be opposing coaches on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil, and will likely fight in the upcoming UFC return to Brazil this summer. Rousimar Palhares vs. Alan Belcher Palhares deserves a challenge at middleweight, and with so many top contenders matched up in upcoming bouts, Belcher gets the call. I would be interested to see how Palhares fares against the BJJ black belt in Belcher. Erick Silva vs. John Hathaway Silva “won” on Saturday, and is a very talented prospect at welterweight. Another talented prospect is Hathaway, who has not fought in nearly a year. Each one has a very solid chance of being a title contender in the future at 170, and a win over the other would definitely be a big step in taking them there. Edson Barboza vs. Danny Castillo Barboza could use a guy that will test him on the ground, as he has fought exclusively on his feet throughout his UFC career. Castillo will certainly threaten him with his wrestling, and put pressure on Barboza, much like what Ross Pearson did.

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By D.J. San Marco  Podcast Powered By Podbean A friend of mine wrote today, "Chad would have worn him out in the later rounds" followed by "no one else can beat Chad in the weight class"; true enough my friend, but last night Jose Aldo proved to all the world that there is in fact no style that exists as his "kryptonite". Aldo has beaten great strikers such as Mark Hominick, submission guys like Uriah Faber, Mike Thomas Brown & Cub Swanson, and now the best wrestler at 145 pounds in Chad Mendes. Former WEC champions Faber and Brown also possessed a wrestling pedigree thought to be problematic for Aldo but each proved equally ineffective as Mendes.Looking into his post graduate WEC-UFC study, there is no secret to beat Aldo. There is no style to beat Aldo. Only a better fighter with an overwhelming ability will beat Aldo. Be it wrestling, striking or jiu jitsu a guy extremely dominant in one of those disciplines and versed in the others might erase Aldo's other worldly striking and athletic advantages. Prior to the fight a few pundits earmarked Aldo vs. Mendes as a potential Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen clash but as the champion stormed out of the cage in victory the analogy did not prove apropos. The UFC 142 Brazilian striker versus American grappler bout differed because Sonnen had an huge wrestling advantage, but equally important is that it was coupled with an apparent core strength advantage. Mendes did not enjoy this advantage over Aldo. The Brazilian champ had the size as well as core strength advantage in his favor and used it to effect. Nobody is unbeatable and if you've read that anywhere about any fighter, then immediately discontinue reading the musings of said writer. Jon Jones, Aldo, GSP, and Silva, are all beatableand it's only a matter of time until a foil emerges. Aldo proved unequivocally that he is to be counted among the absolute elite of MMA.So with his finals and labs complete Saturday night in the form of complete obliteration and violence against yet another game challenger, Aldo I assert is now a "Ph.D. of prize fighting". To this point in his career all who have attempted to impose their game plan against the Nova Uniao fighter have been turned away. Aldo has sometimes spurned his opponents with a hematoma while others in face exploding fashion, but turned away nonetheless.

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With one flying knee, Jose Aldo Jr. suddenly finds himself a champion with a cleaned-out division.

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UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo may not have realized it at the time, but when he sprinted from the Octagon and celebrated with the mass of fans at UFC 142 he likely cemented his legacy in the fight promotion. After ending Chad Mendes evening in the main event of the Rio de Janeiro, Brazil card with a perfectly-placed knee, “Scarface” ran into the large group of Brazilians and celebrated to the chagrin of the security guards in the arena. None of that mattered to Aldo, however, as the champion just wanted to be among those that meant so much to him. “My fans give me so much love and so much good energy, so there’s nothing better than celebrating with them,” Aldo explained after his moment in the mass of fans. It remains to be seen who Aldo will face next for his UFC title, but those watching will likely never forget the scene they saw at UFC 142. Enjoy re-living Aldo’s celebration with his countrymen following UFC 142 in the video below:

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After his win over Kenny Florian this past October, UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo was asked about the possibility of a fight against lightweight title-holder Frankie Edgar. His response involved a willingness to face Edgar but only if “The Answer” came down in weight, deferring to his head trainer at Nova Uniao, Andre Pederneiras, as having final say on if/when he’ll move up to 155 pounds. While Pederneiras was adamantly opposed to his star pupil changing divisions at the time it now appears his stance has softened some, leaving the door open for a legitimate super-fight at some point in 2012. “If it depends on me, it won’t happen. Unless he leaves the team to train somewhere else and someone agrees with that, because I will not,” said Pederneiras in a conversation with Sherdog before adding a caveat, saying, “It won’t happen for now, unless he goes straight for a title shot. Not, ‘Oh no, he left the featherweight belt, moved up to lightweight and started from the beginning.’ No way.” While Edgar will defend his title against Ben Henderson at UFC 144 no clear-cut contender has emerged for the winner the face. UFC President Dana White has also expressed his openness to the idea of Aldo heading up to lightweight if he wants to though he’s stopped short of guaranteeing an immediate title-shot. Aldo holds an overall record of 21-1 and is on the cusp of eliminating all legitimate opposition at 145 pounds after knocking out previously unbeaten Chad Mendes in the first round of their headlining bout at UFC 142. Other notable opponents he’s taken out in dominant fashion include Florian, Mark Hominick, Mike Brown, and Urijah Faber. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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There's a very strange desire in the MMA fanbase for UFC champions to jump around in weight as soon as they have defended their title a few times. That noise is popping up again now that Jose Aldo destroyed Chad Mendes in their UFC 142 featherweight title fight. His trainer, Andre Pederneiras, told Sherdog that it's not likely to happen: "If it depends on me, it won't happen. Unless he leaves the team to train somewhere else and someone agrees with that, because I will not," the coach joked in an interview with Sherdog.com. "It won't happen for now, unless he goes straight for a title shot. Not, ‘Oh no, he left the featherweight belt, moved up to lightweight and started from the beginning,' no way." He also talked about Aldo running into the crowd following his win: "I expected him to do something stupid, especially here," Pederneiras laughed, producing from his pocket the Flamengo soccer jersey which Aldo was supposed to wear after the win. "He did [the same thing] in San Diego and he had to hear a lot from the commission staff. But here, with all that crowd, I knew." Look, I get the desire to see a champion fight other champions and be tested in difficult ways. But, as we've talked about plenty in the past, long-reigning champions are a good thing. Especially when the lower weight classes are still trying to gain traction. The idea that Aldo should be looking to jump up to lightweight after he has his best UFC showing and a great moment with running into the crowd and being mobbed is just crazy talk. Aldo has the potential to be a real star, but rushing him up in weight isn't going to do him (or the division as a whole) any favors. SBN coverage of UFC RIO 142: Aldo vs. Mendes

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Filed under: UFCIf I could look into my crystal ball into the future of one rising star on the UFC 142 card, it would be Edson Barboza. While I'm not ready to call him a surefire lightweight contender just yet, he certainly has flashed a skill set that's worthy of cracking the division's top 5. Now he has to continue delivering. So far throughout his UFC career, Barboza has used his skills the same way Chuck Liddell used to; his defensive wrestling keeping him upright where he has the advantage against nearly anyone he faces. But there are still questions about Barboza. For one, will his wrestling hold up against the division's best? Remember, this is a weight class heavy on former collegiate wrestling studs. From champ Frankie Edgar to No. 1 contender Ben Henderson to Gray Maynard and beyond, Barboza will have to prove himself able to handle a top level guy before we can anoint him the next great lightweight. That said, it's been exciting to watch his educated limbs deliver violence in new ways. The comparison has been made between Barboza and featherweight champ Jose Aldo, and in terms of style, it's not all that far off. But lightweight is a much deeper division than featherweight, so Barboza has a long climb ahead. On to the matchups... Jose Aldo It was nice to see Aldo flash the finishing instinct that made him a star in his early days under the Zuffa banner. While he's been accused of playing it safe his last few fights, his perfectly timed knee to the face that led to the finish is a strictly offensive move. If he missed it, he would have been off-balance to defend the takedown that was coming as Mendes went low. Instead, Aldo landed it flush and closed out the show. While many would like to see him move up a weight class, he's still just 25 years old and I'd like to see him cement a legacy at one division before moving up to another. Anderson Silva's become a huge star because he runs his weight class with an iron fist. Fans love dominance, and Aldo's slowly but surely building himself that kind of aura. Prediction: Aldo fights the winner of February's Hatsu Hioki vs. Bart Palaszewski bout. Chad Mendes The bad news for Mendes is that he lost, but the good news is that he's not going to fall very far in the featherweight pecking order. While he struggled to take Aldo down -- he was 0-for-7 by FightMetric's count -- at least we know Mendes still has room to grow his offensive arsenal. That's because he's only been in the sport for about four years. While he'll still be in the upper tier of the division, he needs to work on his striking to be better equipped to deal with Aldo next time around. If there is a "next time." Prediction: He fights Diego Nunes Vitor Belfort We already know Belfort's next assignment. He'll be the head coach of the first Brazilian edition of The Ultimate Fighter, alongside Wanderlei Silva, and after the conclusion of the show, the two will face off in a rematch of their 1998 match, a bout which Belfort won by knockout in just 44 seconds. Anthony Johnson What a nightmare of a middleweight debut for Johnson, who pulled off a triple dose of fail by missing weight, losing by submission and getting cut. Despite the disastrous evening, Johnson is just 27 years old and has reached a level of popularity that will make him a sought-after commodity in other organizations. But Johnson also has to take a good hard look at himself, realize that he's blown a couple of opportunities, and find a way to fix it, or otherwise risk never reaching the heights many expected him to. Prediction: Johnson signs with Bellator Rousimar Palhares It's getting harder and harder to ignore Palhares as a contender after a third straight win. Amazingly, it was his fourth heel hook submission win in his last six UFC bouts. Most of the UFC's 10 best has their date book filled, so Palhares might have to play the waiting game for a bit until something opens up. Two available fighters right now though are Chris Weidman and Alan Belcher. Prediction: Belcher gets the call to face Palhares Erick Silva It seems like every time we turn around, there's another Silva advancing into the upper echelons of the MMA world. The latest is the 27-year-old welterweight who lost by disqualification due to punches that were ruled to be illegal. He'll appeal the ruling, and regardless of the outcome, Silva will be treated as the winner when it comes to booking his next fight. Since he is still early in his UFC career, don't expect Silva to be rushed into fights with major names just yet. Prediction: He faces Seth Baczynski Edson Barboza After four straight wins, the undefeated Barboza (10-0) looks just about ready to step into the shark tank against the lightweight division's big guns. He looks to have the complement of skills that make him a scary proposition for anyone, particularly with killer standup and great defensive wrestling. The only potential issue I see from Barboza is that he sometimes tends to step off the gas pedal. I'd match him up against a fighter known for forward aggression and wrestling and see how he does. Prediction: He faces Danny Castillo Gabriel Gonzaga Kudos to Gonzaga, who returned to the UFC with a first-round submission win. Just as impressive was the fact that prior to the fight, he said he wanted to stop engaging in striking wars and return to his jiu-jitsu roots. He did just that. According to FightMetric, he wasn't hit a single time by opponent Ednaldo Oliveira in the 3-minute, 22-second fight. That's about as clean a win as you can hope for. It was a performance that was not only great for career longevity but also came with a finish, something that always makes fans and management happy. Prediction: He faces the winner of UFC on Fox 2's Mike Russow vs. Jon Olav Einemo Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, barboza, prediction, aldo

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"It won't happen for now, unless he goes straight for a title shot. Not, "Oh no, he left the featherweight belt, moved up to lightweight and started from the beginning,' no way." -- Andre Pederneiras, the trainer for Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo and the leader of Brazilian mixed martial arts (MMA) team, Nova Uniao, talks to Sherdog.com about a possible move to the lightweight ranks for the scrappy Brazilian. After two consecutive decision victories in the UFC, Aldo returned to his dominant ways not seen since his days competing under the World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) banner, disposing of previously unbeaten wrestling powerhouse Chad Mendes at UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes" this past weekend (Jan. 14, 2012) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. With one second remaining in the first round, "Scarface" turned out "Money's" lights with a perfectly-placed knee strike to the face followed by a couple blows on the ground, which forced the referee to step in and stop the fight. The win marked his fourteenth straight and made it 21 out of 22 overall in his mixed martial arts (MMA) career. After Aldos' dominant win in Rio, the move up to a more talent rich lightweight division may be inevitable. With close to 50 featherweights currently on the UFC's roster, there is no shortage of opponents for the 145-pound king, however, are there any worthy title challengers at the moment for one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world? And If so, who?

Posted in: ufc, title shot, aldo, round scarface, title challengers

Read the full article at MMA Mania

It wasn't the first time that Jose Aldo stormed the stands after a big mixed martial arts (MMA) victory, but it might be his last after the chaotic scene it caused at UFC 142 inside the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Jan. 14, 2012. No one was reportedly injured when "Scarface" exited the Octagon with a quickness to celebrate his knockout win over Chad Mendes, appearing to be a case of no harm, no foul. In fact, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) today released the video of his celebration on YouTube. Here is the video description: An entire nation unites around a stellar victory. Witness the incredible celebration in Rio as Jose Aldo holds onto his featherweight title. Not really sure the promotion should condone the behavior, but it certainly was a pretty cool departure from the typical backflip or cage climb. Definitely worth another watch. For more on Aldo's celebration, including photos, click here. To check out a complete recap of the UFC 142 main event between Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes click here.

Posted in: ufc, jose, jose aldo, aldo, chad mendes

Read the full article at MMA Mania

One storyline receiving a good deal of attention during the build to this past weekend’s headlining bout at UFC 142 between featherweight champ Jose Aldo and top contender Chad Mendes had to do with the presence of highly-touted 155er Gray Maynard in the Brazilian’s camp. The two talented competitors met backstage at UFC 136, a card featuring respective bouts from both, and quickly established a friendship ultimately resulting in Maynard’s decision to help train Aldo for his title-defense. With Aldo’s impressive takedown defense against decorated wrestler Mendes there’s little doubt Maynard impacted Aldo’s preparation in a positive way. However, when asked about the 21-1 champion’s performance, Maynard made sure to give full credit to the dynamic 25-year old. “I flew out here because who he is, because he’s a humble guy, a nice guy and I helped him on a couple small things and he did it,” said Maynard in a backstage conversation with TATAME. “It was a quick fight, obviously. He did perfect…he did awesome. I was happy. He was prepared.” Aldo Talks About the Bonuses of Having Maynard on Board The 10-1-1 Maynard is not currently linked to any future match-ups though it’s probably he’ll fight again in the next few months. He was last seen taking on lightweight king Frankie Edgar this past October where he nearly ended up winning the divisional belt only to suffer a knockout loss in the final few minutes of the fight’s fourth round. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, fight, knockout loss, maynard, aldo

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In the minutes and hours since Jose Aldo trounced Chad Mendes at UFC 142, the question has returned to the lips and fingertips of MMA fans and pundits.

Posted in: title bout, mma fans, jose aldo, aldo, chad mendes

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This is so cool it’s worth watching again.

Posted in: ufc, jose, aldo, postvictory, celebration

Read the full article at MMA Convert

Mopping the Mats is a weekly Monday feature meant to breakdown the weekend that was in Mixed Martial Arts. Last weekend featured the first UFC card of 2012, nnumber 142 in Rio, Brazil. 2012 will be the 11th year of business for the UFC since Zuffa took the reigns. For all the criticism they receive for an issue such as fighter pay, they have never failed to give fighters more opportunities to fight (and on bigger stages at that) with each passing year. For a little perspective on how far they've come, check out the numbered events that kicked off each of the last 10 years: 2012 - UFC 1422011 - UFC 1252010 - UFC 1082009 - UFC 932008 - UFC 802007 - UFC 672006 - UFC 572005 - UFC 512004 - UFC 462003 - UFC 412002 - UFC 352001 - UFC 30 Among other changes to the status quo that I want to see, I'd like fighters to get paid a little more. I also think it would do everyone some good to sit back and look at just how far the sport we love has come since the Ultimate Fighting Championship came under the direction of the Fertitta brothers and Dana White. THE EVENT: UFC 142 Going into this weekend, a friend of mine told me he wasn't planning on ordering the card due to the lack of exciting match-ups on it. This is a guy who does not miss an event for anything, he's easily the biggest MMA fan I know. We've watched every event together for as long as I can remember and for him to say he wasn't interested was a big indicator of just how lacklustre the event appeared, even to the most die hard of fans. In the end some other friends wanted to watch the event so we all got together and bought the fights. It's a good thing we did too, as the event reinforced the notion that the UFC itself is the star, not any one particular fighter. The card was filled with jump off the couch moments and was capped off by the coolest thing I've ever seen in MMA, Jose Aldo leaving the cage to celebrate with his countrymen following his first round knockout of Chad Mendes. Dana White has stated many times that you can't judge a card on paper and he's been proven right many times. 142 was no different. In a way it was the perfect card to follow UFC 141, which featured the retirement of the biggest draw in company history, Brock Lesnar. There were no individual pay per view stars to watch at 142 yet if you didn't see the card, you missed out on some special moments, which is exactly what the UFC wants to convey to it's fans: No matter who is fighting, something spectacular could happen and you don't want to miss it. The results and the takeaways are after the jump. THE RESULTS: Aldo, Barboza awe with spectacular knockouts. Anthony Johnson packs his bags. The last Brazilian card, UFC 134, saw the home country fighters dominate their opponents, with Stanislav Nedkov being the only man to defeat a Brazilian. They duplicated that feat at 142, with Ricardo Funch being the lone Brazilian to suffer a loss, a first round TKO at the hands of Mike Pyle. This comes as no surprise; Pyle has become rather good at playing the spoiler, with his last three victories coming over home town guys. The best moments of the undercard were watching Gabriel Gonzaga showcase his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu top game in a dominant submission victory over newcomer Edinaldo Oliveira and the first round of Yuri Alcantra vs Michihiro Omigawa. The round had so many interesting moments that I'll be breaking it down in detail later this week, but if you haven't seen the fight yet, you should. As for the main card, Edson Barboza started the show by knocking out Terry Etim with a wheel kick. The technique is one of my favorite strikes (I might be a little more partial to flying knees and superman punches) and along with the Barboza knockout it has lead to one of the most brutal knockouts in combat sports history, in a K-1 Grand Prix kickboxing match. Just months after Stefan Leko knocked him out with a wheel kick to the body, Badr Hari one upped him in their instant rematch, landing the kick to Leko's head, breaking his jaw and knocking him out cold. UFC color commentator Joe Rogan has an impressive tutorial on the kick that can be found on this video (Fast forward to 7:00 for the start of the tutorial). Barboza is one of the finest strikers in the company but he has yet to face a grappler who can put him on his back. I hope he gets that test soon. Another young Brazilian quickly becoming a star is Erick Silva, who destroyed Carlo Prater in the first round of their fight on Saturday. The win was short lived though; Mario Yamasaki disqualified Silva for striking Prater to the back of the head. The blows were less egregious than many other back of the head strikes that we've seen allowed in the Octagon in the past and it's disappointing to see Silva lose the fight due to a borderline call. At the same time though, fans and media alike have been expressing concern over blows to the back of the head for a few years now; if this is the start of a crackdown on them, we should be glad, not mad at Yamasaki. Rousimar Palhares won by heel hook in the first minute of his fight with Mike Massenzio. I'm not going to make any jokes, only offer condolences to Massenzio, was in bad shape following the stoppage. When Palhares went for his leg, it seemed to me that Massenzio panicked a little, turning away and trying to pull free of the grasp of "Toqinho". In doing so he fell right into the lock. I'm just a lowly white belt, (two stripes, I'm getting there) but I felt that Massenzio would have been better off getting his weight over top of Palhares and keeping everything in tight. Then again, what do I know? Maybe the best defense is simply not getting in the cage with a monster like Palhares. In the final two fights of the night, Vitor Belfort dispatched Anthony Johnson via first round rear naked choke before Jose Aldo provided a spectacular cap to the evening, a spinning knee knockout of Mendes and the first crowd surf in UFC history. Mendes was expected to give Aldo his stiffest challenge to date but instead it looked like the champion, or perhaps the moment, got to him. He stood well out of take down range and traded leg kicks with Aldo, clearly a losing proposition, until finally closing the distance and securing a body lock on the the champion in the final minute of the round. As Mendes tried desperately to get the fight to the ground, Aldo worked to free himself, finally doing so with seconds remaining on the clock. Instead of resetting and allowing the round to expire, Mendes instinctually shot forward at Aldo's hips. Aldo was also working on instinct and as he spun around to face Mendes he threw a picture perfect left knee, connecting solidly with Mendes' head, dazing the challenger and sending him to the mat. A few punches later and Aldo had retained his title. As incredible as the finish was, Aldo's celebration was the real show-stopper. The champion burst out of the cage, sprinted down the Octagon stairs, flew across the space reserved for the commission, the UFC brass and the media before leaping into the crowd to share his triumph with his countrymen. As I watched the moment unfold I couldn't stop smiling. One of the unexpected things the UFC has given me is the opportunity to observe and learn about other cultures and as such, I have developed an appreciation for people and places that I didn't have before. In North America, professional athletes almost never go into the stands. When they do, it isn't to celebrate. Most distance themselves from the public, always wary of the crazed fan who might want to take away their livelyhood. Watching Aldo shrug off the potential danger of entering the stands because of his love for his country was thrilling and a reminder that sportsmen shouldn't take themselves too seriously. THE TAKEAWAYS: Aldo is the "new GSP", while the UFC needs to revisit weight cutting. On the eve of UFC 142, Fraser Coffeen wrote a story for Bloody Elbow that described Aldo as the new GSP. He suggested that was a bad thing, focusing on the recent theme that GSP fights boring and Aldo too was no longer fighting with a crowd pleasing style. While most people might chuckle at the article now, I'm going to give Fraser props for getting it right. Jose Aldo is the new GSP: He's young and dynamic, he stands head and shoulders above the rest of the fighters in his division and he's a huge star in his native country. GSP was instrumental in the UFC's North American growth and Aldo will be the man who takes the organization to great heights in South America. So really, what's not to like about the comparison? The other big story coming out of the event was the complete disaster that was Anthony Johnson's middleweight debut. Johnson, who had missed weight twice during his time at welterweight, weighed in at a shocking 197 pounds on the eve of the card, a disturbing 12 pounds heavier than the agreed upon 185. This led to a stipulation that he be no more than 205 pounds on the day of the fight. For those who are still unsure of how Rumble could have possibly missed weight by such a large amount, King Mo had a very insightful take on the situation that everyone should read. Lawal describes in detail the havoc cutting large amounts of weight on a regular basis can play on your body and sure enough, Johnson stated that he was losing feeling in his legs on the morning of the weigh-ins. If fighters are intent on putting themselves in serious physical danger in an effort to drop weight rapidly perhaps the UFC and commissions need to institute rules to protect these men from themselves. My suggestion would be two weigh-ins, one a week out, and one the night before the fight. There would be a cap for how much you could weigh in your week out weigh-in and if you come in over that cap, you don't fight.I'm not a medical professional, so I'm just using rough estimates here. By all reports, Johnson was attempting to cut from around 215, about 15% of his bodyweight. Instituting a rule that states fight week cuts are to be no more than 10% of total body weight sounds about right. For each weight class the maximum cut allowed would be: Flyweights (125) must start fight week at 137.5 pounds or less Bantamweights (135) must start fight week at 148.5 pounds or less Featherweights (145) must start fight week at 159.5 pounds or less Lightweights (155) must start fight week at 170.5 pounds or less Welterweights (170) must start fight week at 187 pounds or less Middleweights (185) must start fight week at 203.5 pounds or less Light Heavyweights (205) must start fight week at 225.5 pounds or less Heavyweights (265) must start fight week at 291.5 pounds or less To me this doesn't seem too outrageous and it would go a long way towards fighter safety. As for Rumble? He really should have known better. Trying to cut upwards of 50 pounds in order to have a big size advantage over his opponents is already kind of lame. Failing to actually make the weight cut on multiple occasions is just ridiculous, if it's not outright cheating. If Johnson is going to continue his career in mixed martial arts, I hope he does so in the light heavyweight division. He's been doing MMA long enough now that he should test himself against men his size. Unfortunately I think this is the last we've seen of Rumble and it's too bad. He has a lot of talent and if he had ever committed himself to the lifestyle of an elite fighter he could have realized that talent. Instead, it seems he'll just end up a cautionary tale to young fighters about the dangers of cutting weight. As always, thanks for reading! Comments are welcome.

Posted in: ufc, fight, pound, week, aldo

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UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo dove into the audience following his UFC 142 Rio victory over Chad Mendes, check out the madness that ensued.

Posted in: ufc, rio, champion, jose, aldo

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

Brent Brookhouse: There has been a long-standing debate regarding Jose Aldo and if he can be considered in the pound-for-pound debate or if the featherweight division simply isn't good enough for him to have a credible argument. With eleven straight wins on Zuffa cards and this latest dominant win over Chad Mendes, has he done enough to make a legitimate case for a top five pound for pound fighter? Tim Burke: He has absolutely made the case, and should comfortably sit in the top five. Featherweight might be thin, but he has been a lot of quality contenders, and a wide variety of opponents (wrestlers, strikers, etc). Two of the long-standing guys in the top three, Georges St. Pierre and Anderson Silva, faced stretches where they didn't have the toughest competition across the cage from them. I don't think Aldo should be left out of the discussion just because his division is a little behind in development. I mean, what else does the guy have to do? Move up to 155? Fraser Coffeen: I was one of the people who felt he was anointed top 5 too fast. But the Mendes fight finally closed it for me. Yes, he's top 5. The division is still a bit thin, but as Tim said, Anderson was fighting Cote and Leites and was widely considered #1. It's not always just who you face, it's also how impressive you look against them, and Aldo looked impressive in Rio. I guess for me what it comes down to is this - for him to not be top 5, you need to find 5 guys above him. Clearly Silva, Jones, and GSP are above. But then? Edgar is the only other really in contention I think. Brent Brookhouse: I think Jon Fitch losing kind of takes some of the teeth out of the argument against Aldo. He was one of the fighters people thought belonged above Aldo for all his accomplishments as the long-time number two guy at welterweight who seemed like he could only be beaten by one guy (St. Pierre). In a few months Aldo will be #3 in my eyes since standard ranking procedure says you remove a fighter who has been inactive for over a year (again, St. Pierre). As Fraser said, you have to have five guys above him to not be top five and I think the guys in the P4P discussion right now are (in no order): - Anderson Silva - Jon Jones - Georges St. Pierre - Frankie Edgar - Gilbert Melendez - Junior dos Santos - Dominick Cruz And I guess you could add maybe Nick Diaz and Dan Henderson to that list. But I look at those names and I feel pretty comfortable saying that Aldo is in the top 5 in the sport, maybe even top three if you want to bump GSP down for his very sporadic schedule and lack of finishing lesser men. More after the jump... KJ Gould: The lack of familiarity and establishment of the Featherweight division hurts his cause. His best name win is Kenny Florian, but it can be argued Florian was severely weakened with his drop to Featherweight which impacted the fight. In hypothetical pound for pound discussions, Anderson Silva, Frankie Edgar, Jon Jones and Georges St. Pierre rank above him in my opinion. I guess you could squeak him in at No#5 - really, who else is there except maybe Junior dos Santos? - but I would like to see him face a few other top 10 lightweights first, either by them dropping down or him going up. Not the easiest of questions as the pound for pound debate gets pretty murky after the first 5 with a lot of people having wildly varying opinions of who should be considered. T.P. Grant: Edgar is not in my P4P Top 5 right now, I think a lot hangs on his Ben Henderson fight. Edgar's run in championship fight has consisted of him spending two years having four fights with the same two guys, and he very easily could have ended up going 2-2 instead of 3-0-1. He impressed the hell out of me with his toughness and mental strength, and I love watching him fight. That said I want to see how Edgar fairs when he faces more lightweights. He gets hit a lot for how small and quick he is and there are guys at 155 lbs that can put hands on Edgar and if they hurt him have real finishing ability to end the fight. So with that off topic rant out of the way, I feel Aldo is a very solid #4, with Andy Silva #1, Bones #2, GSP #3 and I feel Dominick Cruz has earn #5. Aldo is fighting in a division that is flux right now and the talent isn't very deep because many elite featherweights are still fighting at lightweight, but Aldo's resume is just too good to ignore. Aldo has not lost a fight in 6 years, he beat Mike Thomas Brown and Urijah Faber effortlessly when both where considered P4P fighters, and has defended his belt 5 times (GSP has defended 6 times). I think Aldo's recognition is over due, his run in featherweight is as impressive as any champion's run in their division, aside from Anderson Silva. Tim Burke: 'd probably rank Frankie highly just because he's a natural featherweight that is consistently beating guys much larger than him. If it comes down to who is # 4 (behind the aforementioned Silva/GSP/Bones trio), it's a very tough call between Aldo and Edgar for me. But there's no one else that's close to stealing a top five spot away from either of them in my eyes. Dominick Cruz isn't close. Dan Henderson isn't close. Nick Diaz isn't close. T.P Grant: Why isn't Cruz close? Tim Burke: Three of his last six fights (including two title defenses) have been against bantamweights. Bowles shattered his hand and had to stop. The Faber fight was waaay closer than the scores made it. And if we're questioning whether the strength of a division should affect a fighter's P4P ranking...well, BW is behind FW in development. KJ Gould: Because like Featherweight, Bantamweight isn't developed or established yet compared to other classes. Edgar beat Penn twice at a time when many though Penn was unstoppable at Lightweight. His fights with Maynard were epic, and Maynard has a significant size advantage and beats everyone else at Lightweight. Considering he is an undersized light weight as has been mentioned, and how Aldo has been mulling going to Lightweight because the cut to Featherweight is tough, I think Edgar has to be considered above Aldo in pound for pound discussion. Edgar could be number 2 or 3 for me. T.P. Grant: My reservations about Edgar are just that outside of his rematch against BJ Penn we've not seen in go in and take firm control of fight from another elite fighter. The first fight with Penn was in and out but Penn was never in trouble and landed harder more accurate strikes. In both fights with Maynard, Edgar was in big, big trouble in the opening rounds. I need to see him go in and really dominate an elite fighter. KJ Gould: He's also beaten Sherk, by the way, and beat the at the time highly touted Tyson Griffin in his UFC debut, and has the scalps of Mark Bocek and Jim Miller (pre UFC). I think you might be underplaying how good Edgar is, considering his only loss was to Maynard and he more than made up for it in the rematches ending the last fight definitively. Fraser Coffeen: Interesting that JDS has come up a few times. I figured he would, simply because he's a champion, but no way is he in contention in my book, as every one of his impressive wins comes against an opponent with a pretty sizable hole in his game. It's going to take a lot for a heavyweight to crack that top 5 for me, just based on the shallowness and constant flux at the top of the division. Fraser Coffeen: Cruz isn't close because every time he gets inside and gets close, he runs away right after. Thanks folks, I'll be here all night. Tim Burke: Everyone meet Fraser Coffeen, the Jacob Volkmann of BE! Fraser Coffeen: Tim, call me to schedule a glassectomy. Matt Roth: You guys aren't thinking this through and that's cute. I can't put Aldo in the top 5 just because I don't think he was impressive in his wins over Hominick or Florian. In fact the Florian fight wasn't memorable to me, to the point that even though I sat cage side I kinda spaced out and lost track of how many rounds were already over. Yes, beating Mendes is huge but you guys are definitely being ridiculous saying he's top 5. Tim Burke: And Anderson's win over Sonnen was impressive? Hell a lot of people have been crapping on GSP's last few performances. Aldo still beat Hominick and Florian 49-46. And had a 10-8 round against Hominick. Matt Roth: Man I'm all but ready to drop GSP from the top 5. Pound for Pound to me means not just one of the best but also one of the most exciting. The Goddamn Sleeping Pill is the worst. If Jose is top 5 he's fringe top 5. Though I think both Edgar and Henderson are above him. Dallas Winston: I've been pretty skeptical about Aldo's hype as well but I would now put him at #4 in front of Edgar. He only has one career loss and has now blown through much of the upper end of the division in addition to the lower end. Frankie has a legit UFC loss to Gray plus the draw and all Aldo has are decision wins that weren't entirely dominant. Top-five? No question in my book.

Posted in: fight, pound, guy, edgar, aldo

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It's MLK day and you don't have to go to work, so why are you fumbling around with your bowl of Fruit Loops when you should be rocking it out at our Monday Morning Link Party. We're a dynamic group of heroes that fly around cities, dropping news on citizens whenever possible. Enjoy yourself, the keg is in the back -- please don't spill anything. Also, don't break anything. Thank you. [list class="bullet-6"] [li]Falling Action: Best and Worst of UFC 142. [MMAFighting] [/li] [li]UFC 142: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly. [CagePotato] [/li] [li]Erick Silva paid win bonus despite disqualification loss. [Fives Ounces of Pain] [/li] [li]Where does Jose Aldo belong on the P4P list? [LowKick] [/li] [li]UFC 142 Post-Fight News & Notes: Jose Aldo To Lightweight? [MMAConvert] [/li] [li]“UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes” Live Post-Fight Press Conference Video. [5th Round] [/li] [li]Palhares and the Best Modern Submission Artists. [Bleacher Report] [/li] [li]Movie Review: Haywire. [The Fight Nerd] [/li] [li]UFC 142 results recap: Jose Aldo vs Chad Mendes event wrap up from Brazil. [MMAMania] [/li] [li]Mixed bag of thoughts about ESPN’s segment on UFC pay. [FightOpinion] [/li] [li]WWE head nixes Punk-Sonnen entrance. [MMAPayout] [/li] [li]Junior Dos Santos Declares He Is Nearly 100 Percent Healed. [Fightline] [/li] [/list] UFC 142 is On Pace to Becoming the Number 5 Most Cursed Card in UFC History

Posted in: ufc, li, jose aldo, aldo, liufc

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was back on pay-per-view this past Saturday night (Jan. 14, 2012) with UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes," featuring Jose Aldo successfully defending his featherweight championship with a first round knee tap knockout victory over Chad Mendes. Vitor Belfort also impressed with his rear-naked choke submission victory over Anthony Johnson, much to the thrill of the Brazilian faithful at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro. "The Phenom" took another step up the middleweight ladder while "Rumble" finds himself unemployed after his weight cutting debacle. And that's not even mentioning Edson Barboza, who crashed Terry Etim's party with a wheel kick that had the British banger doing his best Michael Bisping impression circa UFC 100. We're talking out cold, falling flat, empty stare, lights on but nobody's home knockout. In cased you missed any or all of it -- or just want to keep the discussion alive -- below are links to all the major storylines borne from Saturday night's event in Brazil. In we go. UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes" Results and live fight coverage Bonuses and awards Event review Event photos gallery Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes fight video highlights FX "Prelims" results and recap Fight recap: Edson Barboza head kick knocks out Terry Etim Fight recap: Carlo Prater gets disqualification win over Erick Silva due to illegal blows Fight recap: Rousimar Palhares submits Mike Massenzio in the first round Fight recap: Vitor Belfort chokes out Anthony Johnson Fight recap: Jose Aldo knocks out Chad Mendes Fight review and analysis: Edson Barboza vs. Terry Etim Fight review and analysis: Erick Silva vs. Carlo Prater Fight review and analysis: Rousimar Palhares vs. Mike Massenzio Fight review and analysis: Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson Fight review and analysis: Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes UFC 142 post-fight fallout Big winners and lowly losers Event report card What's next for Jose Aldo and Vitor Belfort? UFC 142 was about building towards the future, not instant gratification Questionable refereeing showed need for consistency, clarification Jose Aldo's star rises with pound-for-pound worthy performance in Brazil Jose Aldo jumps in the crowd to celebrate his win with fans Dana White cuts Anthony Johnson Anthony Johnson wasn't hurt by Vitor Belfort, he was just tired Rousimar Palhares is ready to join the middleweight elite Edson Barboza is ready for the next level NFL Playoffs (In case you Maniacs want to read my top flight coverage of the Divisional Round games) San Francisco defeats New Orleans 36-32 in the best NFL playoff game ever New England destroys Denver 45-10 and ends Tim Tebow's Cinderella run Baltimore squeaks by Houston 20-13 to advance to AFC Championship Game New York shocks Green Bay 37-20 at Lambeau Field That, my friends, should be enough to keep you talking -- at least for the time being. What gets your vote for the biggest story coming out of UFC 142? Sound off, Maniacs.

Posted in: ufc, fight, vs, jose, aldo

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Throughout the years there have been countless post-victory celebrations ranging from backflips both standing and off the top of the cage to “the worm” to Tito Ortiz’s patented gravedigger. However, going forward few if any will be as memorable as joyous featherweight champion Jose Aldo immediately exiting the cage after his knockout win over Chad Mendes at UFC, then hopping the ringside barrier and celebrating while surrounded by his cheering countrymen. A still-glowing Aldo talked about his success on Saturday night shortly after coming away with his hand raised and also explained the reason he wanted to share the moment with his fellow Brazilians. UFC President Dana White Open to Aldo Moving to Lightweight “My fans give me so much love and so much good energy so there’s nothing better than celebrating with them,” said Aldo in a brief video from the UFC capturing his reaction. In terms of flattening Mendes with a knee in the final seconds of the opening round, Aldo did not appear surprised and made it clear he expects more of the same in 2012. “It’s what we train to do and hopefully we’ll be knocking a lot of people out,” he concluded. Aldo improved his record to 21-1 with his stoppage of the previously unbeaten Mendes. He has now won fourteen straight fights and is 3-0 inside the Octagon with notches on his belt over Mendes, Mark Hominick, and Kenny Florian. Check out the full Aldo interview below: PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, saturday night, jose aldo, aldo, mende

Read the full article at Fighters.com

Filed under: UFCUFC 142 is in the books and another Brazilian event has ended without any rioting or bludgeoning of referees. Now it's time to sort through the action for the biggest winners, losers, and everything in between. Biggest Winner: Jose Aldo There's the human highlight reel we remember from the WEC days. Even with an opponent intent on dragging him down and holding him there, Aldo created just enough space to work his magic, spinning away and firing off a perfectly timed, perfectly placed knee that showed off both his explosive athleticism and his powers of anticipation. After the first-round knockout, Aldo charged into the crowd to celebrate with his countrymen -- and to give UFC president Dana White a heart attack. Like something out of a sentimental sports film, the mob hoisted Aldo on its shoulders and showered him with love. In fact, the roughest treatment Aldo received was from the security team that tried to wrangle him back into the Octagon for the post-fight festivities. Maybe Aldo wasn't a star in Brazil before UFC 142, but after treating the singing, chanting throng of fans to such a memorable ending on Sunday morning in Rio, you've got to think he's improved his standing in his home country. Clearly, Aldo is a man worth knowing. What's less clear is how the UFC is going to keep digging up interesting new challengers for a champ this dominant. Biggest Loser: Anthony Johnson It's not just that he missed weight (again), or that he quickly ran out of gas and got submitted (thanks to a little help from some quick, though not egregious stand-ups by referee Dan Miragliotta). It's also about his attitude. I understand that, on the eve of a fight, a fighter isn't eager to revel in his own failures and humble himself before fans and management. At the same time, c'mon son, Anthony Johnson. How are you going to come in waaaay overweight for your first fight at middleweight, then get on Facebook and brag that you don't care what anybody thinks about it? Who thought that was a good idea? Even at the weigh-ins, where Belfort showed up looking like a man who had done his share of suffering, Johnson was smiling and waving, apparently oblivious to the fact that his UFC career was now in jeopardy. I understand the desire to stay positive, but at some point you have to admit to yourself that you've screwed up. If you don't, how are you ever going to stop screwing up? How are you going to take responsibility for the mistakes you are habitually making, so that you can stop making them in the future? Clearly, Johnson hasn't figured that part out yet. Until he does, the UFC is no place for him. Best Response to a Bad Situation: Erick Silva I'd like to think that I would have handled that disqualification loss with as much class and grace as Silva did, but I know it isn't true. I know that because I was once disqualified from a beer pong tournament at a bar in New Jersey for some perceived violation of etiquette, and, well, let's just say that because of my response to the DQ I'm no longer welcome in that establishment. The point is, Silva had every reason to be upset. We've seen many fighters get away with far more egregious strikes to the back of the head. He might have thrown one or two hammerfists that drifted into illegal territory, but they clearly weren't intentional and weren't responsible for ending the fight. I don't know if Carlo Prater talked referee Mario Yamasaki into believing otherwise or if Yamasaki still has residual back-of-the-head guilt from the Belfort-Akiyama fight. Regardless, he got it wrong and Silva got cheated out of a win as a result. That Silva took the news so well is a credit to his character. I know I wouldn't have been so nice about it. Chuck Norris Award for Kicking Excellence: Edson Barboza His spinning wheel kick knockout of Terry Etim was so fantastically flashy that I keep expecting Steven Seagal to somehow claim credit for it. It's the kind of kick that makes every martial arts nerd instantly geek out, and yet it's also a kick that, according to the most ardent Taekwondo supporter I know, "even Taekwondo guys admit will almost never work." Somehow Barboza made it work, and for that he was handsomely rewarded with a $65,000 Knockout of the Night bonus. To even have the confidence to try something like that against a fighter of Terry Etim's caliber is impressive. To pull it off in such effective fashion is damn near amazing. Barboza will be seeing that moment of his life replayed in highlight reels for years to come. Unfortunately, so will Etim. Worst One-Trick Pony: Chad Mendes He had to know he was in trouble when Aldo easily shrugged off his first few takedown attempts. He kept after it because, hey, what else was he going to do? It's not like Mendes was going to outstrike Aldo, and he knew it. His only hope was to get the takedown and grind away, which put him in a very vulnerable position. The problem with putting too much stock into your own wrestling ability is that your opponent usually knows where your head is going to be. Even with his back to Mendes as he broke his grip, Aldo knew the challenger would come diving in for his legs at the end of the round, and that allowed him to spin and throw the knee with confidence. It may have been Mendes' inability to get that takedown that got him in trouble, but it was his own predictability that sealed his fate. Best One-Trick Pony: Rousimar Palhares You know how you can tell when someone is very, very good at what they do? They keep doing it to people who know it's coming. Mike Massenzio had months to prepare for Palhares' leg locks, and he still got heel-hooked in the first minute of the fight. That's the fifth submission victory of Palhares' UFC career, and four of those were leg and/or foot-based submissions. I still doubt that you can heel hook your way to a title in today's UFC, especially when the middleweight champ is a man who does so many things so very well, but who knows? Maybe if Palhares can get Ryo Chonan to show him that unique method of entry, he could shock the world. Most Awkward Moment: Joe Rogan's Interrogation of Mario Yamasaki Give credit to Rogan for taking us right to the source and getting Yamasaki's explanation for why he disqualified Erick Silva, but that's where it should have stopped. It's perfectly fair for a commentator to ask the ref to explain himself after a controversial call, but trying to cajole him into admitting he made the wrong decision just minutes after he made it is perhaps not terribly helpful. Rogan clearly had his opinion on Yamasaki's call, and it's an opinion I agreed with. Even so, that doesn't mean I want to watch him trying to talk Yamasaki into it on live TV. Not only is it uncomfortable to watch, it serves no purpose. Rogan normally does an excellent job of bringing clarity to the chaos in moments like those, but that's a time when he needs to content himself with getting the opinions of others rather than forcefully applying his own. What MMA Needs Most: Rules Clarity If you inadvertently hit an opponent on the back of the head during a frantic punch flurry, as Erick Silva did, maybe nothing will happen. Or maybe you'll get a warning. Maybe you'll lose a point. Maybe you'll even be disqualified. There's really no telling. The same holds true when you grab the fence to avoid a takedown, as Jose Aldo blatantly did just moments before knocking out Chad Mendes. That's cheating, and there's never anything inadvertent about it, and yet Aldo suffered absolutely no consequences for the illegal advantage he obtained. So why wouldn't he do it? With the fence grab, fighters know they'll almost never be punished the first time they do it. At most, they'll get a verbal warning, which essentially means that they can cheat at least once with no consequences whatsoever. If you chose your cheating moment wisely, as Aldo did, it can change the complexion of the fight in minor or major ways [ed. note: for more on that, I recommend reading Chad Dundas' explanation of why you should always cheat in an MMA fight]. How can this be? How can something that is clearly illegal and never accidental go completely unpunished? I don't doubt that refereeing an MMA bout is a difficult, stressful job, but it seems as though we only make it more difficult and stressful by leaving so much to the individual referee's discretion. Figuring out how the ref is going to respond to an illegal blow or a quick grab of the fence is like figuring out where an umpire's strike zone is. The difference is, if your opponent knows when and how to game that system, you don't get another at bat in MMA. The fight's over, you're out a bunch of money, and there's no guarantee that you can even bring these lessons into your next fight, since the next ref might interpret the rules differently. At the risk of handcuffing referees, MMA needs more clarity on what offense constitutes which punishment. Currently, fighters don't know what will happen to them until it's already happened -- or hasn't. The whole point of having "unified" rules is so they're the same everywhere. But as long as referees are allowed to enforce their own take on where the back of the head begins and what an illegal fence grab is worth, it's always going to be a shifting landscape from one fight to the next. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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In the main event of UFC 142, Jose Aldo continued his reign of terror in the 145-pound division by knocking out challenger Chad Mendes to keep a firm grip on his UFC featherweight title. Compared to his WEC run, his UFC fights had been a tad lackluster so far (despite winning both of them), but he returned to the highlight reel in dramatic fashion last night by stopping Mendes with one second to go in the first round. He also extended his winning streak to 14. Mendes started off well, landing a few leg kicks. Aldo responded with kicks of his own and stuffed some takedowns, which seemed to demoralize Mendes from that point on. Mendes almost had a takedown halfway through the round, but a blatant cage grab by Aldo kept it standing. Mendes then had Aldo's back with Jose pinned against the cage, but Aldo spun and landed a beautiful knee to the face right as Mendes dropped down to shoot in. Mendes fell flat on his back, and Aldo jumped on him and landed two more shots that put Mendes away. The fight was stopped at 4:59 of the first round, which is just the sixth time in UFC history that a guy has one with one second left in a round. What was the high spot of this fight? The beautiful Aldo knee that quickly led to the finish. You don't see pretty strikes like that very often. Aldo running into the crowd was also really fun to watch, and it was hilarious to watch him try to get away from the security guards so he could do it a second time. Where do these guys go from here? Aldo retained his status as the best featherweight in the world, but who will he face next? Mendes was the one clear-cut challenger for the belt, and he got knocked out. No one else is really on the horizon right now. Chan Sung Jung and Hatsu Hioki are the two names that come up most often. Hioki is scheduled to face Bart Palaszewski at UFC 144, while the Korean Zombie is currently unbooked. Another possible angle is Aldo taking on UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar if he gets through Ben Henderson at UFC 144, but that's a longshot at best. Mendes will have to go back to the drawing board. He is still the number two featherweight in the world, and will likely meet a top-five fighter in his next outing, but after losing to Aldo the way he did it's going to be a while before he gets a rematch. A bout with Diego Nunes would be an excellent fight and would make a lot of sense. Watch it now, later or never? Now. It was Aldo's best performance in the UFC, the finish is remarkable, and the fan reaction when Aldo runs into the crowd is amazing. Witnessing the moment that Jose Aldo became a true superstar is something I'll remember for a while, and you'll probably enjoy it too. SBN coverage of UFC RIO 142: Aldo vs. Mendes More Bloody Elbow coverage of UFC 142 in the full entry UFC 142 Results: Wallid Ismail Reacts To Erick Silva DQ - Matt Roth UFC 142 Results: Six Fights To Make After Aldo Vs. Mendes - Ben Thapa UFC 142 Results: Anthony Johnson Cut Following Loss To Vitor Belfort - Matt Roth UFC 142 Results: Winners, Losers, And Other Thoughts - Matt Roth UFC 142: Rosi Sexton On Anthony Johnson And The Risks Of Weight Cutting - Bloody Elbow UFC 142 Results: Anthony Johnson 'Likely Cut' Following Loss To Vitor Belfort - Brent Brookhouse UFC 142 Results Video: Jose Aldo Vs. Chad Mendes Full Fight Highlights - Bloody Elbow UFC 142: Aldo Vs. Mendes Results And Post-Fight Analysis - Brent Brookhouse UFC 142 Results: Jose Aldo Knocks Out Chad Mendes Then Celebrates In Crowd - Matt Roth UFC 142 Results: Vitor Belfort Defeats Anthony Johnson By Rear Naked Choke - Matt Roth UFC 142 Results: Rousimar Palhares Takes Home Mike Massenzio's Leg - Matt Roth UFC 142 Results: Erick Silva Disqualified In Fight With Carlo Prater - Matt Roth UFC 142 Results: Edson Barboza Knocks Out Terry Etim With A Wheel Kick - Matt Roth UFC 142 Post-Fight Press Conference Video - Tim Burke Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 122: UFC 142 Results Review - Matt Bishop UFC 142 Results: Thiago Tavares Defeats Sam Stout by Uanimous Decision - Matt Roth UFC 142 Aldo Vs. Mendes Results: Gabriel Gonzaga Chokes Out Edinaldo Oliveira - Matt Roth UFC 142 Aldo Vs. Mendes Results: Yuri Alcantara Defeats Michiro Omigawa By Unanimous Decision - Matt Roth UFC 142 Aldo Vs. Mendes Results: Mike Pyle Knocks Out Ricardo Funch In First Round - Matt Roth UFC 142 Aldo Vs. Mendes Results: Felipe Arantes Dominates Antonio Carvalho - Matt Roth UFC 142: Aldo Vs. Mendes - Live Results And Play-By-Play For PPV - Brent Brookhouse UFC 142: Aldo Vs. Mendes - Live Results And Play-By-Play For Undercard - Brent Brookhouse

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WHERE DOES HE RANK?I wrote in my breakdown of the UFC 142 main event between Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes that “Aldo can’t just beat Mendes if he wants to reinsert himself into the pound-for-pound discussions. He needs to destroy him…” Mission accomplished. Aldo made minced meat out of a man who many believed had the perfect set of skills to dethrone the first UFC featherweight champion. And he made it look easy – very easy.People have to start giving Aldo credit as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, if not THE best.  His WEC/UFC resume is ridiculous. The only person to make him seem even remotely human in the last six years was Mark Hominick. Aldo had lots of pre-fight issues that arguably contributed to that performance. But even if we disregard those issues, everyone is entitled to a bad night now and then. Anderson Silva came much closer to losing to Chael Sonnen than Aldo did against Hominick. Georges St-Pierre suffered a knockout loss during Aldo’s undefeated run. So I don’t want to hear any of this Mark Hominick stuff when it comes to Aldo’s pound-for-pound claim.I’ll be the first to say it. Aldo deserves to stand above Jon Jones in the pound-for-pound debate. That isn’t a knock on Jones, who had the most impressive 2011 of anyone in the sport. But he only recently began facing the best of the best. Aldo has been doing that for several years, and pound-for-pound supremacy is about sustained, proven greatness. Jones is on his way. Aldo is already there.Where Jones stands in the mythical pound-for-pound debate is a matter of opinion. I still firmly lean toward Silva at the top, but I’d put Aldo on par with GSP as vying for the second position. Jones and then Frankie Edgar finish off my top five. Agree? Disagree? State your case in the comment section below. I’ll be reading, as always. “THE PHENOM” IS MAKING A COMPELLING CASEVitor Belfort looked incredible in his first-round submission win over Anthony Johnson. The former champion took his share of lumps, including a vicious diving punch on the ground. But his overall skill proved to be too much for the light heavyweight version of Johnson. Ok, he wasn’t actually a light heavy, but he didn’t make the 186-pound limit, as everyone already knows. The win was the second straight annihilation win for Belfort after suffering the dramatic front kick loss to Silva. Belfort will now set his sights on Wanderlei Silva after the pair coach opposite each other on “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil,” which starts filming shortly. If he obliterates Silva, like he did Johnson and Yoshihiro Akiyama, then there is little doubt that he deserves a rematch with Anderson Silva. Say what you will about the knockout loss to “The Spider”; it was a single strike loss. I’ve written about that type of loss many times before. They do nothing to prove that one man is superior to the other. All they do is prove that one man got caught. Silva did not dominate Belfort when he knocked him out. He landed a single strike. Had Belfort’s flying left hand found its mark when Silva’s back hit the ground, the result could have easily been different. That is why a rematch between the two is, in my opinion, the biggest fight available in the middleweight division.But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Belfort must first get past Wanderlei without getting injured. Anderson must heal and rehabilitate his ailing shoulder. Then, Anderson must get past the winner of Chael Sonnen versus Mark Munoz. I guarantee you that he hopes Munoz wins because Sonnen came within two minutes of dethroning the champion. So, it is far from a lock that Anderson will defeat the winner of Sonnen-Munoz. If he does, I think we may just pay witness to the biggest fight in the history of the middleweight division. “RUMBLE” GETS COSTLY LESSON Let’s quickly deal with business first. According to a post-fight interview with UFC President Dana White on FUEL TV, Johnson was likely going to be released from his UFC contract following the loss to Belfort, with White citing a 'three strikes and you're out' policy. Johnson missed weight at UFC 76, UFC 104 and now UFC 142. At some point, this guy has to get it right on the scales. We don’t see this sort of issue with other top fighters. Johnson was completely unprofessional with the way he handled his move to middleweight. I don’t care what he points to as the reason. He fought at 170 pounds not long ago. Yet, he missed the middleweight limit? Crazy. Unfathomable. Inexcusable.  He needs to take a hard look at himself and everyone around him because these sorts of repeated weight issues are unprecedented in the UFC, particularly when moving UP, not down, in weight. Now, to the good part. I thought Johnson looked tremendous at middleweight (or junior light heavyweight), despite the loss to Belfort. He appeared to increase his speed and explosiveness with the extra weight, just like I predicted.  He also appeared to match Belfort’s strength, which shocked me. If not for a couple of quick stand-ups, Johnson may have sent Belfort to the filming of TUF with a shocking (in my opinion) loss on his record. He was certainly winning the round before getting caught in a well executed rear naked choke. All that suggests to me that middleweight is the perfect division for this guy. I hope Johnson hires a weight cutting guru or dietician and figures out this whole scale thing. It is a tragedy that this guy is wasting his tremendous potential, particularly now that he is entering the prime of his fighting career, by battling the scale, rather than battling for championships. I think the latter is a real possibility if he can figure out the former.PALHARES SHOWS THE BEAUTIFUL VIOLENCE OF BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSURousimar Palhares is one scary ground fighter. The vertically challenged middleweight looks like a cartoon character with his muscular build. But those muscles are far from beach muscles. They are evidence of his ridiculous physical strength. Mix that with his otherworldly BJJ, and you have one of the most intimidating ground fighters in all of mixed martial arts. “Toquinho” may have rudimentary standup, but I can guarantee you that nobody in the middleweight division wants any part of his ground game – nobody. That includes pound-for-pound kingpin Anderson Silva.DON’T EVISCERATE YAMASAKI JUST YETMario Yamasaki got it wrong on Saturday night. We all know that. But before you eviscerate the referee, ask yourself whether you have ever made a mistake at your job. I know I certainly have. You have, too.Yamasaki’s mistake wasn’t borne from incompetence. He thought Erik Silva was illegally striking the back of Carlo Prater’s head, so he disqualified him in the interest of promoting fighter safety. That deserves praise, not condemnation. The danger of repeatedly striking someone in the back of the head is well documented. As a lifelong boxing fan, I will never forget watching Nigel Benn hit Gerald McClellan in the back of the head again and again in their 1995 title fight. We’ll never know for sure, but the illegal blows may have been the catalyst that forever changed McClellan’s life. Kudos to Yamasaki for doing what the referee in London didn’t have the courage to do back in 1995.Of course, the replay showed that Silva landed legal blows, so he was wrongfully disqualified. But there was nothing Yamasaki could do about his decision after watching the replay. The UFC, unlike other professional sports, does not provide for replay to change a referee’s decision. The result highlights the need for instant replay in MMA. Other major sports take advantage of technology within prescribed limited. Our sport should do the same.At the end of the day, though, Yamasaki wrongfully disqualifying Silva doesn’t really matter. The Brazilian bomber has the ability to appeal the loss, which may result in a reversal of the outcome. Dana White stepped up big time and paid Silva his full purse – show money and win bonus – so he wasn’t personally impacted at all by the loss. I’m also certain that he will be treated, when considered for future UFC bookings, as if he won the bout. As far as I’m concerned, this is a no-harm, no-foul situation.ARE YOU KIDDING ME?Edson Barboza’s spinning wheel kick knockout over Terry Etim was the most impressive final round knockout that I may have ever witnessed in the UFC. Maybe I will think of something that compares in the coming days, but for now, I’m left in pure awe of the moment. By the way, it was the first ever spinning wheel kick knockout in UFC history. It won Knockout of the Night. I’m thinking it should win Knockout of the Decade. Not to anoint myself matchmaker, but I would LOVE to see a bout between Barboza and Donald Cerrone. That matchup could easily produce Fight of the Year fireworks.PYLE RIGHTS THE SHIP; IS THERE TIME?Five months after getting blasted by Rory MacDonald in less than four minutes, Mike Pyle returned to form with a dominant performance against Ricardo Funch. Pyle is a grizzled veteran of the sport, having competed all over the world since making his professional debut against Quinton “Rampage” Jackson way back on November 13, 1999. Pyle’s UFC success – five wins in eight bouts – is certainly noteworthy. The problem is he has yet to defeat an actual contender inside the Octagon. It remains to be seen whether he is a division gatekeeper or a legitimate contender. At 36 years old, the time for him to make a run is now.   BRAZIL ALMOST RUNS THE TABLEBrazil is the home of mixed martial arts. It was fitting, therefore, that each of the 10 fights involved at least one Brazilian. Two bouts pitted Brazilian versus Brazilian. Let’s remove those two bouts from the analysis, since it was guaranteed that a Brazilian would win the matchup. That leaves us with eight. UFC 134 also involved eight bouts where Brazilians fought “others.” The locals went 7-1 in both situations. I know this isn’t country versus country, but 14-2 is nothing to sneeze at. Are Brazilians, on average, the best mixed martial artists in the world? They are making one heck of an argument.

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Aldo, first name Jose, marched toward the Octagon to Jay-Z’s “Run This Town (Tonight)” and did exactly that, snatching his 14th straight victory in front of his Rio de Janeiro faithful. The first-round knockout of No. 1 contender Chad Mendes will force even the most stubborn minds to rethink whether Jon Jones or Anderson Silva or Georges St-Pierre really is the most talented fighter on the planet. Fresh off his fifth world title defense, Aldo is now a certified superstar – and it is legitimate to speculate if there is any current fighter at either 145 pounds OR 155 pounds that will beat this guy on his A game (You have to think that Aldo would be favored against anybody at either weight class). Scary part: he is only 25 years old, nowhere near his physical prime. Brazilian fighters added more ammunition to claims that they produce the world’s best mixed martial artists by rewarding home fans with a 7-1 record on the night against opponents from other nations. The UFC has held three events in South America’s largest country. In those shows Brazilian fighters have amassed a combined (and staggering) 16-2 record against foreigners. Can’t conceive how Anthony Johnson failed to make weight BY 11 POUNDS!!! Will forever boggle the mind, no matter how many excuses are conjured up. Let’s put this Cardinal Sin of professional fighting into historical perspective: Up until the 142 weigh-in, the Poster Boy for jaw-dropping overweightedness had been Paulo  Filho, another incredible talent who famously tipped the scales at seven pounds over before his middleweight world title defense against Chael Sonnen for WEC 36. Those who cheer for Karma to always prevail in the end can take comfort in this: Being overweight for a main card fight is usually a bad omen for the perpetrator. Filho, like Johnson, was as much of a failure in the fight as he was during the weight cut. Both Filho and Johnson paid for their transgressions not only with reduced paychecks, but also losses inside the cage. Disqualification of Erick Silva for alleged strikes to the back of the head, wiping away what would have been a jubilant 29-second triumph in front of his countrymen, was heart-wrenching to watch, especially since video replays showed scant evidence of the fouls. Reminds me of Jon Jones losing via disqualification after annihilating Matt Hamill at The Ultimate Fighter finale 10 (illegal elbows being the culprit, the lone “loss” of Jones’ career). Though he remained poised and polished during an interview with Joe Rogan immediately following the defeat, Jones went backstage, away from fans and cameras, and was emotionally devastated. I can’t help but think that Erick Silva (13-2, 1 NC) was the same Saturday night in Rio after being deprived of what have been the finest moment of his career thus far. Extraordinary is my thought on Joe Rogan’s impromptu interview with referee Mario Yamasaki following the Prater-Silva shocker. How often do you see that? Rogan is just so brutally candid, which I happen to think is generally a good quality in people. He felt Silva’s pain and wanted Yamasaki – one of the sport’s most competent and veteran referees – to explain the call. Fight of the Night bonuses ($65,000) went to Edson Barboza and Terry Etim. Gabriel Gonzaga, whom some had written off after he lost three of four UFC fights and embarked on a one-year hiatus, returned to the Octagon with a vengeance. The 250-pound BJJ world champ had lamented relying too much on his striking and returned to his roots with a rear naked choke that dealt Ednaldo Oliveira (13-1-1, 1 NC) his first career loss. Heel hooks are rarely successful in the UFC, but Rousimar Palhares is an exception to the rule. The 185-pound ball of muscle clamped onto Mike Massenzio’s ankle early in the first round and, before Palhares even commenced any of the limb, Joe Rogan accurately predicted that trying to escape so early in the bout without benefit of sweat was futile: “Fight’s over,” Rogan said. And it was, just 63 seconds in, giving Palhares his seventh win in nine UFC fights. One remark: I’ll bet you Massenzio spent the majority of his camp focusing on how to defend heel hooks, leg locks and kneebars. But it’s hard to mimic the kind of beastly latch Palhares imposes on a limb. Only Frank Mir can be considered an equal in that department, as both are clearly the last two guys you want cranking on your limb. I suspect that Anthony Johnson, after missing weight three different times under the UFC banner, could someday return to the UFC. But if I was him, and that forgiveness and opportunity for redemption ever comes, I might opt for the 205-pound weight class instead (just to be on the safe side).Jose Aldo’s spontaneous sprint into the stands at HSBC Arena – for those who might think it unprecedented    was not Jr.’s first foray into the crowd. An overflow of emotion prompted him to do the MMA version of a “Lambeau Leap” after a first-round knockout of Rolando Perez four years ago at WEC 38 (in San Diego, Calif.). Word is that Aldo’s renowned trainer, Andre Pederneiras, was not too fond of the Aldo running into the stands (nor was he fond of Aldo’s daring habit of doing somersault’s off the Octagon following wins). Aldo had been much tamer in his celebrations until Saturday, as the energy in the sold-out arena and the sentimental value of the moment apparently overcame him (and also probably scared the crap out of the security officials responsible for the arduous task of extracting the raging showman from a virtual mosh pit of fans). Knockout of the Night went to Edson Barboza, whose spinning wheel kick to the face sent Terry Etim to the canvas stiff as a wooden board. By coincidence, the third-round knockout happened just as Joe Rogan was noting that Etim, likely trailing on the judges’ scorecards, might need to attack more. Rogan wondered aloud, “Do you want to take a chance and risk getting knocked out? (at that moment Barboza spun and the heel of his foot thumped Etim’s jaw).“Oh!!” Barboza, a lightweight, improved to 10-0. Lovely Brazilian women in the crowd didn’t get as much love from the cameras as some of us would have liked. Miscellaneous fact worth mentioning: There are at least four different fighters named Anderson Silva in MMA, PLUS another named “Wanderson” Silva. “THE” famous Anderson Silva is 31-4 in his legendary career. The combined record of the three other Anderson Silvas (and Wanderson Silva) is 10-15. Not since March 2001, back in his days with Pride, had Vitor Belfort submitted an opponent in live competition (Bobby Southworth being the answer to the trivia question). Though Belfort is renowned for his hand-speed and punching prowess, that decade-long submission drought is remarkable when you consider that Belfort has been a BJJ black belt since the tender age of 19 (receiving the honor under the late, great Carlson Gracie). Another important point about Belfort: His career resurgence is as admirable as it is rare. Here is a man who, in the mid-2000s, fought seven times AND LOST FIVE OF THEM. Many – including myself -- wrote Belfort off entirely, thinking “The Phenom” had all the physical talent in the world but lacked the mental toughness and drive to rise to elite status again. And now? The 34-year-old Belfort has won seven of his past eight, which is a credit to his own mental maturity and the fine team he has assembled around him, which includes kickboxing coach Ray Sefo, Gilbert “Durinho” Burns (BJJ black belt world champion) and Ginastica Natural pioneer Alvaro Romano. Opinion: The Vitor Belfort-Wanderlei Silva rematch, slated for later this year, will not go past one round. But me, like you, will darn sure be watching every second of their fisticuffs. It’s been more than 13 years – 13 YEARS – since these two icons collided. I don’t remember ever waiting 13 years to see a rematch. I’m sure Wanderlei has often fantasized about revenge since absorbing that 44-second annihilation to Belfort back in 1998. But their looming sequel might prove to be another example of “Be Careful What You Wish For.” Priceless: An arena filled with passionate, flag-waving Brazilians. Nobody does it better.Q is for Quicksand, the moniker of one Mike Pyle, who earned the distinction of being the only foreigner to defeat a Brazilian on the night. Angered and embarrassed after being steamrolled by Rory MacDonald in his last fight, the Las Vegan standout blitzed Ricardo Funch with a sizzling right hand and knees en route to a first-round stoppage. “I want to thank my wife for putting up with me all during my camp,” Pyle said afterwards. Might not be the last time a pro fighter uses that line. Really curious whom Aldo’s next challenger will be. Erik Koch (13-1) has to be in the mix. Dustin Poirier (11-1) goes for five straight at UFC 143 next month. Both are tall, lanky, aggressive fighters. But neither can match Aldo’s speed. Strange coincidence: Both Aldo and Belfort wished their mothers Happy Birthday following their fight Saturday night. Thiago Tavares is finally living up to his potential. Tavares’ decision win over Sam Stout pushed his record to 4-1-1 in his past six contests. Unbeaten: Edson Barboza, whose standup, speed and ferocious leg attacks have drawn comparisons to Jose Aldo, improved to 10-0.  The two other unbeatens on the card, Chad Mendes and Ednaldo Oliveira, suffered their first losses Saturday night.Vitor Belfort said he cut over 20 pounds in the days leading up to his fights. As any athlete who has ever cut weight knows, it is often the most miserable of processes, a test of mental fortitude and discipline. So when a fighter misses weight, his opponents usually view it not only as unprofessional, but also a sign of weakness. A sign that a fighter couldn’t hack the misery of the process necessary to make weight. Seeing a fighter not make weight is analogous to seeing a fighter “break” or give up in a fight. Once a fighter senses that quit in an opponent, it is like a shark seeing red. Welterweights beware: Mike Pyle says he’s bringing the same intensity to you that he brought against Ricardo Funch. X-cellent: Still wondering when a fighter will be daring enough to use an X-guard BJJ sweep in the Octagon. Yuri Alcantara won a unanimous decision over fellow featherweight Michihiro Omigawa. Alcantara is now 26-3. (Pardon the creativity) Mike MassenZio, a former Junior college national wrestling champ and BJJ black belt, jumpstarted his pro career at 9-1 but has now dropped five of his past eight.  

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In the second bout of the UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes main card, it seemed to all the world that Erick Silva had just destroyed another opponent in under a minute and was on the fast track to stardom. That all came crashing down soon after though, when referee Mario Yamasaki decided that Silva had landed punches to the back of the head in his assault, and he disqualified him. Carlo Prater was awarded the win after 29 seconds. Silva started off by dodging some Prater punches, then landed a thudding knee that crumpled Prater. Silva jumped on top of him and dropped a ton of hammerfists on a curled-up Prater, which caused Yamasaki to step in. After the disqualification, Joe Rogan interviewed Yamasaki where he explained his decision. The replay showed just one shot landing solidly on the back of the head, but since the exact definition of what "back of the head" means in MMA is so muddled, it's tough to say whether some of the other hammerfists qualified as illegal shots or not. What was the high spot of this fight? The finishing sequence with the knee and the hammerfists. Initially it looked like a lot more punches landed to the back of the head, but upon review, it seemed that a lot of the shots were indeed legal. Where do these guys go from here? Silva's momentum is unlikely to be slowed by such a controversial decision. Silva has one very important guy in his corner regarding the issue - UFC president Dana White, who gave Silva his win bonus and thought it was a bad decision by Yamasaki. With only two bouts in the UFC thus far, it's unlikely that he'll get a top-tier welterweight in his next bout, but a step up in competition seems logical (granted, Prater was a late replacement for Siyar Bahadurzada). A bout with fellow UFC 142 winner Mike Pyle might be a little too much for him this early in his UFC career, but I'd certainly like to see it. Despite the fact that he never landed a strike, got a takedown, or attempted a submission, Carlo Prater is now 1-0 in the UFC. Obviously he'll get another fight, but I wouldn't expect it to be against a big-name fighter. Jake Hecht would be a suitable opponent. Watch it now, later or never? Now. Silva's a beast and the finishing sequence was brutal. And you can be the judge of whether Yamasaki made the right call or not. SBN coverage of UFC RIO 142: Aldo vs. Mendes More Bloody Elbow coverage of UFC 142 in the full entry UFC 142 Results: Wallid Ismail Reacts To Erick Silva DQ - Matt Roth UFC 142 Results: Six Fights To Make After Aldo Vs. Mendes - Ben Thapa UFC 142 Results: Anthony Johnson Cut Following Loss To Vitor Belfort - Matt Roth UFC 142 Results: Winners, Losers, And Other Thoughts - Matt Roth UFC 142: Rosi Sexton On Anthony Johnson And The Risks Of Weight Cutting - Bloody Elbow UFC 142 Results: Anthony Johnson 'Likely Cut' Following Loss To Vitor Belfort - Brent Brookhouse UFC 142 Results Video: Jose Aldo Vs. Chad Mendes Full Fight Highlights - Bloody Elbow UFC 142: Aldo Vs. Mendes Results And Post-Fight Analysis - Brent Brookhouse UFC 142 Results: Jose Aldo Knocks Out Chad Mendes Then Celebrates In Crowd - Matt Roth UFC 142 Results: Vitor Belfort Defeats Anthony Johnson By Rear Naked Choke - Matt Roth UFC 142 Results: Rousimar Palhares Takes Home Mike Massenzio's Leg - Matt Roth UFC 142 Results: Erick Silva Disqualified In Fight With Carlo Prater - Matt Roth UFC 142 Results: Edson Barboza Knocks Out Terry Etim With A Wheel Kick - Matt Roth UFC 142 Post-Fight Press Conference Video - Tim Burke Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 122: UFC 142 Results Review - Matt Bishop UFC 142 Results: Thiago Tavares Defeats Sam Stout by Uanimous Decision - Matt Roth UFC 142 Aldo Vs. Mendes Results: Gabriel Gonzaga Chokes Out Edinaldo Oliveira - Matt Roth UFC 142 Aldo Vs. Mendes Results: Yuri Alcantara Defeats Michiro Omigawa By Unanimous Decision - Matt Roth UFC 142 Aldo Vs. Mendes Results: Mike Pyle Knocks Out Ricardo Funch In First Round - Matt Roth UFC 142 Aldo Vs. Mendes Results: Felipe Arantes Dominates Antonio Carvalho - Matt Roth UFC 142: Aldo Vs. Mendes - Live Results And Play-By-Play For PPV - Brent Brookhouse UFC 142: Aldo Vs. Mendes - Live Results And Play-By-Play For Undercard - Brent Brookhouse

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Goal!!!!!!!! That's just what Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) scored this past weekend (Jan. 14, 2012) as UFC 142 proved to be a show that the hometown fans in Rio de Janeiro will never forget. It was a big weekend for both the country of Brazil and its native fighters, as the "Aldo vs. Mendes" event saw Brazilian fighters go 8-3 on the card in front of their fellow countrymen. This is a stat that looks even better when you consider that the event featured two fights where Brazilians were pitted against each other. A Brazilian champion defended his crown and continued to further his legend. A Brazilian future mixed martial arts (MMA) Hall-of-Famer picked up a sweet submission finish, proving that he's still a force to be reckoned with in the middleweight division. Several Brazilian prospects also showed that they should no longer be viewed as "up-and-comers." They've arrived. ¡Viva Brazil! After the jump, we'll comb over some of the finer points, in and out of the cage, that comprised the UFC 142 weekend: Sometimes, you forget how good a fighter is when you haven't seen him for a while. When he routinely beats one opponent after another, you start to take him for granted. You shouldn't. Jose Aldo stepped inside the Octagon on Saturday night and threw down the gauntlet for every 145-pound fighter in the world. If you want to be called the best featherweight, you're going to have to go through "Scarface." Good luck with that. Chad Mendes said he had a strategy for victory. He came in confident with his Alpha Male homeboys in his corner for support. It all went out the window after the first few leg kicks loudly thudded into the inside and outside of Mendes' unfortunate knees. Near the end of the first round, it looked as though "Money" might have actually found an opening. He was able to wrap Aldo up against the cage, and it appeared as though he might actually be making some headway. Aldo looked a little flustered. He even got away with blatantly grabbing the fence during a slam attempt. He looked human ... but just for a second. Right as the round-ending horn was set to sound, it happened. Aldo turned, Mendes dropped down and the champion landed a knee that sealed the deal and ended the fight. On to the next one. Read the full recap with analysis of the Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes fight at UFC 142 here. To watch full video highlights of their main event clash click here. The co-main event was somewhat marred by an unfortunate inability to make weight by Anthony Johnson, who weighed in a whopping 11 pounds heavier than the allowed 186-pounds for his weight class. His opponent, Vitor Belfort, agreed to fight him nonetheless and was richly rewarded with 20-percent of "Rumble's" purse as a result. At first, the much larger Johnson was able to use his size and wrestling to bully Belfort. He even drew first blood by giving "The Phenom" a black eye that eventually caused it to swell completely shut early in the fight. Like the legend that he is, Belfort pushed through it and waited for his opening. He didn't have to wait long, as he was able to get Johnson's back near the end of round one and sank in a deep rear-naked choke that left his adversary with no choice but to tap. The misadventures at the weigh-ins and the poor performance caused UFC President Dana White to state afterwards that "we're probably going to cut him (Johnson)." Bummer. Read the full recap with analysis of the Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson fight at UFC 142 here. Aldo and Belfort weren't the only Brazilians who had monumental nights. Rousimar Palhares put on a display of Brazilian jiu-jitsu that was so proficient, viewers at home were grabbing their legs in pain as a vicarious result of watching the submission he put on Mike Massenzio. It was a vicious leglock that happened so fast, Massenzio barely even had time to tap. If "Toquinho" gets his big mitts on you, he might take a leg home. Read the full recap with analysis of the Rousimar Palhares vs. Mike Massenzio fight at UFC 142 here. Edson Barboza also put on a show with a filthy head kick knockout victory over Terry Etim that had fans rewinding their DVR's over and over again to watch the deadly finishing blow. His striking just gets better with every fight. Lightweights who have been foolish enough to stand and trade with him have found out the hard way that it wasn't the best strategy. He's now 10-0 and continues to improve every time we see him in the cage. You can read a full and in-depth analysis of the Edson Barboza vs. Terry Etim fight at UFC 142, click here. For his troubles, Barboza picked up a cool $130,000 in bonuses for both the "Knockout of the Night" and the "Fight of the Night" honors. For a full list of all of the UFC 142 bonus award winners click here. That's the scope and the sequence of UFC 142 according to us. What does your rundown look like? For complete UFC 142 results and a detailed recap of all the action click here. To check out a recap of the UFC 142 prelim fights that were seen on FX, click here. Want to know what happened with the UFC 142 Facebook Prelims portion of the card? To read a full recap click here. And just in case you want to get up to speed on the entire UFC 142 fight card from top to bottom click here.

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A hyper-cautious start by Gabriel Gonzaga led to a joyously seized opportunity to rush in behind a left for the takedown, big slam and eventual choke of Ednaldo Oliveira inside four minutes. Gonzaga immediately started mean-mugging and seemed very glad to be back in the octagon. The Gonzaga in front of us last night looked like a smarter, more willing fight than the one who dropped the decision to Brendan Schaub back at UFC 121. What was the high spot of this fight? The slam of Oliveira onto the mat looked fantastic. Gonzaga seems to have a knack for highlight reel moments and his smothering control from the back made Squidward look vastly out-sized and out-skilled. Where do these fighters go from here? Gonzaga has to sit and wait for a heavyweight to fight. His run to the UFC 74 title shot against Randy Couture was built atop a four fight winning streak. A similar slow build may not be possible in the current division, but jumping up to the level of Daniel Cormier or Josh Barnett is probably too far. Mike Russow or Cheick Kongo might be better and more beatable match-ups to wait for. Oliveira should drop down to 205, while adding as much muscle as possible. As a light heavyweight, he would have more of an even footing in terms of strength and skill sets. He could welcome another prospect to the division or provide a competitive bout for a veteran like Kyle Kingsbury. Watch the fight now, later or never? Now. If you can handle a slow start, Gonzaga makes your patience worthwhile with the slam and subsequent rear naked choke. SBN Coverage of UFC RIO 142: Aldo vs. Mendes More Bloody Elbow coverage of UFC 142 in the full entry UFC 142 Results: Wallid Ismail Reacts To Erick Silva DQ - Matt Roth UFC 142 Results: Six Fights To Make After Aldo Vs. Mendes - Ben Thapa UFC 142 Results: Anthony Johnson Cut Following Loss To Vitor Belfort - Matt Roth UFC 142 Results: Winners, Losers, And Other Thoughts - Matt Roth UFC 142: Rosi Sexton On Anthony Johnson And The Risks Of Weight Cutting - Bloody Elbow UFC 142 Results: Anthony Johnson 'Likely Cut' Following Loss To Vitor Belfort - Brent Brookhouse UFC 142 Results Video: Jose Aldo Vs. Chad Mendes Full Fight Highlights - Bloody Elbow UFC 142: Aldo Vs. Mendes Results And Post-Fight Analysis - Brent Brookhouse UFC 142 Results: Jose Aldo Knocks Out Chad Mendes Then Celebrates In Crowd - Matt Roth UFC 142 Results: Vitor Belfort Defeats Anthony Johnson By Rear Naked Choke - Matt Roth UFC 142 Results: Rousimar Palhares Takes Home Mike Massenzio's Leg - Matt Roth UFC 142 Results: Erick Silva Disqualified In Fight With Carlo Prater - Matt Roth UFC 142 Results: Edson Barboza Knocks Out Terry Etim With A Wheel Kick - Matt Roth UFC 142 Post-Fight Press Conference Video - Tim Burke Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 122: UFC 142 Results Review - Matt Bishop UFC 142 Results: Thiago Tavares Defeats Sam Stout by Uanimous Decision - Matt Roth UFC 142 Aldo Vs. Mendes Results: Gabriel Gonzaga Chokes Out Edinaldo Oliveira - Matt Roth UFC 142 Aldo Vs. Mendes Results: Yuri Alcantara Defeats Michiro Omigawa By Unanimous Decision - Matt Roth UFC 142 Aldo Vs. Mendes Results: Mike Pyle Knocks Out Ricardo Funch In First Round - Matt Roth UFC 142 Aldo Vs. Mendes Results: Felipe Arantes Dominates Antonio Carvalho - Matt Roth UFC 142: Aldo Vs. Mendes - Live Results And Play-By-Play For PPV - Brent Brookhouse UFC 142: Aldo Vs. Mendes - Live Results And Play-By-Play For Undercard - Brent Brookhouse

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UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes" took place last night (Sat., Jan. 14, 2012) from the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, featuring Jose Aldo successfully defending his featherweight championship with a thrilling knee tap knockout of Chad Mendes with just one second remaining in the first round. And then "Scarface" acting like an insane man by jumping into the crowd to celebrate right after. Vitor Belfort gave Anthony Johnson his comeuppance by choking him out in the opening frame of their catchweight contest with a rear-naked choke. Later in the night, UFC President Dana White sent "Rumble" packing from the promotion. In other action, Erick Silva was disqualified for illegal strikes to the back of Carlo Prater's head, who has the distinct honor of being the only man to win a UFC fight without ever landing a strike. Rousimar Palhares took home another limb when he tapped Mike Massenzio in their bout while Edson Barboza thrilled us all with a wheel kick knockout of Terry Etim. A photo gallery (via UFC.com) is available for your viewing pleasure after the jump. Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson Erick Silva vs. Carlo Prater Rousimar Palhares vs. Mike Massenzio Edson Barboza vs. Terry Etim For complete UFC 142 results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here.

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In under two minutes, Mike Pyle forced referee Mario Yamasaki to step in and call the fight. A brutal knee and a swift series of punches had Ricardo Funch huddled against the cage and unable to fight back. Pyle then played up the villain angle and got the Rio de Janeiro crowd vigorously booing him after the stoppage. What was the high spot of this fight? The fight is one minute and twenty two seconds long. I am partial to the knee that Pyle threw to Funch's midsection that caused Funch to drop to the ground, yet the decisive manner in which Pyle dispatched Funch with the flurry of punches was rather nice. Where do these fighters go from here? Pyle has never been the most likable fighter - as the strong boos from the crowd showed - and has been knocked out by two future welterweight stars in Jake Ellenberger and Rory MacDonald. The right fit for Pyle is probably the winner of the Paulo Thiago versus Siyar Bahaduraza bout. Funch should get credit for stepping in on very late notice, making weight and being a game opponent. His next fight could be against an organizational newcomer (perhaps another young prospect). A bout with Carlo Prater makes some sense though. Watch the fight now, later or never? Watch it now. Pyle's victory is a concise dispatching of an opponent not on the same level. His gym hero reputation looks like it is starting to yield true dividends. This is what upper echelon fighters are supposed to do, rather than have done to them. SBN Coverage of UFC RIO 142: Aldo vs. Mendes More Bloody Elbow coverage of UFC 142 in the full entry UFC 142 Results: Wallid Ismail Reacts To Erick Silva DQ - Matt Roth UFC 142 Results: Six Fights To Make After Aldo Vs. Mendes - Ben Thapa UFC 142 Results: Anthony Johnson Cut Following Loss To Vitor Belfort - Matt Roth UFC 142 Results: Winners, Losers, And Other Thoughts - Matt Roth UFC 142: Rosi Sexton On Anthony Johnson And The Risks Of Weight Cutting - Bloody Elbow UFC 142 Results: Anthony Johnson 'Likely Cut' Following Loss To Vitor Belfort - Brent Brookhouse UFC 142 Results Video: Jose Aldo Vs. Chad Mendes Full Fight Highlights - Bloody Elbow UFC 142: Aldo Vs. Mendes Results And Post-Fight Analysis - Brent Brookhouse UFC 142 Results: Jose Aldo Knocks Out Chad Mendes Then Celebrates In Crowd - Matt Roth UFC 142 Results: Vitor Belfort Defeats Anthony Johnson By Rear Naked Choke - Matt Roth UFC 142 Results: Rousimar Palhares Takes Home Mike Massenzio's Leg - Matt Roth UFC 142 Results: Erick Silva Disqualified In Fight With Carlo Prater - Matt Roth UFC 142 Results: Edson Barboza Knocks Out Terry Etim With A Wheel Kick - Matt Roth UFC 142 Post-Fight Press Conference Video - Tim Burke Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 122: UFC 142 Results Review - Matt Bishop UFC 142 Results: Thiago Tavares Defeats Sam Stout by Uanimous Decision - Matt Roth UFC 142 Aldo Vs. Mendes Results: Gabriel Gonzaga Chokes Out Edinaldo Oliveira - Matt Roth UFC 142 Aldo Vs. Mendes Results: Yuri Alcantara Defeats Michiro Omigawa By Unanimous Decision - Matt Roth UFC 142 Aldo Vs. Mendes Results: Mike Pyle Knocks Out Ricardo Funch In First Round - Matt Roth UFC 142 Aldo Vs. Mendes Results: Felipe Arantes Dominates Antonio Carvalho - Matt Roth UFC 142: Aldo Vs. Mendes - Live Results And Play-By-Play For PPV - Brent Brookhouse UFC 142: Aldo Vs. Mendes - Live Results And Play-By-Play For Undercard - Brent Brookhouse

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To many fans and observers, the performance of Jose Aldo was a little bittersweet. Sweet because of his in-cage brilliance. And for a variety of reasons: avoiding the takedown with an effortless limp leg and immaculate balance, displaying no fear in throwing leg kicks against an elite wrestler, and the last sequence which ended the fight deserves its own emphasis. Aldo's back is facing Chad Mendes with five seconds left in the first round. When Aldo breaks free, with his back still turned to Mendes, he grips Chad's right wrist with his right hand (hindering his ability to defend what was to come), swivels, and unleashes a knee that flatlines Mendes. It was the type of sequence that only the world's best could accomplish: an illustration of how MMA brilliance is defined by that momentary shift from one martial art to the next. For most fighters MMA is a metaphysical struggle: the battle between revelation and reservation. 'To what degree can I keep my flaws to myself, and to what extent can I disclose the skills with which other men should fear?' Aldo is different than his P4P contemporaries. He's not more accomplished. So let's clear that up. But his striking is not raw like Jon Jones, and his wrestling isn't lacking like Anderson Silva. If I were to focus on a word that describes Aldo, I can think of none better than 'ethereal'. Aldo isn't rattled by the sudden alterations of context inside the octagon. If you can forgive this pretentious gushing, I'd ask that you forgive me once more because I think Aldo's post fight celebration was also important. If Aldo is to become a star in his homeland, what better gesture than to allow the Rio de Janeiro crowd to share in that victory by holding Aldo himself up above their shoulders? That moment will define him for the people of Brazil for years. If there's a 'bitter' to all this, it's in thinking about Aldo's future at 145. 'What's the point?', I hear everyone saying. I agree to an extent. Right now the list of contenders are Hatsu Hioki, Dustin Poirier, Bart Palaszewski, Erik Koch, Chan Sung Jung, Jim Hettes, and perhaps the TUF star Diego Brandao will get his opportunity to be sacrificed in a year or two if he hits a nice winning streak. This is not exactly a murderer's row. For guys like Hettes, and Poirier, it's simply too soon. For others like Jung, and Hioki, it's too life-threatening. But is a move to 155 really the solution? For as interesting as the move might be, Aldo is only 25. Let him establish a real legacy while the division is still young. The problem with this line of thinking, that once a division has run out of contenders its champion needs to pack up his fists and leave, is that it can stagnate a division, leaving it without stars and history while giving it all to a division that already has it (well, minus the presence of 'stars'). The importance of being a star is that once you lose, it allows you to create new ones. Let Aldo be that star in the FW division. You're risking too much by having him move to LW. Not because he might lose, but because you'll have robbed a division of its only compelling fighter. You'll have robbed the division of the only question worth asking when watching a prospect, or contender make his own mark at 145: 'who can challenge Jose Aldo?' Poll Would you like to see Jose Aldo move to 155 or have him stay at 145? Move to lightweight. Stay at featherweight.   2 votes | Results

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The war on terrorism could end in a few hours if every potential terrorist saw a Jose Aldo highlight with the words 'Chill out or you're next' at the end of the clip. No one wants a Jose Aldo beating. I'll take my chances with the end of the world before I sign a contract to be locked inside a cage with Jose Aldo. It's a daunting task with rewards so immense that it's incomprehensible by the human brain. That's why it may take a Zombie's brain to achieve it. At least that's what The Korean Zombie told himself on Twitter just a few hours ago. Logically, it looks like Chan Sung Jung may be next up for Jose Aldo. Although if Aldo manages to get past Jung, the featherweight division is a pillaged and apocalyptic wasteland, conquered entirely by Jose Aldo.

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UFC 142 is officially in the books as Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) delivered yet another fine showing of mixed martial arts (MMA) at its best on Jan. 14, 2012, from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In the main event, UFC Featherweight Champion and hometown hero Jose Aldo defended his 145-pound belt against Team Alpha Male wrestler standout Chad Mendes. The goal for Mendes was clear: Get the fight to the ground. However, early on, it was obvious that Mendes was going to have great difficulty taking Adown the Brazilian. And when the horn sounded for the end of the first round, Aldo showed the reason he is the one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, flooring Mendes with a brutal knee that led to the fight being stopped almost immediately. The co-main event featured a middleweight catchweight bout between another Brazilian product, Vitor Belfort, and Anthony Johnson, who "rumbled" onto the scale at a whopping 11 pounds more than the official weight, thus causing 20 percent of his purse to be forfeited to his opponent. Unfortunately for Johnson, the talk about the weight cut issues lasted longer than the actual fight itself. Belfort weathered the early storm, before he jumped on an inevitably gassed Johnson and used his jiu-jitsu to finish him with a choke in front a home crowd that was going absolutely bananas. After the jump, we'll take a look at what might be next for UFC 142 big winners Jose Aldo and Vitor Belfort: The build-up to UFC 142 promised a classic match up between a striker (Jose Aldo) and a wrestler (Chad Mendes). Pairings like these have, in the past, have delivered and brought very exciting fights. There have also been times when they've proven to be absolute duds. It's hard to say if the fight itself lived up to the hype. That said, what is for sure is that Aldo delivered and proved that the acclaim he receives for his abilities are well-deserved. His leg kick are ridiculous. If you stand in front of him, it's going to be an early night. Mendes found out that this can also be the case if you stand behind him, which is where he was located when Aldo spun, landed a brutal knee and then swarmed him with punches before Mario Yamasaki stepped in saved Mendes from taking any further damage. It's hard to see anyone beating him at 145 pounds. He's taken the best challengers the UFC has had to throw at him and handled them somewhat easily (withstanding the 5th round of his fight with Hominick). I'll throw two names at you. Chan Sung Jung -- He's currently got an open slot on his dance card. He's won his last two fights in devastating fashion. Do I think he can beat Aldo? No, not really, but it makes for an exciting potential fight. Hatsu Hioki -- Hioki is set to fight Bart Palaszewski at UFC 144 on Feb. 26, 2012, in Saitama, Japan. If Hioki can notch the win, it would set up a very interesting match up between two fighters who have long been ranked at the top of the featherweight weight class. After that, it gets thin. It would certainly be nice to see the UFC bring in some new talent for the champion to challenge himself against. Last night's fight between Vitor Belfort and Anthony Johnson meant a great deal to both participants. For Belfort, it was chance to show that his quick knockout loss to Anderson Silva at UFC 126 on Feb. 25, 2011, was not an accurate portrayal of who he is as a fighter. It was a chance to build on his most recent knockout victory over Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 133 on Aug. 6, 2011. For Johnson, it was an opportunity to silence the many critics who decried him for failing to make weight, yet again. It's hard to say that Belfort is back, per se, with the win over Johnson. "Rumble" was dehydrated from the weight cut and honestly looked totally winded by the end of the fight. However, "The Phenom" has now finished his last two fights and looked great in the process. Sure, Anderson Silva made him look silly, but be real. Silva has a way of doing that. Next up for Belfort? He is set to coach in the upcoming The Ultimate Fighter (TUF): "Brazil" reality television show versus Wanderlei Silva. At the end of the season, he will rematch "The Axe Murderer" in what is sure to go down as one of the best fights of the year. What say you, Maniacs? Were you satisfied with the performances of Aldo and Belfort? Who would you like to see them both take on next? Opinions, best guesses and predictions are all welcome in the comments section below.

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Kenny Florian, who hosted the UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes post-fight show on FUEL TV Saturday night, revealed more information about his recent back troubles on the program. Florian last competed inside the Octagon late in 2011, going the distance with UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo. Saturday night, Aldo successfully defended his title yet again with a first round knockout of Chad Mendes in his native country of Brazil. “Ken-Flo” is a multi-time challenger to several titles in the UFC, but has yet to secure gold. Now, word of a possible career-ending back injury has left Florian in an interesting predicament. “First of all, I’ve had a back injury for a little bit and after the Aldo fight I was getting back to training, I was doing some Olympic lifting, hurt my back, of course on the last rep, last set, and I knew it was bad,” Florian said. “It was a herniated disc in my back and it’s just been causing a lot of problems. Lower back, and it’s been everything from tingling and numbness in both my legs, so I’m hoping it’s going to heal up and I can get back to the fight game, but we’ll see what happens.” Fellow fighters such as Nate Quarry and Tito Ortiz have both bounced back to compete following back surgery, but Florian, a former competitor on The Ultimate Fighter, said, “I’m not going to do surgery.” For now, Florian will remain part of the UFC announce team on FUEL TV, waiting to see how his back heals up with rest and rehabilitation. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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Jose Aldo celebrates his victory over Chad Mendes at UFC 142 | AP Photo/Felipe Dana Rundown of UFC 142 post-fight news and notes… — Edson Barboza exited the HSBC Arena last night with a six-figure payday in hand for his amazing spinning heel kick KO of Terry Etim. The UFC awarded him both the Knockout of the Night and Fight of the Night bonuses, each worth $65,000, for a total of $130,000 in bonus money. Meanwhile, Rousimar Palhares earned the Submission of the Night bonus for heel hooking Mike Massenzio. — Gray Maynard was right. Chad Mendes couldn’t take Jose Aldo down and the moment that came apparent was the moment Aldo had the fight in the bag. Moving forward, Aldo finds himself at a fork in the road. He can either stay at featherweight and continue dominating the division or he can move up to lightweight and make a run at Frankie Edgar’s title. Dana White says he’s fine with whatever Aldo decides. “People have been asking me about Jose Aldo moving up to 155 pounds to take on Frankie Edgar or some of the top guys there,” White said at Saturday night’s post-UFC 142 press conference at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro. “That’s up to him. He’s going to have to make that decision whether he wants to make that move or not. I would have no problem with him staying at his weight now and defending his title there or moving to 155 pounds – whatever he feels like he wants to do.” “Aldo looked fantastic tonight,” White said. “He was in tremendous shape. He came in, and you could tell his head was in this fight, and he came out performed against a real guy who was undefeated and came to take that belt away. I hate this pound-for-pound [expletive] now. You’ve still got to look at the year ‘Bones’ had. Anderson’s run is tough to beat. But it does make it interesting for Frankie Edgar. It’s crazy.” While I’d love to see Aldo move up and challenge Edgar since there really aren’t any obvious contenders at featherweight, it’s still a difficult decision for him. He would be risking a lot by abandoning his title to chase another. That said, there would be obvious benefits to winning a title in a more established weight class. There’s no doubt he has the talent to do it. — Erick Silva vs. Carlo Prater ended in controversial fashion last night. Silva knocked Prater down and proceeded to pound him with hammerfists. Problem was Prater’s head was down and many of the strikes appeared to hit the back his head. We’ve seen it a million times before but this time referee Mario Yamazaki decided to DQ Silva instead of awarding him the victory. It’s difficult to tell from the replay how many of the strikes were actually illegal due to the camera angles, but Dana White saw enough to believe Silva should have been the victor and planned to pay him like he was. “We’re going to pay him like he won the fight,” White told MMAjunkie.com. “I would appeal it if I was him,” White said. “The thing is that when you do it, Ratner is the guy to talk to about this. We try to run things the way that they’re supposed to be run, like the athletic commission would.” Dana didn’t blast Yamasaki like he probably would have if it was Steve Mazzagatti, but he thinks instant replay should have been in place to overturn the call. “It drives me crazy,” White said. “It drives me [expletive] crazy. Every other sport has instant replay. Listen, there are refs out there like Steve Mazzagatti that are just plain bad. He’s a bad ref. He’s got no business in the ring. But you’ve got guys like Mario Yamasaki and some of the other guys that are going to make mistakes. There’s nothing wrong with making mistakes. There’s nothing wrong. We’re [expletive] human. We’re going to do it. But you have to be able to go back and say, ‘We made a mistake. Here’s the proof. Let’s overturn it.’” What’s puzzling about this is the NSAC does have an instant replay policy in place and the UFC follows NSAC guidelines for regulating events when they visit foreign countries, so the means to review it should have been in place. I believe the referee has to make the call to review it though, so maybe that’s why nothing was done to ensure it was the right decision. — North American broadcast plans are still coming together for TUF Brazil, however Dana White says the show will most likely air on FUEL TV the same day it airs in Brazil. “It’s not done, but I’m very confident it will be on FUEL TV, and it will run real time,” he said. “When it airs here (in Brazil on Globo), [FUEL TV] will air its equivalent in the U.S. at the same time. It will air the same night, almost at the same time.” Instead of having a separate “TUF Finale” card like they’ve had with all previous seasons of TUF, the finals and the coaches fight between Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva will actually take place on the big San Paulo, Brazil pay-per-view card they’re planning for June. Photo credit: Felipe Dana/AP Photo

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Whether it's Anderson Silva, Jon Jones or whichever top fighter is performing, the battle to be considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in mixed martial arts (MMA) is often swayed by the guy who fought last. Perhaps it's because between these two and Jose Aldo, they've stocked the highlight reels for years to come. Aldo had looked sluggish in his last two fights, tiring late against Mark Hominick and, quite frankly, tiring early against Kenny Florian. But he's obviously made the proper adjustments, because he looked his fantastic old self against Chad Mendes, an unbeaten challenger with a ton of ability and horsepower to potentially test the champ, in the UFC 142 main event last night (Jan. 14, 2012) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. While an obvious fence grab denied Mendes what would've been a clear takedown and a likely slam onto the mat, moments later, Aldo scuttled all hopes of an upset with a move that was precisely executed: spinning out of a back-control clinch by Mendes, Aldo rotated around and, while still gripping Mendes' wrist, rammed home a booming knee. It was pretty much like hitting a T-ball given the control he had of Mendes, and one hell of a veteran move. Like every good wrinkle that turns into a highlight-reel moment, you can bet you'll other fighters trying it more often in the coming months and years. But, the visual after the fight was what truly captured the gravity of Aldo's win. Sprinting into the crowd, he celebrated the victory with his fellow Brazilians. That kind of thing really captures the hearts of fans, and will go a long way toward helping him fill Silva's shoes if and when the "Spider," who turns 37 in April, decides to retire. With a talent-rich lightweight division, and a title that could well change hands several times in the next few years, Aldo faces a tough call. He seems head and shoulders above everyone at 145 pounds presently, but that also is an opportunity to string together some good defenses and continue building his name and fame. What's scary is he took at a contender in Mendes that right now would be at least a 2-1 favorite over anyone else in the UFC currently fighting at featherweight. The guess here is we'll see more 155-pounders drop down given the circumstances in both divisions. Meanwhile, as long as Aldo stays Aldo, getting to the top of that mountain will a tough assignment for anyone. For a recap of the fight between Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes click here and here. To check out complete UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes" results click here.Jason Probst can be reached at www.twitter.com/jasonprobst

Posted in: ufc, fighter, aldo, mende, years aldo

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-Jose Aldo is a perfect a 11-0 in his UFC/WEC career with eight stoppage wins -Aldo has not lost since a November 2005 to defeat to Luciano Azevedo ; a span of 14 bouts for the 25 year old Brazilian -Aldo is the sixth fighter in UFC's 18 year history to record a knockout with one second left in a round- Aldo's first round finish of Chad Mendes was his first opening round win since joining the UFC in April 2011-Of his 21 career wins, 12 have come inside the first round for Aldo-Mendes is now 3-1 in fights that end in the first round-Mendes is 1-1 versus Brazilian born fighters in his MMA career-The loss for Mendes snaps an 11 fight winning streak to begin his career, it also marks the end to a four fight run of decision wins. -Per FightMetric Mendes went 0 for 7 on takedown attempts -Vitor Belfort had not fought in his home country of Brazil since 1998-Belfort is 2-0 when he fights in Brazil -The first round win for Belfort is his fifth straight fight that has ended in the opening round. -Belfort is 4-1 in his past five fights-In his UFC career Belfort has 10 first round wins. All 10 of Belfort's UFC wins have come inside the opening five minutes-11 of Anthony Johnson's 14 professional MMA fights have come inside the UFC's Octagon-The loss ends a two fight winning streak for Johnson-Three of Johnson's four losses in the UFC have come via a rear naked choke submission -Per Compustrike Belfort went 34/52 on total strikes 34/52 while Johnson connected with 5/25-With UFC 143 and 134 both held in Brazil, Brazilian fighters are now 14-2 against foreign born fighters at those two events-Betting favorites at UFC 142 went 8-1 on the night. The lone underdog to pay off was Felipe Arantes at a mere +175

Posted in: ufc, fight, round, belfort, aldo

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Jose Aldo took your mother's advice of 'looking both ways before you cross the street' and completely threw it in the recycle bin shortly after UFC 142. Realistically, how could any of those security guards prevent Jose Aldo from soaring past them and landing directly in the hands of the fans that stayed up until 3:30 on Sunday morning just to watch him? That's called collective effervesce and it was on display in Rio at UFC 142. We will never know what it's like to jump into the arms of thousands of adorning fans, but at least we have a video from within the crowd as an enjoyable substitute. Check out this video of Aldo diving into the crowd after UFC 142. Props to DamnSevern from the UG for the find.

Posted in: ufc, jose aldo, sunday morning, aldo, mothers advice

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Featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo continued his reign of dominance Saturday night, defeating top contender Chad Mendes in the UFC 142 headlining bout. Previously unbeaten, Mendes came into the fight looking to assert his wrestling pedigree. However, after several failed takedown attempts, the challenger was caught with a well-timed knee, leaving him sprawled out on the canvas as Aldo rained down punches.

Posted in: takedown attempts, aldo, mende, unbeaten mendes, welltimed knee

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As I wake up and still deal with the haze of unconsciousness it's time to take a look at the winners and losers from UFC 142 on Saturday night. It was the UFC's return to Rio after a successful event in 2011. Headlined by Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes, the card was the UFC's first of 2011 and showcased some of the best young talent in the UFC. So without further ado and hopefully before I wake up completely, let's take a look at the fights. WINNERS Jose Aldo: The obvious choice for biggest winner. There were questions this week regarding his ability to still be exciting after a dominant WEC run. Well that was a crazy finish. Before the fight Joe Rogan stated that Aldo had the second best takedown defense in the UFC. He kept Chad Mendes at bay and then finished with an incredibly well-timed knee. The celebration in the crowd was fantastic. Vitor Belfort: I doubt that the old Vitor is back but he definitely can still compete. Anthony Johnson entered the cage last night as a heavyweight and Vitor still took him to task. He out landed Anthony Johnson 34-5 and limited the amount of damage when Rumble got the fight to the ground. Nice win and nice story after some controversy at the weigh ins. Rousimar Palhares: Like Ryu's hadouken, the man everyone calls Paul Harris has a super move called the heel hook. If there was anyone who thought he wouldn't go home with one of Mike Massenzio's limbs they were quickly silenced. He's quietly moving up the rankings and he's doing it one leg lock at a time. Erick Silva: I'm not sure if I should consider him a winner or a loser because he technically lost but everyone knows he won. I'm saying he's a winner because that's the second fight in a row finished in the first round and I don't agree with Mario Yamasaki's call to disqualify Silva for a single strike to the back of the head. That's crazy. Edson Barboza: One of if not the most impressive win of the night, he finished Terry Etim with a "Leko Buster" and recorded possibly the most impressive highlight reel knockout in company history. People are a bit premature with talk of him in the top 10 though. It was only Terry Etim. The UFC Rio Crowd: Last night reminded me of a soccer game with all the chanting and singing. Aldo's celebration was magical and I don't believe any other crowd would react the same way to a fighter running out of the cage and into the stands. Dana White: The fact that Anthony Johnson lost the way he did makes cutting him an incredibly easy decision. He won't have to justify it to anyone. May this be a lesson for everyone else going forward: DO NOT come in 11 pounds OVERWEIGHT! Losers and Other Thoughts after the jump.... SBN coverage of UFC RIO 142: Aldo vs. Mendes LOSERS Anthony Johnson: What is there to say about a man who went up in weight only to screw up his cut and come in 11 pounds over after the doctor told him to rehydrate? Is it that he needed to finish Vitor in two minutes before his legs cramped up and he gassed out? Dana White cut him after the event and AJ has a long flight back to Boca to think about his future. Hands down biggest loser on the night. Chad Mendes: The first real credentialed wrestler to fight Jose Aldo and he failed on every takedown attempt. There was a single fence grab but I don't see that changing the course of the fight. Losing is a bitter pill to swallow but he still has plenty of time to improve. It just has to be hard knowing that there is someone head and shoulders better than you in the division. Mike Massenzio: Literally the most predictable loss of the entire card so at least it doesn't hurt as much as an upset right? Right? Just kidding, his leg is killing him right now. Terry Etim: The good news for Terry Etim is that he'll be included in the opening vignette for every future UFC as well as the Baba O'Riley. The bad news is that he's the guy getting knocked out by a spilling wheel kick and landing hilariously. The Referees: This was an incredibly off night for the UFC's referees. Between Mario Yamasaki's botched ending to Silva/Prater and "Tan" Dan constantly standing up Anthony Johnson on the ground, it was just a bad night for the third men in the cage. OTHER THOUGHTS: Carlo Prater will go home with a win but I think everyone in attendance and watching live knows that he didn't win that fight. He'll get another shot at the UFC but he's not even close to the same level as a lot of the prospects out there. It was nice to see Gabriel Gonzaga return to the UFC with a big win over a highly touted prospect. Hopefully he can make another run because he's definitely got the skills to be dominant in the heavyweight division. It's time to cut Michihiro Omigawa. The man just can't find a way to win in the UFC and he's sporting a 13-11-1 record in the UFC. That's grounds to be released. Shame because he entered the UFC with people thinking he was a challenge to Jose Aldo. Seriously, Aldo's celebration in the crowd was so fun. The wide shot of him just partying with everyone at 3:00 AM (local time) immediately after that huge win made it all the sweeter. Too bad security kept trying to hold him back. The FX undercard was great. There was definitely value added to both the production. Only small complaint is that the levels for Rogan and Goldie's microphones were kept changing from super loud to almost inaudible. Loved the FOX sports theme. Hopefully it continues to evolve but I'm sold on this partnership. I thought Sam Stout got jobbed last night but after rewatching the fight he just didn't do enough to win. Awesome takedown defense but that means that the fight is happening on his terms and he still didn't do enough to win. Awesome final flurry though. The post-show on FUEL was pretty interesting with Kenny Florian in the booth. I have mixed feelings on his performance though. Part of me feels he was trying to fill the role of "cliche intense sports commentator guy" while the other part of me feels that his analysis was fantastic. Either way I hope that the show will continue to evolve instead of running on an endless loop.

Posted in: ufc, fight, night, aldo, he

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) kept the Brazilian fans on their feet for an entire evening of mixed martial arts (MMA) goodness last night (Jan. 14, 2012) as UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes" invaded the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro. The card featured a headliner bout that featured a champion, Jose Aldo, who had yet to be defeated during his tenure with promotion. Not only has he not lost, it really hasn't been all that close."Scarface" defended his 145-pound title with a buzzer-beating knockout victory over Chad Mendes, followed by a ridiculous scene where Aldo flew out of the cage and ran around the arena, much to the delight of the raucous hometown fans. And to the chagrin of the security team charged with keeping him safe. Vitor Belfort scored a "phenomenal" win over Anthony Johnson, who had a lot of trouble making weight (again). The win for Belfort propelled him back into title contention and showed that he still has some gas left in the tank. Join me after the jump where we take a look at the list of UFC 142's big winners and lowly losers: WINNERS Jose Aldo -- What would happen when Aldo faced a wrestler the caliber of Chad Mendes? Could he continue to defend against takedowns the way he has in all of his other fights? Was Mendes the kryptonite for the seemingly unbeatable champion? Nope. Aldo is the best at 145 pounds. He may even be the best in the world. The scary thing is that Aldo is still relatively young and getting better with every fight. Vitor Belfort -- After taking everything that Johnson had to give him, including a swollen black eye, Belfort used his incredible athleticism and killer instinct to get a submission win over a fighter who many thought may cause problems for Belfort with his wrestling. He'll probably need another good win before a title shot is back within reach, but he's back in the conversation. Edson Barboza -- His third round knockout against Terry Etim may have been the sickest head kick finish ever. I watched it at least 15 times before I was ready to see something else. It was ridiculous. This guy's Muay Thai stand up is fantastic. He's still undefeated (10-0) and if he were in any other division than the UFC's very stacked lightweight class of fighters, he'd be getting a lot more attention. Rousimar Palhares -- His submissions are brutal. He doesn't just look for a tap, he looks for limbs. His leglocks are ruthless. Once he has a hold of you, you're done. It will be really interesting to see what kind of match up he's given next. I believe he's earned the right to fight a top-tier middleweight and am excited to watch it when it goes down. Gabriel Gonzaga -- After leaving the UFC and stating he was retiring following a loss to Brendan Schaub at UFC 121 on Oct. 23, 2010, in Anaheim, Calif., it looked as though we'd seen the last of "Napao" in the Octagon. A little more than a year later, Gonzaga felt the fire again and made his return at UFC 142. He emerged victorious with a really nice submission victory over Ednaldo Oliveira, who came into the heavyweight showdown as a highly touted prospect. Welcome back, big guy. LOSERS Anthony Johnson -- Bro, what is the deal with you and your weight? Welterweight was never your weight class. Everyone knew that but you. Now even middleweight seems to be a cut too difficult to make. UFC President Dana White has been patient with you, but he's not exactly known for having a long fuse. You really need to pick a weight class and commit to it. The sad thing is that you have a world of potential. I'd love to see you one day live up to it. Mario Yamasaki -- I usually like Yamasaki, but tonight's disqualification ruling in the fight between Erick Silva and Carlo Prater was one of the worst I've ever seen. Silva was robbed of a win bonus and the credit he deserved for an impressive victory. Something has to be done about these kind of stoppages. It hurts the legitimacy of the sport and it really is a shame. Sam Stout -- In his first fight back since experiencing the overwhelming loss of his brother-in-law, coach and close personal friend, Sean Tompkins, Stout just never really got rolling. At the end of the third round, he finally got loose a little bit and started to let his hands go. Unfortunately, it was far too little and much too late. He had already spent the majority of the fight defending and getting picked apart, to an extent, by Thiago Tavares. Credit Tavares for fighting a smart fight, but this was a less than stellar performance for "Hands of Stone." UFC security -- Look, I'm not trying to be "Debbie Downer." It was kind of a cool scene seeing Jose Aldo rush out of the cage and say hello to every fan in the arena after his win over Mendes. It just shouldn't have happened. Thankfully, nothing awful went down. There weren't any lunatics with shanks fashioned out of Dos Equis bottles, but there could have been. Anyway, that's my list. Who were your big winners and lowliest of losers from UFC 142? Let us know in the comments section below! To check out complete UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes" results and detailed blow-by-blow coverage click here.

Posted in: ufc, fight, belfort, aldo, mende

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Being a referee is one of the toughest jobs in mixed martial arts (MMA). When it's done correctly, hardly anyone notices, and over a long enough timeline, even the best officials will make mistakes. It's inevitable. What defined UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes," however, was inconsistent refereeing, and as an event, it was marred by actions that wouldn't have been a surprise in a podunk location with inexperienced referees. We're used to seeing it whenever a big-time show happens in one of those out-of-the way locales, and you almost come to expect incompetency and murky application of standards and rules we otherwise expect with shows in Nevada and California. However, because Saturday's calls involved two experienced refs in Mario Yamasaki and Dan Miragliotta, it makes you wonder how they happened in the first place. The biggest gaffe of the night was Yamasaki's for failing to take charge during Erick Silva's finishing assault of Carlo Prater. In what initially seemed a ground-and-pound quick knockout for Silva, Yamasaki ultimately disqualified Silva for what he said were illegal blows to the back of the head during the barrage, as Prater was turtled up and in a purely defensive mode. The replay showed an illegal blow or, perhaps, along with several legal ones, but breakdown in officiating occurred when Yamasaki didn't stop the action before Prater eventually went out for good, instead disqualifying Silva for blows that may or may not have been the finishing ones (we'll never know). A referee faces a tough call in this situation, but it's also within his power to stop the fight, and give a warning. There's also the flip side of intervening during a potential finishing sequence and catching heat there for interrupting the action, but if Silva can lose by disqualification for something like this, Prater shouldn't also be given a win simply because he seemed unable to continue. Since Brazil didn't have an MMA commissionUltimately, it's an official's job to control the fight, especially when rule infractions occur, particularly blatant ones. During Matt Hughes' second bout with Frank Trigg, Trigg won the welterweight title after a brutal knee to the groin rendered Hughes breathless and helpless, tottering like a newborn foal. Trigg was issued a verbal warning, but ignored it -- precisely because he wasn't told to stop -- and proceeded to unload bombs on a helpless Hughes, whose survival and ensuing comeback to win by rear naked chokes in the round constituted one of the great title-fight comebacks in the history of the sport. Yamasaki was the ref there, too, and it makes you wonder if someone might hip him to the fact that it's okay to stop the action if a foul has occurs. Hughes' title didn't change hands that night, but Yamasaki's inability to control that action was overshadowed by the bout's ending. If Hughes had lost, Yamasaki wouldn't have gotten a pass for dropping the ball entirely.In the main event, Yamasaki refereed the featherweight title bout between Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes. When Aldo was obviously about to be slammed to the mat, he blatantly grabbed the fence, once again getting a verbal warning from Yamasaki. The problem with fence grabbing is that almost everyone gets a freebie, with a verbal, prior to points being deducted. The rules should be changed to allow the other fighter to start on the mat in mount, that way fighters are incentivized to not grab the fence. The fault here lies with the rules, not Yamasaki, who in my opinion would have been within his rights to deduct a point. It was academic in the end, with a still-upright Aldo delivering a fight-ending knee to knockout Mendes moments later. The second issue with the refereeing was Dan Miragliotta's quick trigger in the Anthony Johnson vs. Vitor Belfort fight. Issuing quick stand ups twice when Johnson was on top in each instance, as well a super-quick separation while the two were apparently not working enough on the fence. It makes you wonder what the criterion for "active" is in Miragliotta's book. Johnson isn't going to get lot of sympathy from people for these, but he deserves the same protection and application of standards as every other fighter. What constitutes the need for a stand up is a virtual ink blot to be interpreted by every different referee. These stand ups, simply put, were too hasty. And in front of a Brazilian crowd cheering for Belfort, they were a reminder of the old adage that the appearance of a conflict of interest is the same thing as an actual one. It looks bad for the sport when Johnson loses top position because the ref isn't happy, when 95 percent of every other takedown that lasts as long isn't stood up at that point.MMA refereeing is an ever-evolving craft, and its practitioners continue to improve. Miragliotta and Yamasaki are among the elite and have had good showings. Saturday wasn't one of them for either man.Jason Probst can be reached at www.twitter.com/jasonprobst

Posted in: hughe, action, aldo, refereeing, yamasaki

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After two straight hard-fought decision victories that didn't exactly leave everyone begging for more, some fans were wondering if the "old Jose Aldo" had disappeared. Well he made his triumphant return last night (January 14, 2012) in the main event of UFC 142 against Chad Mendes in defense of his UFC featherweight title. Mendes, with his spotless record and extremely potent wrestling attack, was expected to be Aldo's most difficult test to date, potentially pushing him to his limits both on the ground and with his conditioning. Instead, he found himself staring at the ceiling before time had expired in the first round, wondering what had gone wrong. So how did Aldo channel his old killer self? And what happens next for both young featherweights? Mendes opened up as a frenetic bundle of energy, cautiously throwing leg kicks at Aldo but the champ showed him what a real leg kick looked like with his first strike, landing a thundering right leg kick which wobbled the challenger. Next up was the takedown defense. When Aldo snapped a left hook, "Money" immediately changed levels and shot in for the takedown with incredible speed and power, but Aldo reacted so quickly that he was able to spin away from danger and leave Mendes clutching at air. Aldo again landed a ferocious leg kick and later followed it up with a big lead right uppercut which connected but again, Mendes reacted by dropping down, latching deeply onto a leg and attempting to power through and finish a takedown but the champ showcased his incredible speed and agility by again twisting away from danger. With how deep Mendes got on that takedown attempt and how effortlessly Aldo was able to escape, the bout turned from a competitive match up into a race to see when Aldo was going to knock the challenger senseless. Aldo again didn't even have to sprawl at Mendes' next takedown attempt, again deftly spinning away. He would delay the inevitable by latching onto a rear body lock (and Aldo did grab the fence to prevent a takedown attempt) but he also immediately popped back up without need of the fence the next time Mendes tried to lift him up and put him on the ground. With five seconds left in the round, Aldo finally broke Mendes' grip and in a flash of brilliance, turned and kneed the undefeated Team Alpha Male fighter directly in the face. "Money" dropped to the canvas and the champ pounced with two heavy punches on the ground before Mario Yamasaki put a halt to the fight, just one second before time expired. It was wild. It was incredible and then Aldo raced out of the cage to go celebrate with the hometown Brazilian crowd in one of the those rare moments that fans around the world will never forget. For Chad Mendes, he didn't even do anything that poorly. He had a decent gameplan, but Aldo is simply that much better than he was last night. He was quick with everything from his leg kicks to his multiple takedown shots and he did everything he could to try to put Aldo on his back. His biggest problem was giving the champ the smallest of windows after losing his grip on the back body lock and "Scarface" made him pay. The key for him moving forward will be to simply continue to develop the rest of his game, but he's got a lot of catching up to do if he ever wants to give Aldo a true test. It's going to be very difficult for Mendes to find a suitable opponent as he's clearly better than most everyone else at featherweight and the UFC won't want to see him take out potential title challengers. Perhaps a potential bout with former champion Mike Brown would be suitable. Other possible opponents could be George Roop or Tyson Griffin, who are always game. For Jose Aldo, that was the old destroyer of worlds that WEC fans were expecting to see in 2011. He looked sharp, his takedown defense was on point and his leg kicks were as vicious as ever. He had such a small opening to finish that fight, but he took it with full force and finished a fighter who had never lost a round in his MMA career. It was the type of performance that makes fans wonder, "Is it even possible to beat this guy?" In this writer's opinion, the only way Aldo could ever lose in the next few years would be if he's ill or is suffering a horrible weight cut again. There is no one even close to his level in the talent department. Potential future title challengers include Hatsu Hioki if he can get past Bart Palaszewski or perhaps the young gun Dustin Poirier, who's facing unheralded Max Holloway in three weeks. One other potential option could be fan favorite Chan Sung Jung, who's coming off a Submission of the Year effort and the second fastest knockout in UFC history. I doubt any of these guys could actually beat Aldo, but he has to face someone. Let's just hope that this is type of performance we can expect from the champion for years to come. So what did you think, Maniacs? Were you impressed with Aldo's ferociousness? Is there anyone at featherweight who can actually give him a run for his money? Sound off! For complete UFC 142 results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here, here and here.

Posted in: ufc, takedown, leg, aldo, mende

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Jose Aldo took a huge step toward becoming the next mixed martial arts (MMA) superstar Saturday night (Jan. 14, 2012), delivering a crushing first-round knockout of challenger Chad Mendes in the UFC 142 main event at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. With his fifth defense of his title, and third in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Aldo's performance before a cheering Brazilian crowd ended nearly as quickly as it began. In the co-main, Vitor Belfort overcame the challenge of the much-larger Anthony Johnson with a hard-nosed performance, overpowering "Rumble" to win via first-round rear-naked choke. There were several other fighters on the card who shined, as well as several who didn't, turning in a menagerie of grab bag-like of moments (and fights) that were memorable and controversial alike. The pay-per-view (PPV) main card featured 10 fighters, who aced, passed and/or failed their respective tests in "Rio." Here's a closer look at each of them graded out with the UFC 142 report card. Here's a closer look at how the competitors graded out: Edson Barboza -- AThe talented lightweight bumped his ledger to 10-0 with a third-round spinning back kick knockout of Terry Etim. Barboza's ability to control range and stuff occasional takedowns was tested last night, as Etim swarmed him to the mat twice, but Barboza's quick technical response -- a well-placed butterfly hook in both instances -- promptly returned the fight to standing position. Using a patient approach and his trademark booming kicks to the lower leg, the set up for the spectacular finish was a classic. Barboza unleashed a magnificent spinning back kick that knocked out Etim instantly, sending him crumpling to the floor.There aren't many 5'11" lightweights with a 75-inch reach, and Barboza has the stand up mojo physical tools to apply both those advantages to full effect. He also showed his potent hands in this bout, and rescued what may have otherwise been a forgettable decision win with a kick that will live forever in highlight reels.Rousimar Palhares -- AIn a relatively thin 185-pound division, champion Anderson Silva likely fights the winner of the Jan. 28 Chael Sonnen/Mark Munoz. But after that, there wasn't a lot in terms of bench strength. That changed last night as Palhares took an impressive win, albeit against an overmatched opponent. With another submission victory via heel hook, Palhares has made pulling guard an offensive move once more, akin to the early days of the UFC when nobody knew what the hell to do there. Built along compact lines with crushing strength, he seems capable of finding lower-leg submissions from virtually any position, and his reputation only grows off this latest victory.Palhares also showed a little more stand up variety with his performance, landing some thumping leg kicks, prior to the finisher. He's not going to be a betting favorite should he face Silva, but his combination of raw power, outstanding submissions, and cast-iron chin (see the Dan Henderson fight) make him an interesting proposition challenging Silva for the title. Or, anyone else, for that matter. Another good spot was that Palhares kept his emotions in check and let off the submission once fight was called. With his ability, the last thing he needs is more controversy accompanying his performances, and it was nice to see him do well in that department.Jose Aldo -- AThis was the return of the Aldo we knew and loved. The guy who turned leg kicks into a dominating weapon, and culled together highlight reels from brutal finishes. The champ's takedown defense was outstanding, though a blatant fence grab moments before the knockout stopped and obvious slam-takedown, which was precisely what Mendes needed to do to generate momentum. That being said, the ending sequence was classic Aldo, operating on a tactical level only he and other master strikers can comprehend: With Mendes clutching him from behind, Aldo used a basic over-under grip to spin out, and while keeping hold of Mendes' left hand, flung forward with a bull's-eye knee. It was a perfect set up and essentially ended the match right there.Aldo also turned a neat trick last night that's been the realm of fellow champs like Georges St. Pierre and Jon Jones: In dismantling highly-credentialed challengers, he makes the possibility of them getting a rematch a remote one, at least in the near future. Mendes would probably be a betting favorite over anyone else presently competing in the UFC featherweight division, but Aldo's blowout win will mean a long road back if he wants another crack at the belt. That's how good Aldo is, and a quite a statement to the world, that he did it against an unbeaten and talented challenger.This showing was also a return of the high-energy Aldo, who disappeared for stretches against Mark Hominick and was barely present against Kenny Florian. Smaller guys have to do more to become big names, but right now Aldo's the best under-170 lb. guy in the game.Vitor Belfort -- A-Putting the weigh-in controversy aside, where Johnson scaled a whopping 197 pounds and had to restrain himself to 205 pounds the morning of the bout, Belfort put on an impressive performance. Taking Johnson's attack in stride, Belfort showed by his striking is so dangerous, regardless of whom he's hitting, by besting Johnson in some rapid-if-wild exchanges, prior to taking the back and sinking in the fight-finishing rear naked choke.The only demerit Belfort gets here is some uncharacteristically wild striking, which a better fighter might have exploited. Either way, he gets a win that endears him to fans given how patently unfair the situation was to him. It's not quite the road he'll need to get a title shot secured just yet, but another win in vintage "Vitor" style and you can bet people will be willing to see him fight for the belt.Chad Mendes -- CThe championship challenger was doing reasonably well until the fight-finishing knee, showing improved confidence in his stand up by landing a few leg kicks, while eating much harder ones in return. Mendes gets a C here for two reasons: he lost to an amazing champion, and was screwed by ref Mario Yamasaki giving Aldo a mere warning for an obvious fence grab that denied Mendes a huge takedown. Aldo's grab was beyond incidental as it completely changed the flow of the fight.That aside, Mendes has a long path ahead of him to lock horns with the champ again. Like Vitor Belfort, who may be the most physically gifted challenger in his weight class, it'll be a tough sell on the immediate horizon to promote Mendes as a title challenger, but the good news is he still has the tools to knock off the required amount of top contenders to make his case.Terry Etim -- C-The British lightweight was game, but overmatched last night, unable to work his stand up effectively in what turned into an increasingly one-sided, albeit somewhat tepid bout, until the finish. Etim was impressive in actually taking down Barboza twice, but was quickly stymied by the Brazilian and couldn't keep the position. Terry's a willing if middling-level lightweight who's going to do well against a certain class of lightweights, and will definitely stay in the promotion given his style and English fan base, but he fell flat against one of the division's better guys tonight.Mike Massenzio -- DThe middleweight simply couldn't deal with Palhares, either standing or on the ground. Now 2-4 in the UFC, Massenzio is on promotional thin ice, though in his defense, there aren't a lot of guys that would've escaped the fight-ending submission, either. Unable to work the vital stand up phase that might have given him a chance to win, limited options made the end seem inevitable.Anthony Johnson -- FFailure to make weight? Check. Coming in more over the limit than any UFC fighter in history? Check. Losing in one round despite these advantages? Check. Johnson missed on all cylinders here, especially given that his rise from welterweight was supposed to solve his much-chronicled problem at the scales, which made him a hit-or-miss proposition come fight time. This was a massive fail on all counts. He'll need to make some serious changes to his preparation regimen if he wants to keep fighting in the UFC. Sadly, his talent and upside make it all the more tragic, because when he's on, he's as imposing as a fighter can be. There's always tomorrow when you're a young fighter, but for Johnson, tomorrow sure as heck was not this night in Brazil.Erick Silva and Carlo Prater: IncompleteSilva looked impressive in his second quick UFC bout, initially appearing to knockout Prater with blows, while his opponent was turtled on the mat. But after a lengthy post-fight interlude, it was announced that ref Mario Yamasaki was disqualifying Silva for blows to the back of the head, which apparently he warned Silva about sometime between the offense and legal blows, at which point Prater was apparently unable to continue. A disappointing ending to what should have been a showcase fight for the talented Brazilian, but ultimately there's really not enough here to grade, given the incomplete nature of the bout. For complete UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes" results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here.

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RIO DE JANEIRO - With his 14th-straight victory in the featherweight division, UFC champ Jose Aldo is beginning to run out of possible opponents at 145 pounds. Sure, there's a few names making their way up the ranks right now, but is it time for Aldo to make the move up to lightweight in search of greater challenges? UFC president Dana White said he's just fine with Aldo staying put at featherweight, but he certainly won't stand in the way if the champ decides to move up in weight.

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Dana White asked for the "WEC" Jose Aldo to show up in the days prior to Saturday's main event in Rio de Janeiro. He got that, and more in the champ's first round TKO of Chad Mendes.

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Last night (Sat., Jan. 14, 2012) at UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes," which took place at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Jose Aldo went back home to defend his featherweight championship against a man who was supposed to pose the greatest threat to his throne, Chad Mendes. Instead, "Scarface" delivered yet another knockout, landing a precision knee with deadly accuracy when Mendes attempted to use his wrestling to shoot for a takedown late in the opening frame. However, the knockout is not what we'll remember from last night. No, the lasting image of UFC 142 is the one you see above, an exuberant Aldo having jumped into the crowd with reckless abandon to celebrate his triumph with his people, the loving fans in Brazil who cheered him to victory. In many ways, this event felt like the wrong fight was headlining. Sure, Aldo vs. Mendes was for a championship and that should always take precedent, but Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson had all the intrigue. And not just because of the weight problems Johnson was having but because Belfort is quite possibly the most famous of all Brazilian fighters in the UFC. He is Rio's son. Last night, though, signified a star making turn for Aldo, a killer in the cage who, for whatever reason, simply couldn't find the proper acceptance from fans. His utter and complete disregard for his own safety, which UFC President Dana White was quoted as saying "freaked him out," undoubtedly endeared him not only to fans in Brazil at the arena but to folks watching at home, as well. It's easy to connect with such visceral emotion. With his cold demeanor inside the cage and the way he so easily disposed of a tough top contender, you would think Aldo might be above such a thing. But no. There he is, surfing through the crowd and fending off the security guards who are trying to protect him, just so he can ride the wave of jubilation with everyday folks like you and I. That's Jose Aldo, folks. One of the baddest motherf*ckers on the planet.

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A few days prior to last night's UFC 142 in Rio de Janero, UFC president Dana White had stated how he hoped to see a return of the "old, WEC style" Jose Aldo "Junior". Judging by his comments at the post fight presser, White could not have seemed happier with last night's fights, and his Featherweight Champion. Facing the toughest challenge of his career, Aldo stood opposite Team Alpha Male standout out Chad "Money" Mendes in his homeland last night and emerged victorious, in devestating fashion. It was

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Jose Aldo knocks out Chad Mendes with a knee with just one second remaining in the first round of their featherweight fracas at UFC 142 at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, last night (Sat., Jan. 14, 2012). Aldo, who once again proved that he's a force to be reckoned with in the pound-for-pound rankings, celebrated his victory by rushing out into the crowd and jumping right in to be swarmed by adoring fans. All this while security was literally fighting off crazed Brazilians aching to share in the joy of their champion emerging victorious. It was quite the scene. For a more detailed breakdown on the "Aldo vs. Mendes" fight click here and for complete UFC 142 results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here.

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Video highlights of the UFC 142 main event between UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes via ESPN.

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In the championship bout Jose Aldo defended his featherweight belt against Chad Mendes in his home country of Brazil. The fight showcased why Jose Aldo is the most dominant fighter ever at the weight class. Brent Brookhouse provided play by play for UFC 142 tonight Here is how he called the fight live: UFC Featherweight Championship: Jose Aldo (c) vs. Chad Mendes - Round 1 - They touch gloves and here they go. Both men moving a lot and feeling out distance. Leg kick by Mendes lands solid, Aldo with a much better one in return. Mendes is still trying to throw leg kicks with him and Aldo is getting the better of those exchanes. Mendes shoots and Aldo defends very well. Aldo is stalking and trying to get the distance figured out. Huge leg kick by Aldo again. Uppercut by Mendes misses by a mile. Big body shot by Aldo and Mendes shoots and can not finish the takedown. Aldo with a kick, Mendes shoots, gets deep on the single leg but Aldo keeps upright. Phenomenal takedown defense so far. Leg kick by Mendes lands. Aldo with a knee, Mendes with a takedown attempt and this time manages to lock around Aldo's waist. Aldo grabs the fence to prevent the takedown. Mendes tries for the takedown and Aldo bounces back up. Mendes still trying for the takedown, he can't get it. Aldo spins, lands a huge knee and Mendes drops. Punches and Mendes is out! Aldo runs from the ring into the crowd and is being mobbed by fans! Jose Aldo wins by knockout (knee and punches), 4:59 of Round 1.

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Jose Aldo reminded everyone why he's one of the world's best with a memorable finish to UFC 142.

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Heading in to this evening, UFC 142 looked a little less than a PPV worthy card on paper. However, as Dana White likes to remind us, oftentimes these somewhat lackluster cards deliver in spades on action. And tonight he was proven to be correct. The main card opened with a guaranteed action fight in Edson Barboza vs. Terry Etim. My pre-fight speculation was that Etim could not compete with Barboza's dynamic striking and would lose a unanimous decision. In the opening minute, Etim showed that he thought the same as he tried for takedowns throughout the first round. Barboza spent the first two rounds picking Etim apart with blazing fast striking while simultaneously defending Etim's increasingly desperate takedown attempts. Round 3 seemed to be more of the same until Edson unleashed the beast in an incredible spinning heel kick KO. Considering the wrestler heavy top of the Lightweight division, I don't think Barboza will ever get the title, but he'll definitely continue to be a force. A matchup against Donald Cerrone, who's coming off a loss to Nick Diaz, would be guaranteed fireworks. In the one dark spot on the card Carlo Prater faced off against Erick Silva. Prater got the rare opportunity to make his UFC debut on the main card, but it came at a hefty price in facing Silva who was coming off a 40 second knockout of Luis Ramos. In less than 30 seconds, it seemed that Silva would continue his streak of quick KO's when Mario Yamasaki pulled Erick Silva off his turtle'd opponent. However, Yamasaki awarded the fight to Prater as a disqualification for (questionable) illegal blows to the back of the head. Despite the loss on his record, I doubt Mario's call will effect Silva's progression in the division since Dana declared it a "BS call for Erick Silva" on Twitter in the moments following the fight. I have no idea how the UFC gets fighters to sign a contract to fight Rousimar Palhares. The man has a diabolical hate for every ligament of his opponents lower extremities and Mike Massenzio found this out first-hand. Toquinho made it known very quickly that he wanted Massenzio on the ground. When Mike wouldn't oblige, he bullrushed in, pulled guard and grabbed Massenzio's leg mid-scramble. This is a move very few high level grapplers could manage, and Palhares pulled it off with seeming ease. It's is time for him to take a step up in competition and start making a run for the title. I would love to see him matched up against the winner of Maia vs. Bisping while we wait for Anderson Silva to defend the championship against the winner of Munoz vs. Sonnen. In very rare form, "the old" Vitor Belfort has returned in back-to-back performances. From the opening bell, Anthony Johnson made it clear that he wanted to wear Belfort down. Dan Miragliotta was having none of that though and stood the fighters up both times Johnson got the fight to the ground. After tasting some of Vitor's unparalleled power, Rumble gave up his back and was submitted by Rear Naked Choke in the closing seconds of the first round. For Belfort, this win puts him right back in to title contention and fights at the top of the division. However, the future for Johnson is not so clear after weighing in at an embarrassing 11 pounds over on Friday, he could very well have just lost his contract with the UFC. Personally, I think he's a dynamic and competitive fighter that the Middleweight division needs, and would be disappointed if he was cut, but I wouldn't be surprised by the decision either. I was really surprised how many people seemed to think Chad Mendes really had a chance against Jose Aldo. I don't mean to take any thing away from Mendes, but he never showed me anything to make me think he could upset Aldo in a title fight. That said, I was not prepared for what happened tonight. The fight began somewhat tentatively with Mendes trying to figure out how to get inside and take Aldo down. Following an exchange of leg kicks and a couple takedown attempts, Mendes was able to secure a back clinch. The champ struggled to stay on his feet (even grabbing the fence). Yet, eventually, he broke free turned quickly and landed one of the most brutal knees I've ever seen to secure a KO victory. Jose Aldo followed up his highlight reel performance with pure epicness by jumping out of The Octagon and running in to the crowd where he was received with open arms. It was honestly one of the greatest follow ups to a victory in MMA history and there's no doubt that he gained fans as he fought off UFC security to connect with his fan base. Hatsu Hioki may get the next shot at the Featherweight title, but I don't see anyone upsetting Aldo any time soon. That man is built to brutalize his opponents and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. SBN coverage of UFC RIO 142: Aldo vs. Mendes

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With a perfectly timed knee and two follow-up shots on the ground, Jose Aldo left one second on the first-round clock – and then left the Octagon to celebrate with his home Brazilian fans after...

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Jose Aldo shared his win with his home country crowd in Brazil with a celebration in the stands after knocking out Chad Mendes at UFC 142 in Rio.

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UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo knocked out previously unbeaten challenger Chad Mendes with just one second remaining in the opening round to retain his title in the main event of UFC 142 on Saturday night in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Mendes unsurprisingly tried to take Aldo down early and often, but found no success as Aldo managed to remain on his feet and countered with his trademark leg kicks. With the round winding down, Aldo stunned Mendes with a knee and followed it up with punches on the ground to earn the win. Aldo immediately sprinted into the crowd to celebrate the win in his home country and was returned to the Octagon on the shoulders of fans. Aldo improves to 21-1 with the win and solidified his status as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters, while Mendes falls to 11-1 with his first career loss. Three other fights on the UFC 142 main card also ended in the opening round, as Vitor Belfort choked out Anthony Johnson, Rousimar Palhares submitted Mike Massenzio, and Erick Silva was disqualified against Carlos Prater, while Edson Barboza knocked out Terry Etim with a spinning head kick in the third round. The complete UFC 142 results were: MAIN CARD Jose Aldo (c) def. Chad Mendes via KO (knee and punches) – Round 1, 4:59 UFC Featherweight Championship Vitor Belfort def. Anthony Johnson via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 4:49 Rousimar Palhares def. Maike Massenzio via submission (heel hook) – Round 1, 1:03 Carlo Prater def. Erick Silva via DQ (strike to back of head) – Round 1, 0:29 Edson Barboza def. Terry Etim via KO (spinning heel kick) – Round 3, 2:32 PRELIMINARY CARD Thiago Tavares def. Sam Stout via unanimous decision Gabriel Gonzaga def. Edinaldo Oliveira via submission (rear naked choke) – Round 1, 3:22 Yuri Alcantara def. Michihiro Omigawa via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27) Mike Pyle def. Ricardo Funch via TKO (strikes) – Round 1. 1:22 Felipe Arantes def. Antonio Carvalho via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

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Jose Aldo, this is your moment.

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Jose Aldo is a phenomenal fighter, there is no other way to say it. He came into UFC 142 against a guy that was supposed to be the exact guy to beat him in Chad Mendes. Mendes was fast, agile and had great MMA wrestling. But all that didn't matter because Aldo is a better fighter. Aldo was never taken down in the fight, a fact slightly tainted by a blatant fence grab to prevent from being put down once, and it seemed pretty clear from the first shot that Mendes was not going to have anything for Aldo on this night. But the result of the fight (a crushing knee and punches TKO, for those who missed it) is not as important as what happened with Aldo in his native Brazil tonight. The second he got the knockout, he sprinted from the cage and into the crowd where he was mobbed by fans in love with what he had just done. Aldo was a star to some degree in Brazil, but this was the moment where he became a superstar in the country. This was Jose Aldo becoming something more than a fighter and more than a champion. Jose Aldo is something special. Watching how quickly Anthony Johnson faded in the first round it was pretty clear that the guy wasn't healthy. I'm not saying he was sick, I'm saying he's killing himself to make weight, even at 185. When the story coming in is that doctors stepped in and told you that you must rehydrate, that's a sign that you're not doing things the healthy way. It was good to see Belfort get a big win, he's a hard guy to not root for. He was given a gift with Johnson not being active from top position and then very quick ref stand-ups. But once Johnson was clearly gassed and not able to attack, it was Vitor pouncing and showing that killer instinct. It was very interesting to hear Rogan say over and over that Johnson was at 186 and had to rehydrate on doctors orders and then push the idea that Johnson and Belfort were so close in weight on fight night that it really wasn't that unfair. Only to switch to saying how unprofessional it was multiple times during the interview with Belfort in the cage afterward. Rousimar Palhares winning by heel hook was entirely predictable. And, let's be real, that's awesome. How many other guys do you talk about rare finishing moves like a heel hook and act like it's just standard business and expected? Carlo Prater beating Erick Silva by DQ is going to be controversial either way. It looked to me like Silva landed several shots to the back of the head and I can see DQ'ing him to some extent. Given the lack of commission, I fully expect the UFC to change the result to a no contest. You can't reverse a loss into a win (you just can't, don't make me go into a long explanation of it). The real issue with the Prater/Silva fight is that there is no clear, accepted definition of back of the head. If it's the "mohawk" method, no, you don't DQ the guy. If it's the "headphone" method, then yes, you do DQ him. Until we get all referees on the same page, expect more of the same. Oh, and no, just because other incidents haven't been punished doesn't mean that no situation should be. I don't even know how to describe how awesome Edson Barboza's wheel kick knockout of Terry Etim was. It was one of the most spectacular knockouts I've ever seen in my years of watching any combat sport. It's the kind of knockout you'll never forget. Much more after the jump. SBN coverage of UFC RIO 142: Aldo vs. Mendes Thiago Tavares and Sam Stout put on a totally forgettable fight on the FX undercard. Stout was able to keep the fight standing up for much of the duration but didn't do enough work to earn the win. Tavares won, that's all there is to say really. I had a feeling that Gabriel Gonzaga would truck Ednaldo Oliveira and that's exactly what happened. Once he had a eel for Oliveira's range, he got inside, took him down and controlled him until he locked in the choke. It was a good return for Gonzaga and should temper expectations of how high Oliveira's ceiling is. Maybe it's not fair of me, but I'm hoping Michihiro Omigawa gets cut from the UFC. I find his fights pretty reliably boring and I don't think he's really good enough to hack it in the UFC. Yuri Alcantara dominated him until he ran out of gas in the third round. Alcantara has pretty good upside from what we've seen so far. Mike Pyle ran through Ricardo Funch like he was nothing. Pyle isn't going to challenge for a title in the UFC but he's going to dominate a lot of guys while being a fringe contender.

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RIO DE JANEIRO - Jose Aldo just might be the new pride of Brazil. Five months after middleweight champion Anderson Silva sent the HSBC Arena into a frenzy at UFC 134, Aldo knocked out Chad Mendes in the first round to defend his featherweight title for a third time. The title fight headlined UFC 142 and aired on pay-per-view following prelims on Facebook and FX. It took place at HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro.

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If you want to know how to kick like Jose Aldo, tonight was your chance. Still, this does not guarantee that you will kick like Jose Aldo. It's sort of like knowing that by rubbing two wooden sticks together, you can make a fire but when you actually try it, your hand ends up looking like Urijah Faber's thigh. It's an existential fact that Jose Aldo strikes with the force of Shaolin temple. It's just something that humanity has to accept. Jose Aldo has cleared out the featherweight division. Sure he hasn't fought guys like Kawajiri, Hioki and Takaya -- but we all know that Japanese MMA collapses when it's imported on the landmass known as 'America.' Aldo is a living embodiment of everything that will ever be accomplished in the 145 lb division. He's a tangible monolith of MMA perfection. Tonight, Jose Aldo can walk up to the balcony of any bar in Rio de Janiero, urinate on the crowd and absolutely nothing will happen to him. He's a demigod, and we witnessed his celestial evolution tonight at UFC 142. Set aside the knee that knocked out Mendes with one second left in the first round. After the win, Jose Aldo literally flew out of the cage and rushed the crowd in absolute ecstasy. We will never know the adrenaline that was running through Aldo's body for him to leave security and jump into a random crowd of drunk MMA fans at 3:30 am. Jose Aldo gave the finger to the English lexicon tonight and redefined what 'Beast Mode' truly means. What's next for Jose Aldo? Last year he mentioned that he would 'have no problem' moving up to the lightweight division. Correction Jose, there would be no problem for people not in the lightweight division. For guys like us, Jose Aldo is correct. For every other 155 lber out there, Jose's right knee may temporarily interrupt their consciousness. Congratulations goes out to Jose Aldo on another finely polished win in the UFC. Props to Zombie Prophet on the .gif.

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Jose Aldo defeated Chad Mendes with an official time of 4:59 of the first round. This makes Aldo the sixth fighter to win with just one second left on the clock in Round 1. The others are:Mike Kyle vs. Wes Sims at UFC 47Matt Hughes vs. Georges St-Pierre at UFC 50Tim Sylvia vs. Tra Telligman at UFC 54Lyoto Machida vs. Thiago Silva at UFC 94Josh Koscheck vs. Matt Hughes at UFC 135

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The main event of the UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes" pay-per-view event taking place tonight (Sat., Jan. 14, 2012) at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, featured a featherweight fracas with Jose Aldo putting his 145-pound strap on the line against American wrestling Chad Mendes. A pound-for-pound stalwart, Aldo wasn't ever supposed to lose, with his speed and exciting style. Mendes, perhaps, presented the last interesting challenge to that with a suffocating grappling game that would snuff out any flashy offense the Brazilian could bring to the table. Nope. Sure, Mendes, tried. He took back control against the cage late in the first round but just as soon as Aldo got separation, he put his knee through a small window crashing into Mendes' skull for the knockout victory. Surprisingly enough, it took Mendes a full minute before he attempted his first takedown. It failed miserably, but hey, points for trying. Or maybe no? Aldo looked relaxed, aiming and firing away with leg and body kicks. He also worked hard on defending takedowns, as Mendes attempted a few more and was shook off with no problems. I guess working with Gray Maynard really was helpful. Mendes eventually worked his way to back control but when they separated Aldo unleashed a knee that immediately put Mendes out cold. He blasted him straight in his forehead, right on the "Money." Immediately after, "Scarface" when running into the crowd and was swarmed with adoring fans, who just ate him up while security fought to get him back to take him to the cage. It was incredible. Your winner and STILL the undisputed featherweight king -- Jose Aldo. Be sure to hit up MMAmania.com's live UFC 142 post for up to the minute results and blow-by-blow coverage of the rest of the night's action by clicking here.

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Jose Aldo defeats Chad Mendes by Knockout. The stoppage came at 4:59 in the first round. Chad Mendes opened up the first round with leg kicks. Jose Aldo responded with his own that landed much heavier. Chad Mendes failed on his first takedown attempt. Huge leg kick landed for Aldo. Chad Mendes came forward with a combination but missed on every strike attempt. Aldo landed a huge uppercut just before Chad Mendes attempted a deep single leg takedown. Mendes committed to a takedown attempt from outside but came up empty as Aldo stepped away. Chad Mendes landed his best leg kick of the fight with a minute left. Jose Aldo attempted a flying knee and Chad got the fight to the ground momentarily. He took Aldo's back and when he attempted a throw Aldo grabbed the fence. Aldo knocks out Chad Mendes with a knee and strikes with seconds remaining in the round. After the knockout Aldo ran out of the cage and dove right into the crowd to celebrate with his countrymen. He almost caused a riot getting carried back to the cage on someone's shoulders. It is his most dominant win as a UFC fighter and he's still the UFC featherweight champion. SBN coverage of UFC RIO 142: Aldo vs. Mendes

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HeavyMMA will have round-by-round and fight-by-fight coverage of UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes starting at 10 p.m. Eastern.

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For fans of mixed martial arts, this past week has been a slow crawl of steadily rising anticipation for tonight's "Aldo vs. Mendes" event, going down at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. UFC 142 will feature a featherweight championship showdown pitting current titleholder Jose Aldo putting his strap on the line against rising contender and powerful American wrestler Chad Mendes. In the co-main event of the evening, Vitor Belfort will try to slay the beast that is Anthony Johnson. And when I say beast, I mean that literally, as "Rumble" weighed in today at a whopping 204-pounds for this contest, which was supposed to be a middleweight affair. It's been a flurry of non-stop news, analysis, quotes, predictions and previews for the past week and it's certainly understandable if you missed out on a few stories. But don't worry, Maniacs, we've got you covered. In cased you missed any or all of it — or just want to keep the discussion alive — below are links to all the major storylines heading into tonight's broadcast. In we go: UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes" Fight card and line-up Results and live fight coverage UFC 142 predictions and previews: Predictions from the myth himself, Nostradumbass "Prelims" preview and predictions part one "Prelims" preview and predictions part two Fight preview: Erick Silva vs. Carlo Prater Fight preview: Rousimar Palhares vs. Mike Massenzio Fight preview: Edson Barboza vs. Terry Etim Fight preview: Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson Fight preview: Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes UFC 142 press conferences: Pre-fight press conference Press conference video Press conference staredown pics UFC 142 weigh-ins: Weigh-in results Weigh-in video Weigh-in staredown pics Weigh-in photos gallery Anthony Johnson badly misses weight Dana White issues statement on Anthony Johnson missing weight Anthony Johnson was ordered by doctors to take fluid after becoming ill cutting weight Anthony Johnson laughs at critics after he nearly kills himself but misses weight anyway Anthony Johnson weighs in under 205-pounds to make fight a go UFC 142 news: How to watch the event Event poster Conference call live blog Open workouts photos gallery Complete statistical breakdown of Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes XBox Live streams UFC 142 for free to fans stiffed out of UFC 141 promotion Arianny Celeste and Chandella Powell bust out bikinis in Brazil UFC 142 editorials: UFC 142 reminds us that too much of a good thing isn't such a good thing Jose Aldo is the featherweight Anderson Silva Chad Mendes doesn't care who Jose Aldo trains with, his wrestling is better Chad Mendes sticking to wrestling roots ahead of Jose Aldo showdown Chad Mendes is explosive and powerful and likes to blast guys off their feet Vitor Belfort is going to get knocked out and submitted all at the same time Gabriel Gonzaga can still compete with the best in the sport UFC 142 videos: Dana White video blog episode one Dana White video blog episode two Countdown to UFC 142 Extended UFC 142 video preview Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes fight preview Jose Aldo training with Gray Maynard for Chad Mendes fight Vitor Belfort road to UFC 142 episode one Vitor Belfort road to UFC 142 episode two Vitor Belfort road to UFC 142 episode three Rousimar Palhares vs. Mike Massenzio fight talk That, my friends, should be enough to keep you talking -- at least for the time being. What has been the biggest story heading into this event? Anthony Johnson and his inability to cut the necessary weight? The fact that he may be cut because of it? Something else? Sound off, Maniacs.

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Filed under: UFCJose Aldo is still the featherweight champion of the UFC. Aldo, fighting back home in Brazil for the first time since signing with Zuffa, defeated Chad Mendes by first-round knockout at UFC 142, defending his featherweight title and showing once again that he's among the most lethal strikers in mixed martial arts, in any weight class. It was a huge left knee to Mendes' face that knocked Mendes flat on his back, and Aldo then pounced with a couple of punches on the ground before referee Mario Yamasaki stopped the fight at the 4 minute, 59 second mark of the first round -- just one second remained in the round. "I want to thank the home crowd, all my friends who came out," Aldo said afterward. "I'm so happy fighting at home." Aldo showed that happiness to be fighting at home by running into the crowd after the fight, where he was mobbed by fans. It could have caused a crowd control problem, as large numbers of fans swarmed around Aldo, but there were no incidents and Aldo eventually made his way back into the Octagon for his post-fight interview. The story of the fight before that brutal knee was Mendes' inability to take Aldo down: Mendes tried for takedowns and Aldo had little trouble shaking him off. In the final minute of the fight Mendes did grab hold of Aldo and clinch with him against the fence, and at one point Aldo had to hold the fence to prevent from being taken down. But Aldo bided his time against the fence, saw that opening, and finished things with that knee. The win improves Aldo's professional MMA record to 21-1, while Mendes lost for the first time in his career and drops to 11-1. "Jose's a great champion. He's a tough dude. That's the best I've felt for any fight, I was very prepared, and he got me," Mendes said afterward. "He was the better man." For Mends, there's no shame in losing to Aldo. Aldo is among the greatest fighters in the sport. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Like a velvet glove dipped in iron, it is...The Head Kick Legend Open Discussion Thread. Join us this evening to discuss UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes, beginning with Felipe Arantes vs. Antonio Carvalho on Facebook at 7:30 p.m. ET, with the rest of the undercard airing on FX beginning at 8:00, and the main card, headlined by Jose Aldo's featherweight title defense against the undefeated Chad Mendes, airing on pay-per-view at 10:00. Your complete fight card for tonight is... Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson Ricardo Funch vs. Mike Pyle Thiago Tavares vs. Sam Stout Edson Barboza vs. Terry Etim Erick Silva vs. Carlo Prater Michihiro Omigawa vs. Yuri Alcantara Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Edinaldo Oliveira Rousimar Palhares vs. Mike Massenzio Felipe Arantes vs. Antonio Carvalho

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As with every major show, Bloody Elbow will be here to bring you live results, play by play and commentary for UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes. Our live coverage will start with the singe fight being shown on Facebook, continuing through the FX TV prelim broadcast (8 p.m. ET) and finally through the pay-per-view broadcast (10 p.m. ET) so make sure to make Bloody Elbow your home for this event. This post will cover live results and thoughts for the pay-per-view main card. In the evening's main event, Jose Aldo steps into the cage to defend his UFC featherweight championship against Chad Mendes. The evening's co-main event sees Anthony Johnson (who missed weight badly) face former UFC champion Vitor Belfort. Submission specialist Rousimar Palhares squares off with Mike Massenzio. Rounding out the card is a welterweight bout between Erick Silva and Carlo Prater and a lightweight bout between Edson Barboza and Terry Etim. Make sure to come back during the event and share your thoughts as the event goes down.

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The UFC is back in Brazil with another title-fight and a main card full of interesting match-ups in the form of UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes! Set to unfold tonight live from Rio de Janeiro, the show is headlined by phenomenal featherweight champion Jose Aldo defending his title against undefeated takedown-machine Chad Mendes and also features a co-headliner pitting popular regional star Vitor Belfort against hard-hitting wrestler Anthony Johnson. Other bouts highlighting the card include Sam Stout vs. Thiago Tavares, Mike Massenzio vs. Rousimar Palhares, and Terry Etim vs. Edson Barboza. Check Out the UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes Countdown Special As always, Fighters.com will be tuned in as soon as the preliminary pairings start up while reporting outcomes back to our readers as they unfold in real time from Rio. Facebook will kick things off at 7:05 PM EST before action heads to FX an hour later and then to PPV at 10:00 PM EST. Read below for a full rundown of UFC 142 results: Antonio Carvalho vs. Felipe Arantes Mike Pyle vs. Ricardo Funch Yuri Alcantara vs. Michihiro Omigawa Edinaldo Oliveira def. Gabriel Gonzaga Sam Stout vs. Thiago Tavares Terry Etim vs. Edson Barboza Erick Silva vs. Carlo Prater Rousimar Palhares vs. Mike Massenzio Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes Tweet

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It’s the first UFC event of 2012 and they’re returning to the most rabid MMA country in the world with a card stacked with hometown favorites. Coming to us live from the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; it’s UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes. As always, FiveOuncesOfPain.com will provide complete results including a round by round recap of all the live televised action. The night kicks off at 7:30PM EST on Facebook.com with one preliminary fight. Then at 8PM EST there’s a handful of prelim bouts on FX. Finally, at 10PM EST, the main card goes live on PPV. UFC 142 is headlined by a featherweight title fight as explosive Brazilian champion Jose Aldo defends his title against top contender, the undefeated Chad Mendes. In the co-main event, the most popular MMA fighter from Brazil, Vitor Belfort, battles Anthony Johnson in a catchweight bout. Also on the card is a middleweight bout between top jiu-jitsu artist Rousimar Palhares and wrestler Mike Massenzio, plus a lightweight showdown between highly touted prospects Edson Barboza and Terry Etim. PRELIMINARY CARD (FACEBOOK) Antonio Carvalho vs. Felipe Arantes PRELIMINARY CARD (FX) Mike Pyle vs. Ricardo Funch Yuri Alcantara vs. Michihiro Omigawa Edinaldo Oliveira def. Gabriel Gonzaga Sam Stout vs. Thiago Tavares MAIN CARD Terry Etim vs. Edson Barboza Erick Silva vs. Carlo Prater Rousimar Palhares vs. Mike Massenzio Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes

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It doesn't get much bigger than this. The dominant champ gets to defend his belt in his home country. The challenger is a protege of a guy that has fought the champ before, but this new challenger has a better wrestling pedigree. Is that the champ's achilles heel? Or will the champ blow through this guy just like he's put away his last four challengers? Jose Aldo (20-1, 2-0 UFC) meets Chad Mendes (11-0, 2-0 UFC). This one's pretty simple rankings-wise. Aldo is obviously the number one featherweight in the USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings, and the challenger Mendes is number two. If Mendes wins, they flip flop. If Aldo wins, Mendes will sit at two for a while until the next challenger is artificially inflated. This featherweight UFC 142 fight will be the main event of the night, and will be aired live on pay-per-view. The PPV broadcast begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. How do these two stack up? Aldo: 25 years old | 5'7" | 70" reachMendes: 26 years old | 5'6 | 66" reach What have these two done recently? Aldo: W - Kenny Florian (UD) | W - Mark Hominick (UD) | W - Manny Gamburyan (KO) Mendes: W - Rani Yahya (UD) | W - Michihiro Omigawa (UD) | W - Javier Vasquez (UD) How did these two get here? Jose "Scarface" Aldo is a seven-year vet with a ton of wins and just one loss (over 6 years ago). He's currently on a 13-fight win streak, most of which came under the Zuffa umbrella. Five straight wins in the WEC earned him a shot at the champ Mike Brown in November 2009, where he basically decimated him and scooped his belt. Former champ Urijah Faber was the first challenger, but he went home with purple legs and another L on his record. Manny Gamburyan was the last WEC victim, getting KO'd in the second round. He was gifted a UFC featherweight belt after the merger, but struggled in his first defense against Mark Hominick at UFC 129 due to a rough weight cut. He still won though, then put away veteran Kenny Florian at UFC 136 by decision to defend the belt once again. Mendes is, by far, the best wrestler Aldo has faced, so this will be a major test for the dynamic striker. Chad "Money" Mendes was a two-time NCAA D1 All-American in college, and made the transition to MMA shortly after school was over by hooking up with Urijah Faber and Team Alpha Male. After five straight wins on the California regional circuit, Chad was brought into the WEC. He dominated there as well, winning all four fights he had while wearing the blue gloves. After defeating Michihiro Omigawa in his UFC debut at UFC 126, Mendes was expected to get a title shot against Aldo at UFC 133. That went sideways, but Mendes didn't care and defeated Rani Yahya to cement his title shot. He walks into enemy territory, but is determined to bring the belt back to the United States. Why should you care? The UFC featherweight title is on the line, and the champ is facing the best wrestler in the division. In Brazil. There's a lot to like here. You can catch more UFC 142 preview content from Bloody Elbow after the jump. SBN coverage of UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes UFC 142 Rio: Anthony Johnson Misses Weight By 12 Pounds, Will Fight With Stipulation - Josh Nason UFC 142 Weigh-Ins - Anthony Johnson Misses Weight Badly - Josh Nason UFC 142 RIO: Vitor Belfort Vs. Anthony Johnson Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC RIO 142: Aldo Vs. Mendes Staff Predictions - Bloody Elbow UFC 142 RIO: Rousimar Palhares Vs. Mike Massenzio Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 142: Jose Aldo Is The New GSP, And That's Not A Good Thing - Fraser Coffeen UFC 142: Aldo Vs. Mendes Betting Lines - Tim Burke UFC 142 RIO: Edson Barboza Vs. Terry Etim Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 142 RIO: Erick Silva Vs. Carlo Prater Dissection - Dallas Winston Will Tim Tebow Hurt UFC 142's PPV Performance? - Brent Brookhouse UFC 142 Pre-Fight Press Conference Coverage - Tim Burke Watch Countdown To UFC 142 Rio Video On Bloody Elbow - Josh Nason UFC 142 RIO: FX Preliminary Card Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 142 Judo Chop: The Leg Lock Set Ups of Rousimar Palhares - T.P. Grant

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Jose Aldo looks to make the fifth defense of his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) featherweight belt in front of his native Brazilians when he takes on unbeaten powerhouse grappler Chad Mendes in the UFC 142 main event this evening (Jan. 14, 2012) at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Aldo's got a great opportunity to solidify his status as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the game with a big win. At 11-0, Mendes has soldiered from obscurity to consensus top-contender status, with a strong takedown game, improving stand up, and the ability to essentially shut down anyone unfortunate enough to find themselves underneath him. And while Mendes has been knocked for a decision-leaning style -- seven of his wins are over the distance, including five of his six bouts under the WEC/UFC banner -- the style match up virtually guarantees an exciting clash. The Team Alpha Male-trained fighter will likely battle to get Aldo to the mat, something that's one hell of a risky proposition, precisely because the champ punishes people like few others. However, if Mendes can get Aldo there, it's a very winnable fight. He only needs to be superior in three of five rounds to take the title, and his conditioning is top-notch. Follow me after the jump for a complete breakdown of the UFC 142 fight between Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes: The Breakdown Despite his reputation as a dominant, almost machine-like fighter, the champ's last two performances are cause for concern. Compared to the destructive showings he put on against Mike Brown, Urijah Faber and Manny Gamburyan, it's not clear if Aldo's merely had two off performances through sheer chance, or if problems making the 145-pound limit are catching up to him. Either way, his volume and output of strikes against Mark Hominick and Kenny Florian were much diminished compared to his previous displays. And he looked tired early in both matches. Hominick's late surge in their April brawl turned a one-sided Aldo beating into a competitive fight, while Florian, despite going 1 for 19 on takedowns, was able to stifle and shut down Aldo with endless attempts against the cage that failed, but the champ wasn't able to punish him extensively in doing do. This dynamic of limited Aldo output is precisely what Mendes will look to exploit. Mendes' stand up is based around high-percentage attacks, nothing exceptionally fancy, and he possesses a nifty right hand counter he'll explode down the middle when he sees an opening. Aldo figures to touch him up well in the early stand up, much as he did Faber, but Mendes will have to be durable and resilient enough to absorb these and keep pushing ahead, waiting for his opportunity to turn the fight on its head. He can do this by tying up and pushing Aldo against the cage, working for takedowns, and punishing the champ with strikes in-close. If and when Mendes can get it to the mat, it will likely result initially into a tactical stalemate. Aldo was a world Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion with outstanding submissions, but Mendes is good enough to avoid these. Mendes rarely looks to pass guard, so he'll be smart to lay in guard and pound on Aldo when spots present themselves, while pushing hard and taxing Aldo's gas tank. If Kenny Florian could run Aldo out of gas through endless failed takedown attempts, Mendes is going to do him one better by taking Aldo down and really pushing him to empty. The Pick This is a very tough fight for both guys. Mendes in the sense that he's going to Brazil to take the title from an exceptionally dangerous guy, one who can strike and grapple with equal skill. But, Aldo has his hands full over five rounds, especially with an unbeaten guy like Mendes who doesn't figure to run out of gas, or quit trying. With the champ's reduced standup output of late, I think it's clear that his days at 145 are numbered, and Mendes has the best style to beat him. Surviving some rough spots early, look for Mendes to score key takedowns in the middle of the fight to wear down Aldo, as well as some surprisingly effective stand up in the mid- to-late portions of the fight, which Mendes will also turn into takedowns. Mendes scores the upset, taking a hard-won bout by unanimous decision. Mendes via decision Be sure to join MMAmania.com this evening for LIVE, detailed UFC 142 results of all the "Aldo vs. Mendes" PPV action. It will include blow-by-blow coverage of the Facebook video stream, FX "Prelims" bouts, and of course, the PPV broadcast. We'll start RIGHT HERE at around 7:30 p.m. ET and carry straight on through early Saturday morning. See you then!

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The final bout for the UFC on FX preliminary card starting at 8:00 p.m. ET will feature Thiago Tavares (16-4-1, 6-4-1 UFC) against Sam Stout (17-6-1, 6-5 UFC). Sam Stout is ranked #20 according to the USA Today/SB Nation Consensus rankings. Tavares was himself not lagging too far behind at one point. Both are relatively young fighters who despite showing promise as exciting lightweights, have sort of stumbled on and off. While both fighters are 2-1 in their last three, they're not experiencing so much success that this isn't a must-win. How do these two stack up? Tavares: 27 years old | 5'7 Stout: 27 years old | 5'9 What have these two done recently? Tavares: W - Spencer Fisher | L- Shane Roller | W - Pat Audinwood Stout: W - Yves Edwards | W - Paul Taylor | L - Jeremy Stephens How did these two get here? Tavares used to be a blue chip prospect right alongside Tyson Griffin: their battle at UFC 76 garnered them FOTN that event, and both appeared to be on Goldberg's patented (and tortured) "meteoric rise". Time hasn't been kind to either fighter. Tavares finally began to open up his striking with more experience, but it also revealed his limitations and his propensity to get caught (Pellegrino, Roller, and Wiman all caught him pretty good at certain times). Stout, meanwhile, earned himself some credibility with wins over Joe Lauzon and Matt Wiman only to stumble against guys like Rich Clementi and Jeremy Stephens (and, I'd argue, Paul Taylor). Both guys need to make an impression of their careers are to move forward in a way that won't signal the potential for a pink slip a year down the road. Especially as LW continues to find new and exciting prospects. For Stout, the key will be in keeping it on the feet. He's never had big power, despite the fantastic and brutal Yves Edwards KO, but the chance of a knockout is greater against Tavares, who has been put down on multiple occasions and not always against power punchers. Why should you care? Because both fighters are nothing if not exciting. Take your pick: Tavares vs. Wiman, Griffin, Pellegrino, or Stout vs. Fisher, Edwards, etc. All have been involved in some great fights. There's no reason to think they won't set a frenetic pace. For more SB Nation/Bloody Elbow coverage, hit the jump... UFC 142 RIO: Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes Dissection UFC 142: Will The Old Vitor Belfort Return Against Anthony Johnson? UFC 142: Anthony Johnson Makes Weight, Fight With Vitor Belfort Is On UFC 142: Anthony Johnson Doesn't Care What You Think About His Weight Problems UFC 142 RIO: Vitor Belfort Vs. Anthony Johnson Dissection UFC RIO 142: Aldo Vs. Mendes Staff Predictions UFC 142 RIO: Rousimar Palhares Vs. Mike Massenzio Dissection UFC 142: Jose Aldo Is The New GSP, And That's Not A Good Thing UFC 142: Aldo Vs. Mendes Betting Lines UFC 142 RIO: Edson Barboza Vs. Terry Etim Dissection UFC 142 RIO: Erick Silva Vs. Carlo Prater Dissection Will Tim Tebow Hurt UFC 142's PPV Performance? UFC 142 Judo Chop: The Leg Lock Set Ups of Rousimar Palhares Nate Wilcox and His Essays on a Brief History of MMA and Brazil Are Also a Great Resource How To Watch UFC 142 Live Online, At A Bar Or Anywhere Else UFC 142: Urijah Faber Explains Chad Mendes' Path To Victory Over Jose Aldo UFC 142's Vitor Belfort: MMA Will 'Be As Big As Soccer If Not Bigger' In Brazil

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UFC 142 takes place later tonight at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The event airs live on pay-per-view at 10pm ET/7pm PT. The pay-per-view broadcast will be preceded by a prelim special on FX at 8pm ET/5pm PT. In the main event, Jose Aldo puts his featherweight title on the line against Chad Mendes. Anthony Johnson meets Vitor Belfort in the co-main event. Rousimar Palhares takes on Mike Massenzio in a middleweight bout. Carlo Prater takes on Erick Silva in a welterweight match-up. Edson Barboza meets Terry Etim in a lightweight bout. Results, recap and bonuses after the jump. Results Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson Mike Massenzio vs. Rousimar Palhares Carlo Prater vs. Erick Silva Edson Barboza vs. Terry Etim Sam Stout vs. Thiago Tavares Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Ednaldo Oliveira Yuri Alcantara vs. Michihiro Omigawa Ricardo Funch vs. Mike Pyle Felipe Arantes vs. Antonio “Pato” Carvalho Recap & Thoughts Edson Barboza vs. Terry Etim: Carlo Prater vs. Erick Silva: Mike Massenzio vs. Rousimar Palhares: Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson: Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes: Bonuses $??? Submission of the Night: Knockout of the Night: Fight of the Night:

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When UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo first made a name for himself in WEC it was in large part the result of not only his dominance in the cage but the way in which he beat opponents. Six of his seven WEC appearances resulted in a strike-based stoppage with the lone exception being a decision over a badly-battered Urijah Faber. However, Aldo has gone to the judges’ scorecards both times he’s fought inside the Octagon – something the 25-year old Brazilian hopes to change tonight when he faces Chad Mendes at UFC 142. Aldo spoke some about his inability to overwhelm opponents in the UFC as he did in WEC, offering up a fairly logical reason for the change in outcome. “More publicity means more studying, more strategy, and guys come to fight avoiding my creativity,” explained in an interview with the UFC’s website. “It’s not like in the WEC times, when they were unsure of, ‘What will this guy will come out with next?’ So this is not just trying to knock their head off, but there is an elite opponent ready to capitalize on my mistakes and spoil things for me.” “I never stopped training flying knees, and my standup game is much better than it was in the WEC, but like I mentioned, we have worthy talent standing on the other side of the cage,” he continued. “WEC (did) too, but in the UFC, the opponents have more footage and they are taking advantage of this fact.” Come tonight’s bout against Mendes it could be a different story, as Aldo revealed he is understandably amped about competing in his home-country, saying, “I’m fighting in Rio de Janeiro, with the support of my fans, so I’ll push the pace and get back on the road to knockouts.” Fans can catch Aldo’s attempt to finish the unbeaten Mendes tonight on PPV when things start at 10:00 PM EST. As always Five Ounces of Pain will be covering the action from start to finish. Make sure to check back here when preliminary pairings begin at 7:00 PM EST on Facebook. PHOTO CREDIT – WEC/UFC

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Jose Aldo stopped Chad Mendes with one devastating knee to the head with a second left in the first round Saturday night.

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Jose Aldo stopped Chad Mendes with one devastating knee to the head with a second left in the first round Saturday night.

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The centerpiece of tonight's UFC 142 RIO: Aldo vs. Mendes pay-per-view is a featherweight fracas pitting divisional monarch and top pound-for-pound candidate Jose Aldo in his fifth title defense against unbeaten Team Alpha Male wrestler Chad Mendes. Jose Aldo (20-1) has been methodically sniping off the top end of the 145-pound totem pole. His systematic elimination began at WEC 44 against American Top Team's rugged veteran Mike Brown, who, unbeknownst to him, was wearing Aldo's future around his waist. The Brazilian had earned his shot with five highlight-reel stoppages in the WEC but Brown's cachet and power-grappling was purported to be a rude awakening. And it was, but crosswise: Aldo eschewed Brown's takedowns and surprisingly landed one of his own in the second, then teleported instantly to back-mount and pounded him out to become champion. He'd already proven that he was a human wood-chipper on the feet by mangling foes with a cyclone of Muay Thai, but beating someone of Brown's caliber at his own game foreshadowed the complex monster that Jose Aldo has become today. Next up was former longstanding champ and poster-boy Urijah Faber. Aldo spent all five rounds sawing his leg in half with unending waves of wicked roundhouse kicks, causing even the at-home viewers to wince in sympathetic pain each time his shin plunged sickeningly deep into "The California Kid's" tenderized thigh. Then it was Hayastan bruiser Manny Gamburyan. Bam. Lights out. Second round. The champ's last two defenses were sturdy decisions over Mark Hominick and Kenny Florian. Some feel they exposed some holes in Aldo's game; others opine that they merely dragged the champ into deeper waters and weren't crushed immediately like the rest. More UFC 142 Dissections Belfort Vs. Johnson | Palhares Vs. Massenzio | Barboza Vs. Etim | Silva Vs. Prater | FX Prelims Chad "Money" Mendes (11-0) has never lost a fight. In fact, he's never even been put in a precarious situation nor divulged any glaring weaknesses. The closest thing to a hole he might have is that he's mostly a one-dimensional wrestler, but that one dimension has delivered a perfect MMA record and expedited him to a title shot in just over three years of professional competition. A former Division 1 wrestler at Cal-Poly, Mendes tore through his first five opponents (1 sub, 2 TKOs, 2 decisions) relying mostly on his voracious takedowns and startling athleticism. While rounding out his overall skill-set with Team Alpha Male, Mendes signed with the WEC and kept on buzzing through the competition. He handed Roufusport juggernaut Erik Koch his first loss (decision), submitted Anthony Morrison (guillotine choke), and then rattled off four decision victories to assume the top-contender role: Cub Swanson, Javier Vazquez, Michihiro Omigawa and Rani Yahya. Three of those fighters are BJJ black belts, two of which are at the apex-level (Yahya, Javi) and Omigawa is still a force on the mat. Fans frowned upon Mendes' control-based strategy, yet tossing around fighters of this caliber and fearlessly diving into the jaws of their guards was extremely impressive for someone as green as Mendes. All the while, his boxing was looking sharper in each outing and he was still as lightning-fast and explosive as ever. Gifs and analysis in the full entry. SBN coverage of UFC 142 RIO: Aldo vs. Mendes I enjoy being overly dramatic in my writing and embellishing the analysis to portray the fighters like comic-book superheroes. I've put together a heaping assembly of gifs for Jose Aldo, but instead of saucing up each one with a lengthy description, I think the unbridled violence herein speaks for itself. Just take a minute and soak each one of these in. My intensely professional assessment of the gifs above: that is some seriously frightening ass-kicking. This is MMA, so all the competitors are fighters. They fight for a living. Some are aggressive. Some are composed. Some are resplendently technical, others are brutally raw. However, Jose Aldo is a f**king fighter, in every sense of the word. He can do it all and he's both fundamentally polished and uncontrollably destructive. To the right is a subtle example of his artful skill, without even throwing a punch. When you think Mark Hominick, the two phrases that should immediately to mind are "technical kickboxing". Aldo hangs out in the pocket and puts on a veritable clinic of how to slip punches. My point is that Aldo is stamped as a Thai wrecking machine, and rightfully so, but he doesn't get enough credit for the astronomical level of abilities he's shown in so many different areas. Here the champ attacks with what many assume to be his weakness. Admittedly, Aldo has never encountered a wrestler like Mendes and he'll be hard-pressed to compete directly with a D1 standout, but there's no question that he's exhibited a very under-appreciated proficiency with both securing and defending takedowns. Florian made it clear that he intended to swallow him up in the clinch to stifle his offense, but the champ had none of it. Staying elusive with excellent circling, Aldo was adept in nabbing the whizzer and punishing the challenger with a medley of knees and dirty boxing. A salient factor is that, while his clinch tactics have passed the test, the only opponent to assail him with dropping levels and shooting takedowns from outside was Brown, and Mendes' agile freestyle wrestling is unparalleled in the division. Rather than contest Aldo with clinch tie-ups, Mendes will attack with blindingly fast shots that are set up brilliantly with his strikes and footwork. Mendes is truly an athletic specimen with obvious takedown prowess, but he implements his strengths very intelligently. To the left, notice how he fakes a level drop to open things up. This causes Vazquez to freeze in place and brace for the takedown, and Mendes switches it up and cracks a high kick. In the ensuing blitzkrieg he follows with, the wrestler carefully measures his steps to shrink the distance and maintains excellent balance while pressuring with punches. It's worth noting that, though he sets up the high kick and shows decent form with his aggressive boxing, his defensive mannerisms definitely offer some opportunities for a precise marksmen like Aldo. Sure, the front roll and flip to the right might be a little more "show than go", but I applaud the high work-rate, activity and courage of Mendes. Vazquez is a complex submissionist and it takes huge cajones to pull off these theatrics. The way Mendes confronted such talented grapplers would indicate that Aldo will have a tough time sweeping or submitting from the bottom. All of my praise for Mendes' strides with his stand up comes with the disclaimer of how inexperienced he is. Plus, pure wrestlers typically struggle to get comfortable on their feet because of the opposing variables of stance and footwork, and Mendes has excelled phenomenally in putting it all together. That being said, all of his offensive striking in these animations show a susceptibility to precise counter-punching, where Aldo reigns supreme. Despite his encouraging improvement, I can't help but think that Aldo is going to light him up on the feet. For everyone who equates Mendes with guys like Tyron Woodley who are "scared to fight" and "only play it safe", please review this collection of gifs and rethink your stance. As far as physical attributes like strength, quickness, agility and conditioning, I'd put Mendes at the top of the heap. Aldo is still fleet afoot and will have a slight edge in height and reach, but the gist of the match up comes down to who can keep things in the phase of combat where they are strongest. Footwork will dictate the location of the fight and Mendes has incredible movement. While Aldo is a black belt in BJJ, Mendes has proven his prowess against others with the same accolades and Aldo didn't seem to scramble with busy hips and the sense of urgency I'd expect in his past performances. Mendes should be able to shut down his guard and be productive enough with ground and pound to avoid stand ups. To summarize, it's just too hard to pick against an undefeated wrestler like Mendes, especially considering how much power takedowns and top control have in neutralizing other weapons and in the eyes of the judges. His chin has looked solid thus far but he's yet to encounter someone of Aldo's stature. I'd estimate their advantages to be about even in their respective specialties -- Mendes on the mat and Aldo standing -- but think Mendes has the better chance of implementing his best weapon. My Prediction: Chad Mendes by decision. Poll Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes Jose Aldo Chad Mendes   29 votes | Results

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In the WW division, UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes will feature Ricardo Funch (8-2, 0-2 UFC) against Mike Pyle (21-8-1, 4-3 UFC) to kick off the UFC on FX starting at 8:00 p.m. ET. The PPV kicks off Saturday at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. Paulo Thiago was originally scheduled to fight Pyle, but had to pull out of the bout due to injury. In other words, this bout had significance at one time, but is now simply a showcase fight for Pyle. Though Paulo Thiago's last performance wasn't much to write home about with a relatively lackluster victory over David Mitchell. However, that fight would have been more compelling. Funch washed out of the UFC, and is coming in on short notice against a notoriously crafty veteren. How do these two stack up? Funch: 31 years old | 5'10 Pyle: 36 years old | 6'1 What have these two done recently? Funch: W - Ryan Quinn | L - Claude Patrick | L - Johny Hendricks Pyle: L- Rory MacDonald | W - Ricardo Almeida | W - John Hathaway How did these two get here? By accident. At least for Funch. While his fight with Hendricks was relatively fun for a mostly grappling oriented scrap, he was outclassed against Patrick. Pyle has been known to lose to fighters you'd think he was better than, but Funch has none of the attributes to capitalize on a stuck-on-autopilot Mike Pyle. Against Rory Markham, Pyle could blame the power. Against Matt Horwich, Pyle could blame Matt's grappling prowess. Against Brock Larson, Pyle could blame Brock's raw strength. I struggle to think of what Pyle could possibly blame on a loss to Funch, who simply isn't dynamic, nor is he especially strong. I don't expect it to be a cakewalk, but I do think Pyle should be offensive enough to rattle Funch. He's a joy to watch on the ground, and with Funch's pedigree I'm hoping for a ground war. Although perhaps I'm simply being too optimistic for a minor scrap. Why should you care? Because there's a lot of interesting betting going on in these prelims. Not here though. If there's a reason to care it's because Pyle is dynamic, and typically entertaining. Hit the jump for more SB Nation/Bloody Elbow coverage of UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes... UFC 142: Will The Old Vitor Belfort Return Against Anthony Johnson? UFC 142: Anthony Johnson Makes Weight, Fight With Vitor Belfort Is On UFC 142: Anthony Johnson Doesn't Care What You Think About His Weight Problems UFC 142 RIO: Vitor Belfort Vs. Anthony Johnson Dissection UFC RIO 142: Aldo Vs. Mendes Staff Predictions UFC 142 RIO: Rousimar Palhares Vs. Mike Massenzio Dissection UFC 142: Jose Aldo Is The New GSP, And That's Not A Good Thing UFC 142: Aldo Vs. Mendes Betting Lines UFC 142 RIO: Edson Barboza Vs. Terry Etim Dissection UFC 142 RIO: Erick Silva Vs. Carlo Prater Dissection Will Tim Tebow Hurt UFC 142's PPV Performance? UFC 142 Judo Chop: The Leg Lock Set Ups of Rousimar Palhares Nate Wilcox and His Essays on a Brief History of MMA and Brazil Are Also a Great Resource How To Watch UFC 142 Live Online, At A Bar Or Anywhere Else UFC 142: Urijah Faber Explains Chad Mendes' Path To Victory Over Jose Aldo UFC 142's Vitor Belfort: MMA Will 'Be As Big As Soccer If Not Bigger' In Brazil

Posted in: ufc, vs, aldo, pyle, funch

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Jose Aldo remained the UFC Featherweight Champion, after defending his title for the third time with a devastating first round KO victory over Chad Mendes. Aldo controlled the action inside the Octagon, not allowing Chad Mendes to execute his wrestling-based gameplan. Mendes had some success with leg kicks and one takedown that allowed him to take Aldo's back, but this fight was all about the champion finally proving himself after two disappointing performances against Kenny Florian and Mark Hominick.

Posted in: kenny florian, aldo, chad mendes, chad, mende

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Jose Aldo defeated another opponent, and is now close to completely cleaning up the UFC Featherweight division. Do you think it's time for Aldo to become a multi-divisional champion, by this cementing his status as one of the greatest ever? Make your vote!

Posted in: ufc, jose, jose aldo, aldo, multidivisional champion

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Jose Aldo has faced great wrestlers before and stopped them in their tracks. For his UFC 142 camp, he brought in Gray Maynard to further improve. So what makes Chad Mendes think he has the answer to...

Posted in: ufc, jose, aldo, chad mendes, chad

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When the WEC merger was first announced some fifteen months ago, featherweight champion Jose Aldo was deemed to be the star acquisition. Eager to see him delight those who are oblivious to his immense talent, the UFC scheduled him for a quick Octagon debut on the year’s first fight card. Things didn’t go according to plan however, as a shoulder injury forced Aldo on the sidelines for a few months, and since his return, he hasn’t quite looked like the fighter who terrorized the WEC ranks. Despite two successful title defenses under his belt last year, Aldo has simply looked like a more tentative and less violent version of the man who shattered Cub Swanson‘s face in eight seconds. Stories of arduous weight cuts further enhanced trepidations surrounding Aldo’s future performances, and talks of a move up in weight have since emerged. For the champion to silence the hard-to-please critics, he needs to deliver in his home country in spectacular fashion, and be the first man to inflict a blemish on Chad Mendes‘ spotless record. Featherweight title fight: Jose Aldo (c) vs. Chad Mendes Despite the pressure weighing firmly on the Brazilian’s shoulder, it is Mendes who faces the more daunting task, as a shaky fifth round against Mark Hominick aside, Aldo hasn’t looked vulnerable in years. The champion’s performance against Kenny Florian may have underwhelmed, but he still managed to win the bout in relatively straightforward fashion — despite Joe Rogan‘s best attempts to convince us otherwise on commentary — and did so without ever really needing to switch gears. However, it would be disingenuous to ignore that Aldo didn’t quite look like his usual dynamic self. Despite landing typically crisp and clean shots, and displaying some great hips to stay vertical, Aldo lacked the trademark explosiveness in his attacks. Moreover, he seemed to be throwing with less volume, and wasn’t quite as willing to move forward as he usually is. And while it remains too early to speculate whether this is a direct result of the shoulder injury sustained a year ago, his upcoming bout will be telling in that regard. Aldo is a master at gauging distance. Like his compatriot Anderson Silva, he likes to dissect his opponent before picking his primary method of attack accordingly. Having one of the most diverse striking arsenals in the sport allows Aldo to choose between a boxing-oriented approach (such as the Manny Gamburyan fight) , or one that is more reliant on his devastating leg kicks (see the Urijah Faber bout). Ever since capturing the title in breathtaking fashion against Mike Brown back in 2009, Aldo has developed into a more patient striker. In fact, that tile-winning performance was the last time Aldo completely blitzed his opponent from start to finish, as he overwhelmed Brown with a barrage of kicks, knees and some terrific combinations. From that point onwards, Aldo has implemented a more measured approach, highlighted by less volume, better boxing technique, and improved counter-punching. Such versatility makes Aldo an incredibly difficult opponent to prepare for, as there is very little indication as to the specifics of what he has in store. This sort of fighting maturity is unusual at Aldo’s age, but it is what makes him such a special talent. The main issue with Mendes is that despite technically solid striking, he shows very little confidence in his stand-up. When he actually throws with conviction, his punches are quite crisp. However, he very seldom does, and his lack of belief in his striking is quite evident. His outing against Michihiro Omigawa remains perhaps the only time where Mendes exhibited real improvement in his stand-up skills, only for his striking to look curiously regressed against Rani Yahya. His performance against the former saw Mendes show a remarkable ability to get on the inside and put clean combinations together. Specifically, his right cross looked extremely sharp, and he showed a surprising ability to sit on that particular punch and land with power. Getting on the inside will be vital against Aldo, especially if the Team Alpha Male fighter is able to show the kind of sharp boxing he did against Omigawa, as it would allow him to set up takedowns properly and potentially put the champion on his back, which ultimately remains his main goal. And yet, getting on the inside against Aldo is not only a difficult task, but a risky one as well. The champion is an expert at controlling distance, and as long as he throws his leg kicks liberally, Mendes will be far too worried about them to be able to step inside, counter, and switch levels. Furthermore, Aldo is simply devastating on the inside, be it with combinations, snapping knees to the body, or some solid clinch work. The uppercut in particular could be a game-changer, as Aldo sets it up beautifully by faking a left hook, and it serves as a great counter to a constantly level-changing opponent. Should Mendes succeed in avoiding Aldo’s laser-guided punches and go for the double leg, he is certainly capable of putting him on his back. It will be vital for Mendes to secure clean takedowns away from the cage in order to make Aldo’s life more difficult in his efforts to get back to his feet. However, Aldo’s hips and overall takedown defense will make Mendes earn his keep, as it is unlikely the challenger is going to be able to effortlessly and consistently put his opponent on the bottom. Should he succeed in doing so however, Mendes needs to show a dominating top game he has yet to display. “Money” does little in terms of guard-passing or significant ground-and-pound, and instead stays tight inside the guard, occasionally landing some short elbows. While this could actually limit scrambling opportunities for the champion, it increases the chances of referee-induced stand-ups, especially when a chorus of Brazilian boos is showering the cage simultaneously. In light of his last two showings, the main worry for Aldo will be his conditioning, as he has looked somewhat faded in the closing rounds against Florian and especially, Hominick. This in turn could mean that Mendes will have less trouble taking the champion down in the final ten minutes, which, if accompanied by a solid outing in at least one of the earlier rounds, could well win him the fight. Nevertheless, banking on Aldo’s cardio to ultimately cost him the fight is — while possible — a bit far-fetched. More likely, Aldo will control the distance and eventually polish his opponent off with superior striking. Mendes could well have his moments and get the fight to the ground, but those occasions will likely be very few, and would only delay the inevitable. Official Prediction: Jose Aldo to defeat Chad Mendes by TKO in Round 2 PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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Filed under: UFCIn the last edition of Fighter vs. Writer, Strikeforce champ Luke Rockhold proved that he knew what he was talking about when he said he couldn't understand why all the media picked Brock Lesnar at UFC 141, while the fighters favored Alistair Overeem. Lesson learned. Maybe. For UFC 142, I turned to a man who knows a little something about both main event combatants: former WEC featherweight champ Urijah Faber. Faber's gone up against Jose Aldo in the cage and Chad Mendes in practice, plus he's a pretty savvy all-around judge of character, so I expect another tough one as I look to rebound from my loss. But, just as in the UFC, there are no easy match-ups here. If there were, I would have sought them out by now, trust me. Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes Faber: Mendes via decision. "I think it'll be kind of a feeling out process at first, but then somebody's going to open up. I think it'll be an explosive first round and early second, but then Chad's going to start getting some takedowns and grinding Aldo. I think that's the big thing that people aren't thinking about it, is the fatigue of a grappling match. Chad will fatigue him and, if not finish him, then hopefully win a decision." Fowlkes: Aldo via decision. I think it's going to be a closer fight than many people are expecting, but I just don't see Mendes being able to outwrestle Aldo for five rounds. The Brazilian is too quick and too athletic, and he'll have Mendes confused on the feet. Expect a close one, but also expect Aldo to get his hand raised at the end of the night/morning. More Coverage: UFC 142 Results | UFC 142 Weigh-In Video Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson Faber: Johnson via TKO. I like Vitor, and I'm a longtime fan, but I think Anthony Johnson is going to be really good at that new weight class. I'm taking Anthony, but I'm cheering for Vitor. Fowlkes: Johnson via decision. If he makes it through the first three minutes with Belfort, his chances improve greatly. Johnson's never been knocked out and he's got a solid ground game. If he's smart, he'll turn this into a grind and sap Belfort's explosive power. Mike Massenzio vs. Rousimar Palhares Faber: Nobody. It's always a risky move, but it's worked for others. Faber has declined to pick a winner here on the grounds that "I don't really know too much about either of those guys. Under the Fighter vs. Writer unified rules, he only scores here if the bout ends in a draw or a no contest. Or if if doesn't happen at all, for whatever reason. Does Urijah know something we don't? Fowlkes: Palhares via submission. Due to past experiences, it always makes me uneasy when fighters refuse to pick. If there's anyone on this card who might do something weird that results in a no contest -- or just not show up at all -- it's Palhares. Still, when he has his act together he's a very tough opponent for anyone, and my money's on him to submit Massenzio. Carlo Prater vs. Erick Silva Faber: Prater via decision. "I know Prater, so I guess I'll go with him just because I'm more familiar with him." It's unclear if Faber realized he was going with the heavy underdog in this match-up, but name recognition still counts for something, I suppose. Fowlkes: Silva via TKO. Prater's been around, it's true. But most of the known guys he's fought ended up beating him, while Silva is a bright young prospect that the UFC's pretty hot on. I don't see him doing anything to screw that up here. Edson Barboza vs. Terry Etim Faber: Etim via TKO. "I'm going to go with Terry. He's got really great striking and some good finishes if it goes to the ground, so I think he'll have the edge." Fowlkes: Barboza via decision. I still think Etim's a good underdog pick, given the 2-1 odds, but this looks like a close fight that's likely to go to decision. If it does, Barboza's active, flashy style should wow the judges enough to earn the nod. Having the crowd on his side won't hurt, either. Faber picks: Mendes, Johnson, nobody, Prater, Etim Fowlkes picks: Aldo, Johnson, Palhares, Silva, Barboza Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, decision, vs, faber, aldo

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Jose Aldo left the building. Well, at least he left the Octagon at the HSBC Arena seconds after he defended his UFC featherweight title Saturday night with a stirring first round knockout of Chad Mendes, celebrating with his fans and putting a cap on a triumphant night for the Brazilians at UFC 142 in Rio de Janeiro.The defense was Aldo’s third successful one since debuting in the UFC in 2011, and his first finish in the Octagon.“Jose’s a great champion,” said Mendes. “He’s a tough dude. That was the best I felt for any fight, and he got me.”Mendes fired off inside leg kicks to start the bout, taking a page out of Aldo’s playbook. Aldo returned fire though, showing Mendes immediately who had more heat on the fastball. A minute in, Mendes missed on his first takedown attempt, and Aldo continued to keep him at bay with his kicks and the threat of more, tossing aside any further attempts by the American to put him on his back. Finally, with a minute left, Mendes bulled Aldo to the fence and took his back while standing. An initial slam attempt by Mendes saw Aldo get a warning for holding the fence, with the second only seeing the champion hit the deck briefly. When Aldo did get free, he spun and caught Mendes with a perfect left knee to the head, dropping him to the canvas. A follow up right hand finished the job, with referee Mario Yamasaki halting the bout at 4:59 of the round, sending the crowd into a frenzy and Aldo running into the crowd, where he celebrated with his fans and his team before returning minutes later for the official particulars to be announced.“I knew he was going to go for my legs and I knew how to throw that knee,” said Aldo. “Thankfully, I was able to put it in the right spot.”With the win, Aldo ups his record to 21-1; Mendes falls to 11-1.

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MMAFrenzy.com will have live results from Saturday’s “UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes” event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil starting at 7pm ET, including the UFC 142 main event between UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo and challenger Chad Mendes and co-headliner between Vitor Belfort and Anthony Johnson. MMAFrenzy.com’s live results will begin at 7pm ET with the UFC 142 preliminary card followed by live play-by-play for UFC 142′s pay-per-view main card at 10pm ET. Check out our live UFC 142 coverage below and stay tuned after the event for complete post-fight coverage. UFC 142 OFFICIAL RESULTS MAIN CARD Jose Aldo (c) vs. Chad Mendes UFC Featherweight Championship Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson Rousimar Palhares vs. Mike Massenzio Erick Silva vs. Carlo Prater Terry Etim vs. Edson Barboza PRELIMINARY CARD Sam Stout vs. Thiago Tavares Edinaldo Oliveira vs. Gabriel Gonzaga Yuri Alcantara vs. Michihiro Omigawa Mike Pyle vs. Ricardo Funch Felipe Arantes vs. Antonio Carvalho UFC 142 PLAY-BY-PLAY JOSE ALDO VS. CHAD MENDES VITOR BELFORT VS. ANTHONY JOHNSON ROUSIMAR PALHARES VS. MIKE MASSENZIO ERICK SILVA VS. CARLO PRATER TERRY ETIM VS. EDSON BARBOZA

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Posted in: jose, jose aldo, aldo, reminder, electricute

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The UFC featherweight title is on the line tomorrow night (January 14, 2011) as champion Jose Aldo takes on undefeated challenger Chad Mendes in the main event of UFC 142 in Rio. Jose Aldo is trying to break through to the casual MMA fans, but he's yet to put on a signature performance since joining up with the UFC. He's defended his title twice thus far against Mark Hominick and Kenny Florian, but he's looking to put on a show for the Brazilian faithful who are showing up in droves to see him compete. Chad Mendes not only is undefeated, but he's never even lost a round in his career. He dominated Sengoku star Michihiro Omigawa and then completely controlled Rani Yahya in his most recent two fights and he's hoping he can utilize his wrestling to grind the UFC featherweight title away from the champ. Will Aldo have his breakthrough moment he's so desperately craving? Will the extremely hostile crowd strike fear into Mendes and affect his performance? How does each man win this title fight tomorrow night? Let's find out: Jose Aldo Record: 20-1 overall, 2-0 in the UFC Key Wins: Kenny Florian (UFC 136), Mark Hominick (UFC 129), Urijah Faber (WEC 48) Key Losses: none How he got here: After making waves in Brazil, Aldo migrated to the WEC and immediately began wrecking the place. He tore through his first four WEC bouts with deadly striking and decided to cap it off by earning a title shot with an unbelievable eight second knockout of Cub Swanson at WEC 41. Believe it or not, the time of the knockout was the least impressive part of it. Aldo flew through the air and connected on poor Cub's chin with not one but two flying knees at once and finished the stunned Swanson off with quick ground and pound. The Brazilian made the most of his opportunity and manhandled then-champion Mike Brown, finishing the turtling titleholder with ground and pound from behind. His victory set up a WEC super-fight with the incredibly popolar former champion Urijah Faber at WEC 48. "Scarface" would work a different gameplan for that fight, massacring Faber's legs with sharp kicks until they turned into linguine and "The California Kid's" corner needed to carry him to his stool in between rounds. The champ retained his title one final time, viciously knocking out Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season five finalist Manny Gamburyan early in the second round. After the UFC/WEC merger, Aldo was handed the UFC featherweight title and got an opportunity to defend it against Mark Hominick this past April. The Brazilian won a hard-fought battle over the course of five rounds in a "Fight of the Night"-winning performance. He followed that up by outworking a persistent Kenny Florian for five more rounds to retain his title this past October. He gleefully accepted a bout with Chad Mendes on a quick turnaround in order to fight in his native Brazil for the first time in over four years. How he gets it done: Jose Aldo has a very diverse set of skills. He's got heavy hands and some of the nastiest leg kicks you will ever see. His background as a soccer player may be a factor in that. Look for Aldo to try to keep this fight standing and really go to work with his kicks, although he'll have to keep them low. He does a terrific job of closing off combinations with a leg kick. If he can connect a few times, it's going to slow Mendes down and take away a significant portion of his explosiveness and takedown ability. If Mendes begins to lose some of his lateral quickness, the champion could swoop in with a flying knee or some other devastating frontal attack. Aldo brought in Gray Maynard to help him gauge distance better against elite wrestlers like Mendes so expect him to be extremely wary of "Money's" takedowns. The featherweight champ already possesses some pretty strong wrestling defense, so every little bit he can boost it not only helps his confidence, but makes the rest of his game that much more dangerous. If taken down, Aldo needs to do whatever it takes to pop back to his feet as it's highly unlikely he'll be able to sweep Mendes or submit him off of his back. Aldo is such a terrific athlete that you could literally expect anything from him in this fight. At just 25 years old, he can definitely still be learning new tricks. Chad Mendes Record: 11-0 overall, 2-0 in the UFC Key Wins: Erik Koch (WEC 47), Michihiro Omigawa (UFC 126), Rani Yahya (UFC 133) Key Losses: none How he got here: Chad Mendes has been wrestling for a very long time. He was a two time All-American collegiate wrestler before teaming up with Urijah Faber at his Alpha Male gym in Sacramento. Just 14 months into his professional fighting career, "Money" Mendes was 5-0 and had earned an invite to compete in the WEC featherweight division. He made his debut against fellow prospect and current top contender Erik Koch, handing him the only professional loss of his career. He would fight three more times in 2010, defeating all opponents handily and progressing in his skill-set. Mendes made his UFC debut against Japanese star Michihiro Omigawa last February and handled the veteran with ease, out striking and definitely outwrestling him to win a dominant unanimous decision. He would forgo a title shot and proceeded to put up a strong showing against submission specialist Rani Yahya seven months later to again be crowned the number one contender for Jose Aldo's belt. He gets his shot tomorrow night in hostile territory. How he gets it done: The biggest key for Mendes is extremely obvious. He needs to take Aldo down with his wrestling and keep him there. If Aldo attempts a leg kick, Mendes needs to catch it and throw him to the canvas. If Aldo attempts a flying knee, Mendes needs to grab him in mid-air and slam him. If Aldo presses forward with a big combination, Mendes needs to duck down and shoot him into the ground with a takedown. All roads to Chad Mendes defeating Jose Aldo include putting the Brazilian on his back. He might be able to stand with the champ for a brief period, but he can't afford to let Nova Uniao fighter get comfortable and start throwing his most dangerous strikes or Mendes is going to be in trouble. Not only must the Team Alpha Male fighter put Aldo on his back, he has to keep him there. If Mendes can make the champ work off of his back and expend a significant amount of energy, he could tire him out. We saw how awful a tired Aldo can look in the fifth round of his fight with Mark Hominick at UFC 129. Mendes' goal should be to get Aldo that exhausted by round three. If he does, he could definitely be the new titleholder. Fight X-Factor: The biggest X-Factor for this fight is not just Jose Aldo's takedown defense, but it's his grappling endurance. We've heard stories of Aldo's terrific jiu-jitsu game, but it will it finally make an appearance tomorrow night? It certainly didn't look so great at UFC 129 when he took Mark Hominick down multiple times or when he spent nearly the entire fifth round on his back. It looked like, while he could strike with opponents for days, Aldo gets tired if he spends a significant amount of time grappling on the canvas. Will he gas out if Mendes makes him work for an extended amount of time on the ground? That's something which could clearly turn the tide of the fight. Bottom Line: I'd love to tell you that this fight will 100 percent be a barnburner, but I can't make empty promises. Jose Aldo is capable of being one of the most exciting fighters on the planet, but he hasn't delivered as of late. His most recent fight against Kenny Florian was a clinchfest of boredom and the challenger this time, Chad Mendes, has already stated his goal is to grind this fight out for five rounds. That's not exactly the recipe for entertainment. Unless Aldo can dominate with superior takedown defense and striking, there's a very real possibility this one could get ugly. Be prepared for both, but don't say I didn't warn you. Who will come out on top at UFC 142? Tell us your predictions in the comments below! Poll Who will walk away from the cage with the UFC featherweight title tomorrow night? Jose Aldo Chad Mendes   15 votes | Results

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The last time a visiting team took to the court in Brazil against that nation’s home team, the visitors got their asses handed to them.  At UFC 134 in August, before a Rio de Janeiro venue packed with about 14,000 screaming Brazilian fans, Rousimar Palhares went nuts on Dan Miller, Edson Barboza cruised past Ross Pearson, “Big Nog” crushed Brendan Schaub, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua chewed up and spit out Forrest Griffin, and Anderson Silva made Yushin Okami look like a rank amateur.  The only hometown player to fall was Luiz Cane, and heck, you can blame that one on it just being Luiz Cane.  This Saturday night, the UFC returns to Rio with another installment of “Shooting Fish in a Barrel: Brazilian Edition” (also known as UFC 142), and you can pretty much bet on the fact that most – if not all – of the local boys are walking away with wins.  Featherweight champ Jose Aldo will be defending his belt against someone very much not worthy, Vitor Belfort will be taking on the morbidly obese Anthony Johnson, and Palhares returns for what’s sure to be another showcase of psychosis.  So… preview time! -Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes – Undefeated snuggle-master Mendes earned his shot at Aldo’s belt after decisioning Rani Yahya, which, in the rational minds of anyone with even a passing knowledge of the sport and its players, should evoke thoughts of “Huh?” and “WTF?”  The sad truth is that Aldo has beaten everyone worthy, so now he gets to beat on the unworthy.  And though the American is a Team Alpha Male product, broseph to Urijah Faber and relentless wrestler, Mendes has nothing for Aldo that the Brazilian hasn’t already seen – and dismantled – before.  Expect this one to end suddenly and violently, like a barbecue in the favelas when the acai-flavored beer runs out. -Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson – In Johnson’s much-ballyhooed venture up to middleweight territory, the dude failed to make the 185-pound cutoff by twelve whole pounds (!).  Consequently, the veteran Belfort only agreed to the bout if “Rumble” stayed within the 205-pound light-heavyweight limit at fight time.  Unless Johnson is pregnant, that uncontrollable weight is inexcusable.  Weight divisions aren’t mere suggestions under the Unified Rules you know, and a dozen pounds could mean the most unfair of advantages for the offending bucket of chub.  But fear not for the scales of justice here, because that excessive poundage is indicative of either a fighter out of shape or ill – which means the lightning-quick Brazilian is going to light Johnson up like a Marine in Fallujah with a Squad Automatic Weapon and an itchy trigger finger.  -Rousimar Palhares vs. Mike Massenzio – If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve probably noticed Palhares slowly coming unraveled in the cage.  Sure, he’s been racking up wins, but invariably, all of his bouts are tainted with some odd as hell behavior (like his premature victory celebration in the Miller fight, or his inexplicable pause in the Nate Marquardt bout).  Someday the referee is going to say “go” and the Brazilian is going to climb atop the cage and start rolling flaming barrels down at everyone.  What does that mean for Massenzio, a wrestler with ever-improving boxing?  I’m not sure.  Massenzio could outpoint him on the feet while avoiding going to the ground (where he’d surely fall prey to a leglock), or Palhares could be winning and just mentally snap.  If that happens, it’s on like Donkey Kong. -Carlo Prater vs. Erick Silva – Silva was a Jungle Fight champ when he made his Octagon debut at UFC 134, and his 40-second KO victory endeared him to viewers everywhere (after all, a quick knockout means a run to the refrigerator for a refill on Mr. Pib).  Prater, on the other hand, is making his UFC debut after a long career fighting in everything from that Shine tournament to the WEC to Strikeforce.  While this bout pits two jiu-jijtsu black belts against each other, and Silva is clearly a capable face-puncher and Prater is a submissions guy, the funny thing about this pairing is that both men are Brazilians (although Prater does live in the US).  Therefore, I’m going to go out on a limb and say the Brazilian will win. -Edson Barboza vs. Terry Etim – Despite a quick 17-second win via guillotine in his last UFC outing, I’m still not sold on the feisty Brit Etim.  His wins are mostly against scrubs, and when he’s faced top-level competition, he’s crapped the bed.  Well guess what, Barboza is a top-level talent, and the Brazilian sports the kind of jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai that can send Etim back to Liverpool in a full-body cast.  The best case scenario for Etim in this one is if he loses a punishing decision; worst case, Etim is beaten so bad that he never leaves the UK again.  I’m going to go with the latter.

Posted in: ufc, vs, brazilian, aldo, etim

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Stop me if you've heard this one before. A blonde-haired, American boy with a wrestling background and a glimmer in his eye, travels to the foreign country of Brazil, where he will take on a champion in front of his hometown friends and family. Our protagonist will be booed. He will be written off. People will lose "sig bets" because of him. If this sounds like the plot of the latest Disney sports-based movie, you're wrong. No, it's not a movie. Not yet, anyway. It's the backstory behind the main event for Saturday night's (Jan. 14, 2012) UFC 142 pay-per-view (PPV) card, LIVE from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as the Brazilian-born, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo defends his belt against American standout Chad Mendes. Earlier in the week, Mendes sat down with Pro MMA Radio's Larry Pepe to discuss his upcoming title bout, which will be fought in hostile territory: "Honestly, it hasn't hit me yet. I have been just treating it like any other fight. I'm sure when I get there and I'm coming out in the tunnel, there's gonna be some kind of nerves. There always is. Honestly, I think a little bit of nerves is good. It kinda keeps you on point. As far as the fight being in Brazil, the only thing that I was kinda hoping it'd be in the States was because I wanted a lot of my friends and family to be able to see the biggest fight of my life, the biggest fight of my career. I wanted everyone to be able to make it out and support me. It's expensive to get there (Brazil) and a lot of them aren't gonna be able to make it. That's pretty much the only reason why I wanted it to be in the states. I don't mind fighting in Brazil and in front of his home crowd. Honestly, I can't understand what they're saying anyway. Obviously I know I'm gonna get booed. But that's just gonna feed me anyway. But overall, I believe it's the best way to prove that I'm the best 145 pound fighter out there, by going to his backyard and taking the belt from him there. I'm pretty pumped about it." On April 24, 2010, Mendes' training partner and close personal friend, Urijah Faber, took on Jose Aldo at WEC 48 in Sacramento, California. The fight was fairly one-sided in favor of Aldo, due largely in part to a brutal bevy of legkicks that left "The California Kid" wobbling painfully out of the cage after the fight was over. Mendes talked about what he's been able to learn from Faber through that experience, as well the added motivation that loss brings "Money" as he looks forward to tomorrow night's match-up: "You know, it's helped me a lot. Urijah's gone in there and fought Aldo. He knows where he felt strong. The areas he felt not so strong. And we've kinda talked about it and gone over gameplans for this camp. We've figured out where he thinks I will do very well and areas I needed to work on. Overall, it was a huge advantage for me having Urijah, who's already fought him. And, you know, like I said, we have a great gameplan. I'm really excited to just get in there and do it. He's (Faber) like a brother to me and I don't like seeing my brother, or close friends, lose at anything, especially a fight against another guy. When I get in there and get that win, it'll feel awesome to get some revenge for Urijah." Many feel (and have voiced the opinion that) Mendes' wrestling will not be a factor, citing the fact that superior wrestling didn't help Faber, nor did it help Mike Brown when he received a vicious beatdown from Aldo at WEC 44 on Nov. 18, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mendes believes he's a different style wrestler than either of those two fighters. He's more explosive, and he believes it will be what makes the difference against Aldo: "Those two fighters are completely different style wrestlers than I am. Brown is the type of guy, he's big and strong. He basically likes to just bully guys into the cage and work for takedowns from there. Just like a slower pace takedown. Urijah doesn't really have an explosive double-leg (takedown) or anything like that. He'll just set up like a single-leg with his stand up. My style of wrestling is very explosive and powerful, to where I just blast guys off their feet. But I also have great stuff off the cage. That could be another area of this fight that I'm gonna do well in. Aldo doesn't like getting his back get put up against the cage, because he's so comfortable there, but if I'm doing damage, he's losing the fight." Are you Maniacs buying the hype behind this fight? Will it be able to deliver on the promise of being a classic match-up between a grappler and a striker? Or will Mendes fall by the way side, in much the same manner as those gone before him? Sound off!

Posted in: fight, aldo, mende, he, im

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The UFC 142 weigh in extravaganza took place earlier today (Jan. 13, 2012) at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in advance of the "Aldo vs. Mendes" pay-per-view (PPV) event taking place tomorrow night (Sat., Jan. 14, 2012) at the same location. 145-pound champion Jose Aldo will defend his featherweight crown in the main event of the evening in front of a partisan crowd against American strong-arm wrestler Chad Mendes. Anyone betting "Money" on Saturday night's headliner? "Junior" came in at exactly 145-pounds while Mendes was just shy of the mark at 144. A bunch of other people got weighed too, but you'll have to click here to see those results. Remember: MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of UFC 142, beginning with the PPV telecast at 10 p.m. ET on Jan. 14. In addition, we will deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the under card action much earlier on fight night. It's going to be a fun night of fights so don't miss it. And remember to check us out for all the pre, during and post-fight UFC 142 coverage you can handle. For the latest "Aldo vs. Mendes" news and notes check out our event archive right here. To see what happened to Anthony Johnson at the UFC 142 weigh ins click here.

Posted in: ufc, night, aldo, mende, featherweight crown

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Friday's UFC 142 weigh-in video can be viewed here.

Posted in: ufc, video, friday, aldo, weighin

Read the full article at Sherdog

Full, official UFC 142 Rio: Aldo vs. Mendes weigh-in results. The UFC 142 Rio fight card is now on the books and official.

Posted in: ufc, vs, rio, official, aldo

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

Chad Mendes wants what rests around the waist of UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo, and, nearly 7,000 miles from his California home, he will get his chance to take it.

Posted in: ufc, aldo, aldo mendes, california home, light johnson

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The full weights for UFC 142 from Brazil: Jose Aldo (145) vs. Chad Mendes (144) Vitor Belfort (186) vs. Anthony Johnson (197)* Mike Massenzio (184) vs. Rousimar Palhares (186) Carlo Prater (170) vs. Erick Silva (169) Edson Barboza (154) vs. Terry Etim (155) Sam Stout (155) vs. Thiago Tavares (155) Gabriel Gonzaga (250) vs. Ednaldo [...]

Posted in: vs, jose, aldo, chad, infull results

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The first UFC event of 2012 has arrived and with it comes a solid card set to take place in an electric environment thanks to the always lively Brazilian fans. Coming to you live on Saturday night from Rio de Janeiro it’s UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes where featherweight champion Jose Aldo will put his belt on the line against undefeated grappler Chad Mendes. Also set to co-headline the card, national hero Vitor Belfort welcomes powerhouse Anthony Johnson to the middleweight division. Before any of the competitors can clash in the cage they first have to step on the stage in hopes of making weight for their respective rumbles. Weigh-ins will unfold today at 4:00 PM EST and can be watched live on Fuel TV. However, as always, Five Ounces of Pain will also be tuned in and relaying live results back to readers as they take place. You can also watch video of the weigh-in thanks to the folks at the UFC. The PPV portion of UFC 142 will start tomorrow night at 10:00 PM EST with a single prelim on Facebook at 7:00 PM EST before things head to FX afterwards. Check out the UFC 142 weigh-in video: Read below for a full list of results: Antonio Carvalho vs. Felipe Arantes Rousimar Palhares vs. Mike Massenzio Mike Pyle vs. Ricardo Funch Yuri Alcantara vs. Michihiro Omigawa Edinaldo Oliveira def. Gabriel Gonzaga Sam Stout vs. Thiago Tavares Terry Etim vs. Edson Barboza Erick Silva vs. Carlo Prater Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, video, vs, aldo, weighin

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

Catch the official weigh-ins for UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes right here at HeavyMMA. The weigh-ins will stream live from Rio on Friday at 4 p.m. Eastern.

Posted in: ufc, vs, aldo, weighin, official weighins

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Will Jose Aldo still be a featherweight a year from today? How should Strikeforce handle the fallout from Cris Santos‘ positive drug test? Is Anthony Johnson going to be a better middleweight than he was a welterweight? How much life does Strikeforce have left in it? Keyboard warrrrriors….come out to plaaaay-yay! Welcome to Grappling with Issues, our site’s regular weekly feature highlighting insight and opinion from myself and resident workhorse Jeremy Lambert whose general contributions and “Scorecard” event-breakdowns can be regularly found on Five Ounces. As always, just because we staffers get the fancy set-up, please don’t hesitate to offer your own take on the topics in the “Comments” section below. Will Strikeforce last past 2012? Conlan: No. More and more I keep hearing Strikeforce may only put on six shows in 2012 rather than eight, a bad sign in itself. With the abysmal ticket sales and general lack of buzz about shows I don’t see Showtime wanting them back or the UFC wanting to continue floating them financially. Hell, every star on the Strikeforce roster wants to go to the UFC, so there’s no reason to keep playing games by pretending the organization isn’t nose-diving towards being dismantled. Lambert: I have to echo Bren on this one. I’m no body language expert, but I got the feeling that Dana White really regretted keeping the company around during his interview at this past weekends Strikeforce event. They actually did a fair amount of promotion for Saturday’s event and it was during a Showtime free preview weekend, and it still only drew 344,000 people. Dana doesn’t appear to be behind the promotion, fighters would rather be in the UFC, and fans would rather watch something else. What should Strikeforce do with the featherweight division now that “Cyborg” Santos has been suspended for a year? Conlan: They actually *have* a featherweight division?!? When did this happen? The truth is there aren’t enough quality 145-pound females in MMA or else we would have heard about more of them by now. I’d wager 90+ percent of the audience had no idea who Hiroko Yamanaka was prior to her being named as a challenger and that in itself is all you need to know when it comes to the 145ers. There was never a real effort to build a division to begin with so why start now? Lambert: Just award Gina Carano the vacant title and hope to God she thinks it’s valuable enough to defend this year. They’ll pop a rating if she decides to fight and if she doesn’t, maybe she’ll be kind enough to show up and drunkenly dance. Scrapping the division is obviously the way to go. The whole appeal of the division was, “Watch Cyborg beat up some poor girl” and now that’s gone. They haven’t built up any other fighters and I guess that’s because they have no fighters to build up. How many rounds will Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes go this weekend? Conlan: Five. I don’t think either man will finish the other barring a perfectly placed “one punch” knockout. Mendes is likely to control a lot of the action while on top of Aldo, scoring points and fending off elbows/submission attempts but not necessarily pounding the Brazilian champ out. Likewise, Aldo will clearly dominate the striking department but was unable to finish a one-legged Urijah Faber or the tag-team of Mark Hominick and his hematoma. Someone’s winning a decision. I’m just not sure who. Lambert: I think Aldo will finish Mendes in the second round. Sure he didn’t finish Faber and Hominick, but that’s only because he was fighting them in their hometown and didn’t want to completely embarrass them. And he didn’t finish Florian because he felt bad that he had to stand in the way of Kenny failing to win another title. Things are different this time though. He’s in the UFC main event and fighting in his home country of Brazil. There will be no sympathy for Mendes this Saturday. Should Zuffa bring in a UFC middleweight for Luke Rockhold’s next fight? Lambert: No. First off, Zuffa doesn’t have many UFC middleweights to spare as it’s not a real deep division. I guess a guy like Brian Stann could move down to Strikeforce, but here’s the problem – no UFC fighter wants to move down to Strikeforce. Really though, Rockhold has two good fights at 185 in Strikeforce those being Tim Kennedy and a rematch with Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza. I know Rockhold wants better competition, but he should really slow his role a bit. He won a close decision against Souza in the first fight and beat Keith Jardine in 2012. He doesn’t really have the resume to be calling out UFC guys just yet. If he beats Kennedy and Souza, both of whom are UFC caliber middleweights, then move him to the Octagon. Conlan: Agreed for the most part. Kennedy should be definitely be Rockhold’s next opponent and Souza is a legitimate option assuming “Jacare” can pick up a win beforehand, as their first fight wasn’t close enough to dictate an immediate rematch). If those two things play out, that scenario should keep Rockhold busy until the latter part of the year when things can be reassessed based on Strikeforce’s future or lack thereof. However, I do differ with Jeremy in terms of assuming there isn’t a legitimate middleweight on the UFC roster willing to go to Strikeforce for a 6-9 month stint if it meant the same pay day and the possibility of a title-shot if/when the UFC absorbs the company. Why wouldn’t a guy like Yushin Okami prefer a scenario with Rockhold/Kennedy/Souza to the road he’d have to travel in the UFC to earn another crack at the belt? Anthony Johnson will do better/worse at 185 pounds than he did at 170. Lambert: Better, because as I just mentioned, middleweight isn’t deep, especially compared to welterweight. It’s not like Johnson lit up his fellow 170ers. He faltered in his biggest test against Josh Koscheck, missed significant time, and then won back-to-back fights against mid-level opponents but now he’s at 185. If he beats Vitor Belfort, he’s legitimately one fight away from a title fight. Conlan: I’m going to cheat and say “the same”. As Jeremy pointed out, Johnson’s run at 170-pounds wasn’t anything to brag about. He beat some solid opposition but also lost a few fights despite having a huge size advantage. I see the same situation carrying over to middleweight where he’ll be healthier but also face guys of a similar physical stature. Ultimately, “Rumble” will take out some quality opponents but also lose a few times, maybe even against guys he should beat on paper, and remain as much a top contender to the middleweight title as he is to the welterweight one, i.e. a long-shot. Will Jose Aldo still be a featherweight in January 2013? Lambert: This is a tough one, but I think he’ll end up moving to 155 sometime this year. Even though a drawn out Aldo still beats the majority of the division, there’s no point in him continuing to cut the weight when Frankie Edgar has proven that smaller guys can get it done at lightweight. Aldo obviously has the skills to compete in the division and he’ll have a nice speed advantage as well. Plus, assuming the weight cut is the reason for his questionable cardio at 145, those issues should be eliminated at 155. Conlan: The only person who truly knows the answer is Andre Pederneiras, Aldo’s coach at Nova Uniao. The 145-pound champ has never waivered from his stance that he would do what he was told to whether it meant staying at featherweight or moving up. I will say that I’m confident Aldo’s recent training time with Gray Maynard probably gave him a better feel for how he’d fare at 155 and, at least from the footage the UFC released, it would definitely be more than decent. If forced to pick “yes” or “no” on this topic I’ll go with the former since I think his camp will want him to truly cement his legacy at featherweight before moving up. With fights on the horizon against some solid scrappers, as well as a continuous stream of 155ers moving down, as long as he can get his weight-cutting in check he’ll be terrorizing the division for at least another year (which is really only 2-3 more fights max). PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, ’t, aldo

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Jose Aldo vs Chad MendesBrent Brookhouse: I think we’re due for Aldo to crush someone in the first round, but I’ll play it a bit more safely here. Mendes isn’t a finisher and Aldo is, which means that Mendes has to get takedown after takedown for five rounds. While he certainly has the wrestling credentials to do that, I think Aldo is actually going to prove a pain to get to the ground and after two rounds of tactially picking Mendes apart, he finishes him in the third. Jose Aldo by TKO, round 3.Leland Roling: Mendes isn’t invincible or without flaws despite many fans putting his NCAA credentials on a pedestal. Omigawa outlasted the onslaught and seemed to be wearing on Mendes by the third frame of their bout at UFC 126. An amazing feat considering Omigawa wielded no head movement and sloppy technical boxing. Aldo is a completely different animal, and bringing in bulky lightweight wrestler Gray Maynard to help him was a brilliant move. Aldo neutralizes Mendes, wears on him, and bombs on him late. Jose Aldo via TKO, Round 4.Matthew Roth: Honestly I’ve been a Mendes mark since the WEC days and always thought he was the guy to dethrone Jose Aldo. I’m sticking with that and saying he’ll be able to get Aldo down and keep him there for 25 minutes. Chad Mendes by Decision.Ben Thapa: Given Aldo’s vulnerabilities against Hominick and Florian, I think there is a very real chance for Mendes to bully Jose and take that belt. However, given the state of his striking skills, he probably has to do it for five rounds. That is a very long time to stifle Aldo’s offense and I’m assuming we get a more energetic Jose than the last two times out. Aldo, KO, Round 4.T.P. Grant: Chad Mendes is a fantastic wrestler, but his striking hasn’t developed like many fans hoped it would. On the feet Aldo has a clear advantage, but Aldo hasn’t looked the same since his surgery. In most other sports it takes athletes a season after a surgery to return their old self and I think we see the Aldo of the WEC. Jose Aldo by TKO, Round 2. Fraser Coffeen: There’s no doubt how each man approaches this fight (unless Mendes decides to go nuts and try his stand-up, in which case he gets lit up). So the question is, can Aldo avoid being grounded for 25 minutes? I think he can. His takedown defense is good, and though Mendes may get him down some, he won’t do anything with that position, allowing Aldo to beat him up on the feet. Still, I expect Aldo to be cautious again, so no firework KO finish. Jose Aldo by decisionTim Burke: I’ve never been all that impressed with Mendes. But he obviously has excellent wrestling and all that, and what he preaches about standup cardio being different than ground cardio actually makes sense. After seeing Aldo’s weight cut video for the Hominick fight, I’m always worried about how drained he might be in the cage if that happened again. I know Aldo went 5 with Florian no problem, but Mendes is a different animal and if Aldo doesn’t put him away early, you might be looking at a close 48-47 decision. I was going to Aldo by TKO, but the more I think about it, the more it doesn’t seem that likely. Aldo starts great and fades late. This is odd, but I’m going Jose Aldo by split decision.Dallas Winston: Not only is Mendes an incredible wrestler, but he’s freakishly quick and agile and I’ve been impressed with his strides in boxing. He was able to carefully avoid the dangerous guard-clutches of Javi Vazquez and has shown a solid chin and great cardio. Aldo has solid takedown defense and his low-range or flying knees will be a factor if Mendes telegraphs his shots in the slightest bit. A control-based strategy might incite a riot, but Mendes will sacrifice his status with Brazilian fans to snare the belt. Chad Mendes by decision.KJ Gould: Aldo’s understandably the favourite, but I think too many are sleeping on Mendes. If Aldo genuinely thinks Mendes is more of the same as Faber, he’s going to have a rough time and get beat up on the ground. I see this going the same as Sonnen vs Silva, only without the Hail Mary triangle choke to save the champion. Chad Mendes by Decision.Staff Picking Aldo: Leland, Brookhouse, Thapa, Grant, Fraser, TimStaff Picking Mendes: Roth, Gould, Dallas SBN coverage of UFC RIO 142: Aldo vs. MendesVitor Belfort vs Anthony JohnsonBrent Brookhouse: Belfort’s KO resurgance hasn’t exactly come at the expense of strong, dangerous strikers. Terry Martin isn’t exactly big and strong and he’s quite "knockoutable." Matt Lindland’s chin is far from granite these days. Rich Franklin is talented but not exactly someone Belfort had to worry about one-punching him in a firefight. And Yoshirhio Akiyama was massively undersized at 185. In Johnson, Belfort faces a guy who hits very hard, can muscle him around and can take the fight down if he really wants. This is a miserable fight for Belfort. Anthony Johnson by TKO, round 2.Leland Roling: I’ve had a tough time trying to figure out how this fight may go down. Reach and size are obvious factors, but Belfort’s style will undoubtedly involve slipping inside Johnson’s hammers and devastating his chin. Johnson’s best course of action? Dominate the clinch early and eliminate Belfort’s quick hands. If he does that, this should be cakewalk. Anthony Johnson via TKO, Round 2.Matthew Roth: Have you seen Johnson? Have you seen him? Dude is looking like a monster at this weight. I’m not sold on Belfort and never have been. I think Rumble has the skills to put an absolute hurting on an older Belfort. If he can’t win the stand up he’ll go to his wrestling. It’s not like Belfort has ever used his BJJ anyways. Anthony Johnson by TKO. Ben Thapa: Belfort is vastly better than Johnson on the ground, even with Belfort’s preference to use the ground game to feed into his strikes. I believe Rumble wants no part of a ground battle and will stand and deliver in a striking war. People (who are not Anderson Silva) that choose to stand early with Vitor lose. Vitor, KO, Round 1. T.P. Grant: I’ve been a big fan of Rumble since UFN 14 and I’ve picture him doing big things down the road, if he would move up to Middleweight. The move has been made and now he is free to actually weight train in the lead up to fights and he is in a shallower talent pool. Vitor is a stiff test, but I think his physical gifts are beginning to fade and Johnson is starting to hit his stride. Johnson’s jiu jitsu sucks, but I don’t think Vitor has the interest or the ability to take Rumble to the mat. Anthony Johnson by KO, Round 3. Fraser Coffeen: Screw all of you guys, I still believe! Vitor Belfort by KO, round 1Tim Burke: I’m very surprised people are putting so much stock into Anthony Johnson and his skills here. People were always hyped on him because of the KO’s, but he never really beat anyone highly-ranked at welterweight. And I don’t think the weight cut is an excuse for that. Vitor is, by far, the best opponent he’s ever faced. Johnson’s a slow-ish striker, and Vitor’s got very fast hands. Vitor’s better on the ground as well, if it goes there. This isn’t Pride Vitor, it’s UFC Vitor and he’s going to blow Crumble out of the water. Then people will discredit it because "he beat a welterweight, big deal". Vitor Belfort by TKO, round 1.KJ Gould: Johnson has power and youth on his side, Belfort has speed, accuracy and experience. It starts on the feed and Belfort is a fast finisher, so I have a feeling it won’t get a chance to go to the ground with Johnson wanting to stand and trade to begin with. Vitor Victorious in front of his home crowd. Vitor Belfort by KO, Round 1Dallas Winston: AJ is an extremely gifted wrestler and striker and it’s hard not to appreciate the momentum he debuted with. However, at the top level, I’m not quite sold on him yet, even though I think he has the right tools to get there. With Vitor, it’s either a nostalgic first-round flurry of death or a gradually fizzling disappointment. Johnson has to stay in phone-booth range and smother him on the feet or drown him with takedowns. I’m really not impressed with Vitor’s guard but his takedown defense is solid and his hands are blindingly fast. Vitor Belfort by KO.Staff Picking Belfort: Thapa, Fraser, Tim, Gould, DallasStaff Picking Johnson: Roth, Leland, Brookhouse, GrantRousimar Palhares vs Mike MassenzioBrent Brookhouse: I want to say this is a waste of everyone’s time, but it’s always fun to watch guys get leglocked. Rousimar Palhares by submission, round 1.Leland Roling: Palhares remains the quintessential power grappler, and he’ll make quick work of Massenzio’s already bad knee ligaments. Rousimar Palhares via heel hook, Round 1.Matthew Roth: Is anyone giving Massenzio a shot to win this fight? I’m really surprised they hate his ACL, MCL, and PCL so much as to match him up with Palhares. Rousimar Palhares by Submission. KJ Gould: There will be a bidding war for Mike Massenzio after this fight. Not by promoters, but by arthroscopic surgeons salivating at the work coming their way at the hands of a Palhares leg destruction. Massenzio’s getting uprooted by the ADCC Silver Medaling Tree Stump. Rousimar Palhares by submission, Round 1.Ben Thapa: I like Massenzio’s moxie in taking the short notice fight with Soszynski back in June. I also like his willingness to take a tough bout in the return to the octagon. However, I do not like his submission defense against a guy who has several different set-ups to leglocks and already has three-quarters of the division worried about their legs. The question to me is whether Palhares goes directly to the leglocks or if he spends some time showing off his striking and scrambling with Massenzio. I pick the latter. Palhares, submission, Round 2.T.P. Grant: My knee hurts just thinking about this. Rousimar Palhares by Submission, Round 1. Tim Burke: I’m a huge Toquinho fan, but I don’t think this is the blowout that everyone keeps mentioning. Massenzio is a black belt with decent hands and good wrestling. For all of his leg-ripping skills, Palhares still doesn’t have a great chin or great cardio. If it goes past the first round, things are looking up for Massenzio. Either way though, I’ll go the safe route and take Rousimar Palhares by submission, round 1.Dallas Winston: The medley of striking and boxing Massenzio showed against Cantwell marked a key evolution for him. I would give him a chance here because of his wrestling/sub-grappling combo and Palhares’ unpredictable nature but obvious intentions. Not enough of a chance though. Rousimar Palhares by submission.Staff Picking Palhares: Roth, Leland, Brookhouse, Thapa, Grant, Fraser, Tim, Gould, DallasStaff Picking Massenzio: Erick Silva vs Carlo PraterBrent Brookhouse: Silva is very good, Prater is a bit more dangerous here than people have acknowledged but it’s an appropriate step for Silva at this point. Erick Silva by decision.Leland Roling: This should be a showcase fight for Erick Silva. He’s definitely on the rise, and Anderson Silva already thinks he’s the future at welterweight. Hopefully we see some improvements in terms of conditioning and pace. Erick Silva via TKO, Round 2.Matthew Roth: Erick Silva is the future of 170. And shout out to my dawg Leland for recognizing it last year on the scouting report. Erick Silva by TKO.Ben Thapa: Roth, Yuri Villefort should have been the blazing star of 170 in 2011. Let us take a moment to reflect on the sadness that is severe knee injuries to young prospects. Prater’s win in Strikeforce back in February by anaconda was awesome enough for Kid Nate and KJ Gould to do a Judo Chop on it. Since then, Prater has picked up three more submission victories. Erick Silva has his work cut out for him if he’s to live up to the hype. I think he can do it, but it’s contingent on his ability to stay disciplined on the feet and keep Prater from bullying him to the ground early and often in each round. Silva, decision.T.P. Grant: I’d like to echo Roling, this is a showcase for Erick Silva. He is a fantastic prospect and is ticketed for the upper levels of Welterweight. Silva is going to win, and the UFC is going make sure as many people as possible can see it. Erick Silva via Submission, Round 2. Tim Burke: Silva showcase, just like they said above. Prater’s scrappy, but not a UFC-caliber fighter. I think Silva wins by sub, but all I want to really see is another awesome cage flip from him when he wins. Erick Silva by submission, round 2.KJ Gould: Neither guy sticks out to me that much. I’m having a hard time remembering either of these guys’ last fights. Vaguely remember Silva pleasing the crowd on the first Rio card, so I’ll assume he’s being given a winnable fight that sees his star continue to soar. Erik Silva by Submission.Dallas Winston: Another version of the under-dog having a legit chance -- especially with his complex ground game -- but not enough to capture my vote. Prater is highly experienced and creatively technical on the mat, but Silva is comparable on the ground (I think) and better standing. Erick Silva by TKO.Staff Picking Silva: Roth, Leland, Brookhouse, Thapa, Grant, Fraser, Tim, Gould, DallasStaff Picking Prater: Edson Barboza vs Terry EtimBrent Brookhouse: This card keeps feeling more and more like a lot of fights with matchups that benefit the Brazilians. Which makes sense in terms of return business. Etim is tough and skilled but Barboza is going to be able to control this fight reasonably well. Edson Barboza by decision.Leland Roling: Most fans see Etim has a one-dimensional submission specialist, but his long frame and powerful Muay Thai is a means to an end on the ground. The problem, however, is that Barboza is a highly-credentialed Muay Thai specialist who also happens to possess solid Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. That will wreak havoc on Etim’s strategy as I think he’ll lose the striking exchanges early and be forced to shoot for takedowns. Not his cup of tea. Edson Barboza via decision.Ben Thapa: Upset special! Swami Guru says that Terry Etim will employ some kind of magic to finish this fight by submission early. He cannot get any more specific because of the Heisenberg Principle. Etim, sub, Round 1.T.P. Grant: Barboza is on a tear of late and his energy is going to be through roof with a Rio crowd behind him. Etim is an excellent grappler, but he isn’t infallible on the ground and he has often been handed lesser fighters on European cards. I think Barboza punishes him on the feet and survives him on the ground. Edson Barboza via Decision. Fraser Coffeen: I’m with Ben again. Barboza just barely squeaked by Pearson, and I thought Pearson should have taken that decision, and Etim is comparable to Pearson standing. Difference is, Etim is a finisher. I think he gets the job done here. Terry Etim via submission, round 2Tim Burke: This is a much closer fight than the oddsmakers say (Etim’s floating around +225, but was +260 earlier in the week). I think Etim has a fair chance of submitting Barboza, but not enough to think he’s going to win over 50% of the time. Etim can strike, but not at the level of Barboza’s last two opponents. I think this will probably be fight of the night, but I’ve gotta go with Barboza. Edson Barboza by decision.KJ Gould: When’s the last time Etim fought? I’m sure Barboza has been active more recently, and more dominating. I think momentum is on his side, so if it doesn’t end early it’s going to be a really fun scrap that might be a surprise Fight of the Night candidate. Barboza by decision.Dallas Winston: I fully agree on the "Upset Alert" for Etim. He’s long and lanky like Barboza and a talented kickboxer, though not quite on the Brazilian’s level. I do think Etim’s Luta Livre background could open up takedowns and he’s a dual-threat in the clinch with strikes and subs. I’m playing it safe with Barboza with the disclaimer that Etim is probably the best bet on the card. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him submit Barboza or out-hustle him to a decision. Edson Barboza by decision.Staff Picking Barboza: Roth, Leland, Brookhouse, Grant, Brookhouse, Tim, Gould, DallasStaff Picking Etim: Thapa, FraserThiago Tavares vs Sam StoutBrent Brookhouse: I have been picking too Brazilian heavy here so we’ll go with Stout to pick up two rounds with striking from range. Sam Stout by decision.Leland Roling: Not sure where to go with this fight. Stout can falter against better technique on the feet, but his chin is made of granite and Tavares isn’t exactly a world-class striker. His game is more effective on the ground, and Stout isn’t easy to smother in Jiu-Jitsu. I’ll go with Stout, but it’s a toss-up in my mind. Sam Stout via decision.Ben Thapa: Tougher fight to pick than Barboza/Etim. Swami Guru left for lunch before I could pin him down on this. I hazard a guess that this ends up more like the Jeremy Stephens fight Stout had, with Tavares picking up the decision win. Tavares, decision.T.P. Grant: This is a tough fight to pick! Two lightweight scrappers getting in the cage, this is a sure thing action fight. I think the energy of the home crowd will make the difference. Thiago Tavares via Decision. Fraser Coffeen: Stout is not going to get KO’d, which means Tavares will need to outpoint him on the feet for at least 2 rounds. And I don’t see that happening. Barring some wacky Brazilian judging (which is a strong possibility) I go Stout here. Sam Stout via decisionTim Burke: Tavares isn’t going to keep this standing. He’s going to try and smother Stout and take him down quickly and often. Can he though? It seems that the betting segment of fights fans believe that he can, given all the late money on Tavares. Another thing to consider is that this is Stout’s first fight without Shawn Tompkins in his corner, and he has a lot riding on him after the way Hominick went out. Pressure sucks, but I think Sammy can live up to it. Sam Stout by decision.KJ Gould: Tavares used to be an up and comer at Lightweight everyone should have been keeping an eye on, but then his performances kind of fell apart against guys he had a decent chance at beating. Stout is a solid journeyman for the weight class, and has started living up to his Hands of Stone moniker. Tavares might initially start strong, but I think he wilts and the more experienced Stout shuts him down and takes a decision. Sam Stout by decision.Dallas Winston: I’ve never been a huge fan of Stout but think he takes this one handily. His kickboxing is oddly slow but technically stellar and he’s fended off better wrestlers than Tavares in the past. Tavares is quick as hell with electric scrambling but has paid the price for having sloppy stand up, which Stout should expose. Sam Stout by decision.Staff Picking Tavares: Roth, GrantStaff Picking Stout: Leland, Brookhouse, Fraser, Tim, Gould, DallasGabriel Gonzaga vs Edinaldo OliveiraBrent Brookhouse: Bright lights, big stage, old news for one of these guys. Gabriel Gonzaga by TKO, round 2.Leland Roling: Oliveira would have ranked at #1 on the 2012 World MMA Scouting Report. He is bar none the best heavyweight prospect in the talent pool, and Gabriel Gonzaga’s chin can’t withstand his attack on the feet. Edinaldo Oliveira via TKO.Ben Thapa: The most recent fight of I saw Squidward showed me a fighter with bad head movement. Gonzaga may not be the world beater his skill set makes him out to be, but the guy who nearly finished Schaub in the third round can batter Oliveira into unconsciousness. Gonzaga, KO, Round 1.T.P. Grant: MMA is a quickly evolving sport, and the heavyweight division feels change quicker than any other division. Gonzaga could win if he can get this fight to the mat and work his excellent grappling, but Oliveira brings serious artillery into the cage, and I don’t think Gonzaga will survive the barrage. Edinaldo Oliveira via KO, Round 1.Tim Burke: I doubt a brief retirement has changed the fact that Gabriel Gonzaga is too in love with his own striking to be a force any more. If he can’t batter and intimidate immediately, he crumbles. And he doesn’t take punches well. If he has somehow evolved to the point that he realizes he’s awesome on the ground and takes it there, it’s no contest. But my guess is that’s not gonna happen. And Oliveira will break him down and knock him out. Edinaldo Oliveira by TKO, round 2.KJ Gould: Gonzaga channels his inner-Blanka and goes full beast mode in Brazil. Which might mean he rolling somersaults into a dragon punch and gets himself KO’d. Oliveira may be on the up but who’s he beaten? Gonzaga has faced the better competition and is used to fighting in the UFC. Debuting for the UFC in Rio may be too much for Oliveira if we’re to believe Octagon jitters effects most people. I’ll stick with what I’m familiar with. Gonzaga by KO.Dallas Winston: I’m with Thapa here. What I’ve seen of Oliveira’s striking was rather clumsy and awkard boxing that hasn’t been tuned to the dynamics of MMA, especially in the realm of stance, footwork, defense and head movement. This should be Gonzaga’s fight to win as long as he employs his strengths and only strikes to set up takedowns. Gabriel Gonzaga by submission.Staff Picking Gonzaga: Thapa, Brookhouse, Fraser, Gould, DallasStaff Picking Oliveira: Roth, Leland, Grant, TimYuri Alcantara vs Michihiro OmigawaBrent Brookhouse: Put me down as a guy who has no faith in Omigawa here. Alcantara by decision.Leland Roling: Don’t let me down, Omigawa! Michihiro Omigawa via decision.Matthew Roth: At this point in time, can anyone honestly make the case that Michihiro Omigawa is still a top featherweight? Actually scratch that. Can anyone honestly say that Omigawa was ever a top featherweight? Though he’s got the skills to be competitive he just can’t put it together in the UFC. While Alcantara is more of a known-unknown, I’m rolling with him tomorrow. Alcantara, Decision.Ben Thapa: I have a feeling we see Alcantara display some dominant top control for two rounds. Omigawa got robbed against Elkins and rebounded against Young, but he’s not been as impressive as his hairline. Alcantara, decision.T.P. Grant: Omigawa has had rough go of it in the UFC thus far, but he is in fact a very good fighter. Alcantara is a solid WEC veteran, but due to injury he has fought once since 2010. I think Omigawa finally show cases his skills and gets a win. Michihiro Omigawa via decision. Tim Burke: Many will scoff at this, but I truly believe that Yuri Alcantara is the biggest sleeper in the featherweight division. I think he’s an excellent, aggressive fighter and Omigawa won’t be able to handle the onslaught. Alcantara might end up on his back at some point, but it’s not going to be enough for Omigawa to take two rounds. Sleeper beware (even though he’s the favorite)! Yuri Alcantara by decision.KJ Gould: Yeah … outside of Okami, you just can’t pick the Japanese guy in the UFC these days. Ever. Alcantara wins an ugly, one sided affair. Alcantara by Decision.Dallas Winston: Put me down as the guy who has no faith in Alcantara here. Peek-a-boo boxing + elite Judo + iron chin + vastly superior experience = Michihiro Omigawa by decision.Staff Picking Alcantara: Thapa, Brookhouse, Fraser, Tim, GouldStaff Picking Omigawa: Roth, Leland, Grant, DallasRicardo Funch vs Mike PyleBrent Brookhouse: Pyle eats guys like Funch for...dinner. Mike Pyle by TKO, round 1.Ben Thapa: Kudos to Funch for the late replacement. However, Pyle is probably going to work him on the ground. Pyle, KO, Round 2.T.P. Grant: To echo Ben, respect to Funch for taking this fight. I expect Pyle to take him down and get the win. Mike Pyle via DecisionTim Burke: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Mike Pyle is a superstar in the gym and an average fighter in the cage. Funch probably isn’t good enough to beat him, but I wouldn’t be shocked at all to see Pyle turn in a terrible performance and drop a decision. I’ll still go with the obvious though. Mike Pyle by dreary decision.KJ Gould: I don’t like the name Ricardo Funch. Just reading it in my head irritates me. Mike Pyle by decision.Dallas Winston: Funch actually exhibited shades of brilliance in shutting down the powerhouse takedowns of Johny Hendricks and thwacking him with short elbows. He’s a tall, game BJJ black belt with so-so striking, which is not unlike Pyle. Plus, "Pyle" isn’t the most flattering last name either, but his striking has been much sharper and I think he’s starting to put things together much better. Mike Pyle by decision.Staff Picking Funch: Staff Picking Pyle: Roth, Leland, Thapa, Grant, Brookhouse, Fraser, Tim, DallasFelipe Arantes vs Antonio CarvalhoBrent Brookhouse: Arantes is going to do something spectacular here. Arantes by KO, round 1.Leland Roling: Carvalho is a better striker, and he has enough acumen on the ground to neutralize Arantes’s attacks. Antonio Carvalho via decision.Ben Thapa: Arantes can be put down and held down for a time. Carvalho looks like he has the skills to do exactly that - and deal out damage too. Carvalho, KO, Round 3.T.P. Grant: Carvalho isn’t immune to damage and has been hurt in the past. Arantes certainly can KO guys and he will certainly have the crowd behind him and a KO win would bring huge energy. But I think the more likely outcome is a Carvalho win. Antonio Carvalho via decision. Tim Burke: Finally Pato gets his shot. Took long enough. Carvalho should comfortably take a decision here, because he’s better than Arantes in pretty much every area. Antonio Carvalho by decision.KJ Gould: Err … who are these guys? #flipacoin Carvalho by Decision.Dallas Winston: Carvalho was building up quite a reputation as a hot prospect when he started out 8-0 with a win over "Lion" Takeshi. He lost to Curran and then Lion (in the rematch) but also added wins over Rumina Sato and Hatsu f**king Hioki. Even though he hit the skids shortly after, he’s a decent kickboxer with good wrestling and an ace ground game. Antonio Carvalho by decision.Staff Picking Arantes: Roth, BrookhouseStaff Picking Carvalho: Leland, Thapa, Grant, Fraser, Tim, Gould, Dallas

Posted in: fight, round, silva, aldo, mende

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Frank Mir punks a UFC Undisputed 3 developer UFC 142 Breakdown: The Main Card | Five Ounces of Pain Vitor Belfort Eyes the Coming End to His Time in the Cage, Vows to ‘Enjoy the Moment’ | MMA Fighting Vitor Belfort to Anthony Johnson: ‘That Cage Belongs to Me’ | Bleacher Report Rumble Johnson Ready To Face A Lion In Vitor Belfort | FightLine Dana White hopes “Jose Aldo from the WEC” shows up against Chad Mendes on Saturday | LowKick UFC 142: Chad Mendes is a 2-to-1 dog to Jose Aldo, you buying or selling? | Fight Opinion UFC Undisputed 3 Video Game simulates main event for UFC 142 
| TheFightNerd UFC 142 is Like Déjà Vu All Over Again for Jose Aldo | 5thRound UFC on FX and Fuel non-title main events will only be three rounds in 2012 | MMA Mania Chael Sonnen wants you to listen to his dissertation on ‘Intensity’ | MiddleEasy Gallery: 20 Incredible Works of MMA Fan Art | Cage Potato ProElite offers free tickets for dressing like Minowaman | MMA Payout

Posted in: ufc, mma, belfort, aldo, fuel nontitle

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HeavyMMA writers Duane Finley and Nate Lawson have a score to settle, and they'll do it by debating the UFC 142 main event between Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes.

Posted in: ufc, jose aldo, aldo, mende, nate lawson

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UFC 142 Aldo vs. Mendes weigh-in resultsRio de Janeiro, BrazilJose Aldo vs. Chad MendesVitor Belfort vs. Anthony JohnsonMike Massenzio vs. Rousimar PalharesCarlo Prater vs. Erick SilvaEdson Barboza vs. Terry EtimSam Stout vs. Thiago TavaresGabriel Gonzaga vs. Ednaldo OliveiraYuri Alcantara vs. Michihiro OmigawaRicardo Funch vs. Mike PyleFelipe Arantes vs. Antonio CarvalhoThe UFC 142 weigh-ins take place at HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro. The first fighter will step on the scale at 4:00 PM EST (1:00 PM PST). Jose Aldo (20-1) vs. Chad Mendes (11-0)Vitor Belfort (20-9) vs. Anthony Johnson (10-3)

Posted in: ufc, vs, aldo, mende, weighin

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submitted by bmilo [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: ufc, gsp, jose, thing, aldo

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Boring. If after watching Jose Aldo storm through the WEC Featherweight division three years ago, with spectacular knockout after spectacular knockout, you had told me that his fights could be boring, I would have laughed at you. But when rewatching Aldo vs. Urijah Faber for a Judo Chop earlier this week, the dreaded B word came up. And it was spoken by no less than Joe Rogan, who described the end of the fight as boring. And, to be fair, he was right. Now, we are heading into Aldo's 5th defense of the Featherweight title (or, I guess, 3rd if you insist on only recognizing the UFC fights, but why would you do that?). And I am getting a little nervous. Not that Aldo will lose (though he might), not even that the fight will go the distance (it probably will). No, I am getting nervous that perhaps the whirlwind of destruction version of Aldo was left behind in the WEC, replaced by the new cautious model. In short, I am nervous that Jose Aldo is becoming a new Georges St. Pierre. Many fighters would dream of becoming GSP, and rightfully so. He's one of the best in the world, and one of the two truly long-standing dominant champions in the sport. But he's also become boring in recent years, at least in the eyes of many fans. This is not news to anyone who follows the sport. But maybe it is news that Aldo is heading down that same path. And he definitely is. Consider the statistics: in Aldo's run to the belt, which I consider all of his WEC fights up to and including the title win over Mike Brown, Aldo had a spectacular 100% finishing ratio, closing the show against 6 out of 6 opponents. His ratio since then? 25%, with just 1 finish in the 4 fights since winning the belt. That's a significant drop. There are possible reasons for this; in particular, perhaps it's the inevitablity of becoming champion. As you face tougher competition, it becomes harder to finish. Fair argument, but if so, we should see a similar drop in finishes from other champions, and we don't. Frankie Edgar and Dominick Cruz have low finishing ratios in title defenses (33% and none respectively), but they both had low ratios heading in as well (25% and 20%). Anderson Silva and Jon Jones finished a lot of people before winning the belt and, despite Silva's weird Cote/Leites/Maia run, finish a lot of people after (80% for Silva, 100% for Jones). Only one man has seen his finishing ratio drop like Aldo's since winning the belt, and it's no surprise who that is. GSP went from stopping 5 of 8 opponents before winning his current belt (63%) to just 1 of 6 since (17%). So is the same thing happening to Aldo? Is he becoming a new Georges St. Pierre? In a word, yes. There's no question of "will this happen to Aldo" - it's happened. The question now is, "can he turn this trend around?" Can he become the dynamic fighter he was in the WEC - the man that casual UFC fans have never even had a chance to see? Maybe. Maybe a move up to 155 where he will be less depleted will help. Maybe a title loss will light a fire under him (though it certainly had the opposite impact on St. Pierre). But Saturday night against Mendes? I don't think so. For this fight, I expect the full 25 minutes. And if at the end Aldo's hand is raised, I expect to see a lot of frustrated fans making the St. Pierre comparison next week. Maybe Aldo will prove me wrong. As a fan, I certainly hope he does. But I am a realist. And I worry.

Posted in: fight, belt, wec, aldo, ratio

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As they say, a fight is a fight, and anything can happen. Featherweight challenger Chad Mendes is undefeated in 11 pro outings, but he isn't tested to the degree of featherweight champ Jose Aldo, and he's unfamiliar with a five-round fight. Aldo is the champ, Aldo has the home field advantage, and Aldo's mystique, though recently dulled, still hovers. A highlight-reel clocking at near-short-film length will do that.

Posted in: fight, aldo, highlightreel clocking, nearshortfilm length, aldos mystique

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Weigh-ins for tomorrow’s UFC 142 event take place today at 4pm ET in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo, challenger Chad Mendes, co-headliners Vitor Belfort and Anthony Johnson, and the rest of the card will weigh in to make their fights official. MMAFrenzy.com will have live UFC 142 weigh-in results below or you can watch the UFC 142 weigh-ins live on MMAFrenzy.com by clicking here. The UFC 142 weigh-in results are: MAIN CARD (PPV) Jose Aldo (c) vs. Chad Mendes UFC Featherweight Championship Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson Rousimar Palhares vs. Mike Massenzio Erick Silva vs. Carlo Prater Terry Etim vs. Edson Barboza PRELIMINARY CARD (FX) Sam Stout vs. Thiago Tavares Edinaldo Oliveira vs. Gabriel Gonzaga Yuri Alcantara vs. Michihiro Omigawa Mike Pyle vs. Ricardo Funch PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook) Felipe Arantes vs. Antonio Carvalho Pictured: Jose Aldo

Posted in: ufc, vs, card, aldo, weighin

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The official weigh in event for UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes" is set to take place today (Jan. 13, 2012) LIVE from the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The first fighter is expected to tip the scale at 4 p.m. ET. As usual, MMAmania.com will provide up-to-the-second coverage of the UFC 142 weigh-ins, as well as provide a detailed recap of the festivities as soon as they conclude. "Aldo vs. Mendes" will be headlined by featherweight champion Jose Aldo, defending his 145-pound title against undefeated wrestler Chad Mendes. In addition, Vitor Belfort will strap on the gloves to try and ruin Anthony Johnson's debut at middleweight. Complete UFC 142 weigh in results and live video stream after the jump: Main event: 145 lbs.: Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes Main card (pay-per-view): 185 lbs.: Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson 185 lbs.: Rousimar Palhares vs. Mike Massenzio170 lbs.: Carlo Prater vs. Erick Silva155 lbs.: Edson Barboza vs. Terry Etim Preliminary card (FX Channel): 155 lbs.: Thiago Tavares vs. Sam Stout265 lbs.: Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Ednaldo Oliveira145 lbs.: Michihiro Omigawa vs. Yuri Alcantara 170 lbs.: Ricardo Funch vs. Mike Pyle Preliminary card (Facebook): 145 lbs.: Felipe Arantes vs. Antonio Carvalho MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of UFC 142, beginning with the PPV telecast at 10 p.m. ET on Jan. 14. In addition, we will deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the under card action much earlier on fight night. It's going to be a fun night of fights so don't miss it. And remember to check us out for all the pre, during and post-fight UFC 142 coverage you can handle. For the latest "Aldo vs. Mendes" news and notes check out our event archive right here.

Posted in: ufc, vs, lb, aldo, mende

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UFC Featherweight Title: Jose Aldo (C) vs. Chad MendesStaff Picks: Aldo - 3, Mendes - 4Community Top Pick: Aldo via TKO in Round 5 Joey Santosus: In terms of overall ability, there's no question who, between Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes, the more well-rounded fighter is. In 20 professional victories, over half of Aldo's opponents have met their demise at the end of one of his limbs, and though we've yet to see it utilized, the champ sports a BJJ black-belt. Mendes, on the other hand, has went the distance in

Posted in: aldo, chad mendes, mende, champ sports, aldos opponents

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A look back at the time UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo spent in the WEC will make you realize that after a few of his knockouts in the blue cage, he started dancing to celebrate his victories.This tradition repeated itself time and time again, and while it was hard to understand what kind of rhythm Aldo was trying to emulate, you also laughed at the stance and moves the 145-pound kingpin performed in those times, and actually looked forward to the idea that if Aldo mauled his opponent, we'd see a dance or witness him leaving the cage to celebrate with the fans in the arena.That was the trademark of Aldo’s early days in the WEC, but once he moved to UFC and got his belt, we never saw these moves again. First, because he defended the belt twice, both by decision, and second...well, there is no second. So where exactly were those moves, Aldo?He laughs."That was part of the excitement I felt after each victory in the WEC. I wasn't like, 'if I beat the guy I'll dance like this or like that.’ I just played around with it during training, joking with my teammates, and then after the fights I did it."Aldo mentioned how pumped he was those times, with every obliteration of an opponent crowned by those funny moves, oops, the dances. That said, something happened when the champion was imported to the UFC. We didn't see knockouts, we didn't see dances; perhaps a different Aldo is now fighting for the UFC. The champion disagrees, but he does discuss the difference between the organizations."The UFC gets much more attention, and of course those who didn't know me before but went to search my footage, they saw what I did in the WEC," he said. "I feel like them, like some pieces of my game were missing. But what I can say? I'm back, hungry, very well trained, and I'll search for the KO and try to make it happen.""Plus, more publicity means more studying, more strategy, and guys come to fight avoiding my creativity,” Aldo continues. “It’s not like in the WEC times, when they were unsure of what will this guy will come out with next? So this is not just trying to knock their head off, but there is an elite opponent ready to capitalize on my mistakes and spoil things for me."That was probably what we saw during his two title defenses against Mark Hominick (UFC 129) and Kenny Florian (UFC 136). It wasn't that Aldo looked completely different from the WEC times, but for those who were used to see his flying knees and combos, it seemed Aldo wasn't training these showcase moves anymore. But he was."I never stopped training flying knees, and my standup game is much better than it was in the WEC, but like I mentioned, we have worthy talent standing on the other side of the cage," he says. "WEC had too, but in the UFC, the opponents have more footage and they are taking advantage of this fact. Anyway, I'm fighting in Rio de Janeiro, with the support of my fans, so I'll push the pace and get back on the road to knockouts."Fighting in Rio de Janeiro is a fuel to Aldo, as he hasn’t fought here since 2007, and when he did, the results were usually fantastic. There was a 20 second KO via soccer kicks over Aritano Barbosa in 2005, and a unanimous decision over ultra-tough Fabio Mello, just to name two. The fight against Barbosa was a memorable one, and not just for the result, but because it showed the stark contrast between fighting in Rio nearly seven years ago compared to fighting here now with the UFC in his adopted home city. "That fight was (laughs)…we were starting, the crowd was on their feet because no seats were available, and I got pumped about that,” he says. "It was a sold out place with people screaming and giving me their support, and man, I'm seeing this scene again now, but with a bigger crowd, everybody able to sit down, and I'll go for the knockout with the support of my hometown fans."What was first seen during the UFC’s return to Brazil last August will again be seen for UFC 142, and Aldo believes that the support of his Brazilian fans is going to be an extra weapon against his challenger, the powerhouse wrestler and undefeated Team Alpha Male member, Chad Mendes."After you get a belt, your dream is to headline an event like I’m doing now against Mendes," said Aldo. "I feel at home fighting in Rio, and my friends, family and of course my fans will be closer to me and it's all I need to overcome Mendes."But Aldo doesn't fool himself, as just having the crowd behind him doesn't win fights. If that was a reality, every single time people fought outside their country it would be a guaranteed defeat. So to boost his chances, the Brazilian brought aboard a high level wrestler in former UFC lightweight title challenger Gray Maynard, a worthy addition when you are going to face a great wrestler like Mendes."Training with Gray was an eye opener for my takedown defense, and our connection was great," he said. "The importance of acquiring an elite wrestler like Gray will be seen. He has been doing it since he was a kid, and his tips, his advice, and his strategy are some things I'll be using on the night of UFC RIO. I learned a lot, and now it's time to get it on."So, now it time to dance again?"He'll lose his undefeated record on January 14th; I see that happening," he says. "And if the KO happens, I'll have a surprise for the fans, indeed (laughs)."

Posted in: ufc, time, wec, dance, aldo

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For those of you that bet on UFC, what are your thoughts for 142? I use bodog for my bets, and have been decently successful, usually putting money into 3-4 fight parlays, or underdogs inside decision (sung jung, hendricks etc). Im also still working on a 3 fight parlay of overeem, aldo and sonnen. the prop bets aren't out yet, so just talk about the fights straight up. I'm thinking of taking a 4 fight parlay of Aldo, Phalhares, Etim and Vitor which gives a 8.8:1. Although I'm not too confident about vitor, and phalhares is only at 1.17. from everything i've seen from phalhares, hes just a beast, really really good ground game, but also has enough power to stand. messenzio lost to brian stann by submission, who is nowhere near the level phalhares is on. also lost to krystinzky or whatever. Seems like a sure bet, but the odds aren't there to make the bet straight up. I feel like Etim at 3.25 is a decent choice for an underdog. Etim has something like 12 subs, in his 15 wins, only 1 decision. Has some crazy hard leg/head kicks and not really afraid to stand. Not to take away from undefeated barboza, where most of his wins come from KO. I like Etim for the odds here, I feel like he has a better chance than the oddmakers think. One almost sure bet is that this fight wont go to decision. When vitor/rumble was first announced, Vitor was a favourite, but now has slid to a slight underdog, and Im trying to figure out why. i feel vitor has better stand up and is a BJJ black belt. Rumble has better wrestling, but never really faced a middleweight. I think the extra 15lbs, well give rumble better cardio, but also make him slower. Rumble wont have the luxury of being a tank compared to other 170s. Also they are fighting in brazil, but that might not mean anything. Aldo vs mendes, I think they are giving mendes a slight chance because of his undefeated record, but I think mendes and faber are almost the same fighter, but would say faber has more experience and aldo destroyed faber. Even if mendes does manage to take aldo down, he has to keep him there AND worry about being submitted as aldo is also a BJJ black belt. Cant really see mendes winning this, so I would take aldo for the extra odds. submitted by Electricute [link] [16 comments]

Posted in: fight, vitor, bet, aldo, mende

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Fighters make their picks on who they think will walk away with the featherweight title Saturday at UFC 142 in Rio.

Posted in: ufc, title, fighter, prediction, aldo

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Jose Aldo will have the weight of a country on his shoulders this Saturday night when he defends his UFC featherweight title against Chad Mendes. That’s because the bout will take place in Aldo’s native country of Brazil inside the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro at UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes. Along with being one of the pound-for-pound best fighters in the world, “Scarface” is also looked upon as the possible heir apparent to Anderson Silva’s title as Brazil’s best. With a win over Mendes, Aldo may just stake that claim. “After I knock him out at home, the fans will go crazy with happiness,” said Aldo in a special video from the UFC promoting the show. “I’m going for the knockout or a submission. I want to leave a good impression. I will defeat Chad Mendes, especially at home.” Mendes, who is undefeated in his pro MMA career and widely-regarded as one of the elite featherweights in the world, believes he can take the approach of a movie character into this fight: Rocky Balboa, the slugging boxer who won over the hearts of everyone in his title fight with Apollo Creed. “I’m looking at this kind of like a Rocky story. I’m going to go in there and fight the champion in his back yard and take it from him,” Mendes said. “I’m going into Brazil and I’m going to take that belt. I’m going to become the next featherweight champion of the world.” Check out the video below, highlighting past fights involving both Aldo and Mendes: PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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If you want to know how to kick like Jose Aldo, here's your chance. Still, this doesn't guarantee that you will kick like Jose Aldo. It's sort of like knowing that by rubbing two wooden sticks together, you can make a fire but when you actually try it, your hand ends up looking like Urijah Faber's thigh. It's an existential fact that Jose Aldo strikes with the force of a Shaolin temple. It's just something that humanity will have to accept. Check out this week's UFC 142 countdown show, which heavily features Jose Aldo kicking a variety of objects.

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The main event at this weekend’s UFC 142 will feature a Featherweight title fight as its main event. Champion Jose Aldo will put his belt on the line in his homeland of Brazil as he faces the unbeaten Chad Mendes. Let’s take a minute to look at the numbers surrounding the upcoming scrap. Numbers provided by CompuStrike. Aldo’s CompuStrike numbers are based on 10 fight average, while Mendes’ numbers are based on a six fight average. Aldo is the more active striker of the two,

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Filed under: UFC, NewsThis is how easy these things start in the fight business. These minor beefs. These subtle slights that fighters carry with them like childhood insults that are still fresh in their minds decades later. Once I started talking to the various parties involved in the UFC 142 main event for a Sports Illustrated article this week, I heard about it from all of them. Once they start, these things take on a life of their own. How this story starts is, Gray Maynard gets to know Jose Aldo at UFC 136 and they get to talking. Maynard likes him. More than he expected to, really, since it turns out "he's actually a really humble guy." Since Maynard has already left his longtime home at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas by this point, he figures maybe it's time to do some traveling, learn some new stuff. Spending the winter in Brazil (where it's summer) working out with Aldo and the Nova Unaio team sounds fun, right? "So I contacted [Aldo's manager] Ed Soares, just kind of threw it out there," Maynard said. "I didn't know if they'd take me up on it, but a couple days later [Soares] called me back and said he'd love to have me down there. A couple days later I was on a flight, basically put everything on hold and flew down there." So far, so good. But as long as he was going to be helping Aldo prepare for fellow wrestler Chad Mendes, Maynard figured he might as well take a look at some fight footage of Mendes on his long flight to South America. Here's where it gets tricky. "The first time I trained with Jose, I told the guy, 'Hey, on the flight down here the tapes I watched [on Mendes], you seem a little more comfortable in the Octagon. I don't know if he's quite ready,'" Maynard said. "It's not a knock on him. He's the top guy to [challenge for the title]. It's just that Jose's on top of his game." More Coverage: UFC 142 Fight Card | UFC 142 Results It was a sincere opinion, Maynard said, so when people asked him what he thought of the upcoming fight, that's what he told them: Mendes isn't ready. Not surprisingly, this didn't please Mendes when he heard it. "Honestly, I don't know why Gray's even talking about me," he said. "Gray's never trained with me. He has no idea what I feel like in there. Obviously, he's training with Jose, so if he gets asked that question I guess that's what he thinks he's got to say, but honestly, Gray's style of wrestling is completely different from mine. I'm more of an explosive, blast you off your feet kind of wrestler. He's more like a bully that just gets you up against the cage and works takedowns and slams from there." Mendes' training partner and mentor, Urijah Faber, was even more direct. "Since when are the two best guys in the weight class not ready to fight each other? That's an absurd thing to say. But whatever. Who cares what [Maynard] thinks? Chad's going to go in there and fight and win." But now that Maynard's taken some heat from the Team Alpha Male crew for his comments, he's not at all ready to back away from them. If anything, he's only more committed to his original assessment, he said, because now he knows just how good Aldo is. "From watching the tapes, that's how I felt, that [Mendes] wasn't ready. But actually training with Jose, I feel it even more now," Maynard said. "For me, helping out Jose doesn't mean I want Chad to lose or I came here to make that happen. It's just a matter of helping out Jose, and now that I've been here, that's what I think is going to happen. I only know Chad a little bit, and I think he's a tough kid, but Jose is really tough. I couldn't believe it. I was seriously impressed. ...I knew he could strike. I knew that. What I didn't know is, man, he's tough to take down. And the kind of athlete he is, the way he applies that, it's amazing. He can take a punch, too." But as fight night approaches, these outside opinions tend to diminish in importance. Soon enough it'll be just Mendes and Aldo in the cage, and then it won't matter what anyone else says. When it gets to that point, however, Mendes has something that Aldo doesn't, which is the benefit of a former opponent's experience. Faber went five brutal rounds with Aldo, and learned some hard lessons that he's passed on to his protege, he said. For instance, there's the issue of Aldo's leg kicks. "The one thing I didn't take into account was, I knew the leg kicks were going to hurt, but I didn't know how disarming they would be," Faber said. "As far as leg kicks in practice, when your legs gets kicked a couple times and it starts to hurt, you don't keep wanting to get kicked in it all day. You heal it up and put ice on it so you can train the next day. But in a fight like that, you have to know that kicks like that will do damage and you have to honor that. You can't just tell yourself that you're going to take the pain and do what you want to do. You have to avoid them and make him pay when he tries it." Aldo shredded Faber's thighs with kicks early on, effectively taking away Faber's ability to shoot for a takedown in the later rounds. He took criticism for it after the fight, but even Mendes can't say it was unwarranted. "That's something even Urijah talked about," he said. "He doesn't have that explosive shot the way I do. A lot of his takedowns come off of punches, using that snap single-leg or something. Aldo took that away from him with those leg kicks, and by that point it was too late." And that -- the fact that not all wrestlers and/or wrestling styles are created equal -- is why Mendes doesn't worry about Maynard's assessment of him or Maynard's training with Aldo, he said. There are wrestlers and then there are wrestlers, and just because you've seen one in the gym doesn't mean you know what it's like to fight another in the cage on Saturday night. "We don't know how much [Maynard's work with Aldo] is going to help him, but we'll get in there and see," Mendes said. "It doesn't matter to me. I've been wrestling since I was five years old, and I've never taken a year off. It's something I've done my whole life. For him to bring a wrestler in to work with for one camp, his wrestling's not going to be anywhere near mine." With Mendes' predictions, just as with Maynard's and Faber's, we'll know soon enough who had it right. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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UFC 142 headliners Jose Aldo, Chad Mendes, Vitor Belfort and Anthony Johnson participated in an open workouts session ahead of this weekend's stacked fight card in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The event is headlined by Jose Aldo's third UFC Featherweight title defense against Chad "Money" Mendes, while Vitor Belfort welcomes Anthony Johnson to the UFC Middleweight division in the co-main event of the night. Rest of the main card features high profile bouts such as Rousimar Palhares vs. Mike Massenzio, and Edson

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Ultimate Fighting Championship will hold a public press conference today (Jan. 12, 2011) in advance of UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes," which will take place this Saturday (Jan. 14, 2011). The conference call will begin at 10 a.m. ET and will take place at the Copacabana Palace Hotel in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the home city of the event. Scheduled to attend will be the headlining fighters of the evening, Jose Aldo, Chad Mendes, Vitor Belfort and Anthony Johnson. Aldo is the current UFC featherweight champion. The rising Brazilian star defended his title twice in 2011 with unanimous decision victories over Kenny Florian and Mark Hominick. He's hoping to ring in the New Year with his first UFC finish. His opponent, Chad Mendes, is undefeated and finally feels he's ready for his moment to shine. "Money" Mendes has had his way with everyone put in his path, from Michihiro Omigawa, RanI Yahya to fellow top contender Erik Koch. The Team Alpha Male fighter is hoping his wrestling will help him win the title. Vitor Belfort is coming off an emphatic first round knockout of the hardheaded Yoshihiro Akiyama. He came up short in 2011 in his UFC middleweight title bid, and he's hoping a victory here, plus one over fellow Ultimate Fighter Brazil coach Wanderlei Silva will give him one more shot. Belfort's opponent, Anthony Johnson, is making the move to middleweight at least for now. Long heralded as the largest welterweight on the UFC roster who cut the most weight, "Rumble" will actually be two inches taller than Belfort with a four inch reach advantage. He's riding a two fight winning streak and could become a contender in either division with a victory. We'll have complete updates of the UFC 142 press conference after the jump: Brian Hemminger here, the conference is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. ET.

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UFC President Dana White sits down ahead of this Saturday's event to breakdown the Featherweight title clash between division Champion Jose Aldo and challenger Chad Mendes. Among other key points, White discusses Aldo's victory over Faber, as well as the Brazilian's decision to train with two-time Lightweight title contender, Gray Maynard. Photo: Scott Hirano

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UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes participants will step on the scales at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as part of the official weigh-in procedure for this Saturday's stacked fight card. The event is headlined by Jose Aldo's UFC Featherweight title defense against the Team Alpha Male product Chad "Money" Mendes, while Vitor Belort welcomes Anthony "Rumble" Johnson to the UFC Middleweight division. Also on the card, Edson Barboza goes to war against Terry Etim, Rousimar Palhares fights Mike Massenzio,

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Filed under: UFC, NewsThe UFC 142 pay-per-view will air in its usual 10 p.m. ET time slot in North America, which means the main card will only begin at 1 a.m. BRST local time in Rio de Janeiro. That also means that by the time Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes step into the cage for their UFC featherweight title fight, it could be as late as 3:30 a.m. BRST. The unusual schedule shouldn't be too much of a problem for the challenger Mendes, who arrived in Brazil on Tuesday, and who trains out of Sacramento, Calif., where it will be approximately 9:30 p.m. PST by the time the fight gets underway. It may affect the champion Aldo, who lives and trains in Brazil. However, Aldo quickly put those concerns to rest on a recent conference, saying he trained in the middle of the night to get his body ready to fight at that hour. "It really doesn't make a difference," Aldo said through a translator. "You're always going to be training around the time that you're going to be fighting, so if you're fighting around noon, or be it midnight or three o'clock in the morning, it really doesn't make a difference. "It all comes down to being well-trained and being prepared to step in there on fight night." When the UFC last visited Brazil in August the time difference wasn't so great. But since North American clocks were turned back an hour in November, signaling the end of Daylight Savings time, and Brazilian clocks were turned forward an hour in anticipation of their summer season, it created a greater time difference between Brazil and North America. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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This Sat., Jan. 14, 2012, UFC 142 invades the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with the "Aldo vs. Mendes" fight card headlined by Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo defending his strap against powerful wrestler Chad Mendes. The challenger says he's going to use his skills to become the next 145-pound king: "I'm looking at this kind of like a Rocky story. I'm going to go in there and fight the champion in his back yard and take it from him. He's never fought anybody with the athleticism, the strength and the wrestling background that I have. It's going to be tough for him to throw any type of submission when I'm punching him in the face. If my right hand hits him on the chin, he's going to go to sleep. I'm going to go into Brazil and I'm going to take that belt. I'm going to become the next featherweight champion of the world." "Scarface" feels he has the edge and isn't worried about Mendes' power. Aldo plans on sending his native fans home happy: "After I knock him out at home, the fans will go crazy with happiness. Chad Mendes is a tough fighter, he's a wrestler. But I have the advantage when standing. I'm not worried about Chad's power and strength. I'm going for a knockout or a submission. I want to leave a good impression. I will defeat Chad Mendes, especially at home." Just a few days away from fight night, Maniacs. Who ya' got?

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A look at a very busy January fight schedule for the UFC.

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Jose Aldo puts his UFC featherweight title up for grabs against Chad Mendes this Saturday, Jan. 14, at UFC 142.

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo will make his third consecutive title defense for the promotion when he takes on Team Alpha Male wrestling afficianado, Chad Mendes, at UFC 142 LIVE from the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Jan. 14, 2012. Aldo will bring a sizable home court advantage into the Octagon with him as he fights in front of what will certainly end up being a multitude of friends, family and fellow countrymen. "Scarface" enters the fight as a -265 betting odds favorite (see a complete UFC 142 betting breakdown here). Like many who have gone before him, Mendes is not being picked to win by an overwhelming majority. Styles make fights, and this particular match up features two very different backgrounds and disciplines. After the jump, I'll talk about the statistical variances that should give some better insight into the UFC 142 headline bout between Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes. Check it out: We'd love to sit down and watch fight tape on all the big UFC fighters who will compete in each upcoming pay-per-view (PPV) event. However, we don't have to because the statistical savants at CompuStrike are always willing to put in the hours and the dig up the data. This event is no different. The numbers collected have been based on 10 fight averages for Jose Aldo and six fight averages for Chad Mendes. First, let's kick things off with a look at the striking game: Total Strikes: Aldo -- 56 of 102Mendes -- 51 of 88Percentage: Aldo -- 55 percentMendes -- 58 percent Total Power Strikes Landed: Aldo -- 40Mendes -- 27 Total Non-Power Strikes Landed: Aldo -- 16Mendes -- 24 In the big picture, "Money" appears to be a bit more accurate, but "Scarface" is bringing the heat with the big power shots. Here's what the arm striking aspect of the overall striking comparison looks like: Total Arm Strikes Landed: Aldo -- 21 of 56Mendes -- 13 of 35 Percentage of Arm Strikes Landed: Aldo -- 38 percentMendes -- 37 percent Power Strikes Landed: Aldo -- 15Mendes -- 9 Non-Power Strikes Landed Aldo -- 6Mendes -- 4 Pretty close. But, again, the power strikes favor Aldo in a fairly big way. MMA fans have witnessed Aldo's powerful kicks and knees. You'd assume he'd hold a large advantage in this category. Would you be right? Total Leg Strikes Landed: Aldo -- 14 of 18Mendes -- 9 of 12Percentage of Leg Strikes Landed: Aldo -- 78 percentMendes -- 75 percentPower Leg Strikes Landed: Aldo -- 10Mendes -- 2Non-Power Leg Strikes Landed: Aldo -- 4Mendes -- 7 Hate to sound like a broken record here, but it's the same story again. The overall numbers are pretty even, but Aldo edges out his opponent, once again, by landing the larger volume of power strikes. The ground portion of this fight is particularly interesting, as it matches up a top notch wrestler against a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. Let's see who the numbers favor in this realm of the fight: Ground Strikes Landed: Aldo -- 21 of 28Mendes -- 29 of 41Percentage: Aldo -- 75 percentMendes -- 71 percentPower Ground Strikes Landed: Aldo -- 15Mendes -- 16 Non-Power Ground Strikes Landed: Aldo -- 6Mendes -- 13 Takedowns: Aldo -- 8 of 11 (73 percent)Mendes -- 28 of 38 (74 percent)Submission Attempts: Aldo -- 0Mendes -- 1Dominant Positions: Aldo -- 9Mendes -- 3 I don't know about you, but after checking the statistics, I think this championship bout may end up being a little closer than I'd originally thought. Think I'm crazy? Or are you having second thoughts, too? Leave a comment with your best predictions on what you think will be the end result at UFC 142. For everything else you need to know about the clash between Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes be sure to check out our complete fight archive right here.

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Prepare for some thunder from down under (the Equator, that is) when Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this weekend (Jan. 14, 2012). And the mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion has some heavy-duty combat violence in tow with UFC 134: "Aldo vs. Mendes." UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo will make the third defense of his 145-pound title in the main event of the evening, taking on unbeaten Team Alpha Male standout Chad Mendes, while Vitor Belfort and Anthony Johnson will square off in what will assuredly be a spectacular display of raw power. Prospects Erick Silva, Terry Etim and Edson Barboza will also light up the Octagon in South America come Saturday night. As you should know by now: Where there’s pain, there’s potential profit. Join us after the break for an in-depth look at the odds behind UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes" as we examine the betting lines for the upcoming myriad MMA match ups: UFC 142 Odds for the Under Card: Antonio Carvalho (-225) vs. Felipe Arantes (+175)Mike Pyle (-450) vs. Ricardo Funch (+300)Yuri Alcantara (-170) vs. Michihiro Omigawa (+140)Sam Stout (-115) vs. Thiago Tavares (-115)Gabriel Gonzaga (-130) vs. Edinaldo Oliveira (EVEN) Thoughts: While Carvalho is being undervalued here and, along with Pyle, will make a nice parlay stuffer, the best outright bargain here is probably Omigawa. Alcantara is a finishing machine, with 26 of them in all different flavors. He packs huge power and a nasty submission game that can come out of nowhere, as seen in his come-from-behind armbar of top prospect Francisco Drinaldo. What makes Omigawa a bargain is that he’s dealt with that before -- Hiroyuki Takaya and Marlon Sandro pack demonic punching power and neither was able to dent him. Admittedly, the fact that Alcantara has put down countless lightweights fills me with some dread, but his bombing style is inviting a world of hurt from Omigawa’s peek-a-boo boxing, which also transitions into his Judo. It might be hairy -- and it wouldn’t surprise me if Alcantara had him on the ropes at some point -- but Omigawa is a bargain at +140. Going back to Carvalho and Pyle, it wouldn’t hurt to stick them in parlays based on the fact that Carvalho has a more complete game than Arantes and Funch isn't really on Pyle's level. Leave the Stout alone, as well as Gonzaga. I was thinking of putting some down on Gonzaga, but his shaky chin and poor game planning make me hesitant to recommend it unless those odds slip down into the positives at some point. UFC 142 Odds for the Main Card: Erick Silva (-500) vs. Carlo Prater (+350)Edson Barboza (-340) vs. Terry Etim (+260)Rousimar Palhares (-600) vs. Mike Massenzio (+400)Anthony Johnson (-125) vs. Vitor Belfort (-105)Jose Aldo (-280) vs. Chad Mendes (+220) Thoughts: The lopsided-looking odds belie some intriguing match ups both stylistically and monetarily. Let’s look closer. Silva is a major league prospect and I’m quite disappointed that he couldn’t welcome Siyar Bahadurzada to the Octagon, but the -500 line and the fact that I have the same weird feeling about this fight that I had about Nam Phan vs. Jim Hettes makes me hesitant. Prater is fighting above his normal weight and on short notice, but he’s almost three times as experienced as Silva and has some wins over serious competition, including a guillotine victory against Carlos Condit. Still, those reservations about size and preparation are enough to dissuade me from betting on him, either. Leave this one alone. I expect Barboza to win this fight, but Etim is being severely undervalued -- he is not +260 material. Barboza shrugged off Pearson’s takedowns with relative ease, but was flustered by the The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) winner’s slickness, and Etim definitely has the tools to keep Barboza on his toes in similar fashion. He’s also a superior submission player to Pearson and it wouldn’t surprise me in the least to see him lock up that evil guillotine of his, especially since he’s one of the few fighters in the division taller than Barboza. Still, I expect the power of Barboza to be too much, but Etim is definitely worth a straight bet. Even at -600, I still consider it a wise investment to stick Palhares in a parlay. There is literally nothing Massenzio does better than Palhares besides maybe basic algebra. As inconsistent as Palhares has been in the past, he’d need a brain fart of biblical proportions to fall to Massenzio. Palhares was rocked by Dan Miller, but he shrugged off Dan Henderson’s best shots. And, despite getting bombed by Nate Marquardt, never lost consciousness and got right to his feet as soon as the bout was stopped, which leads me to treat the Miller incident as an exception. Even Massenzio’s forte, the ground game, pales in comparison to Palhares’. "Toquinho’s" enormous strength and powerful takedowns practically ensure that he he’ll wind up on top if it goes there, and considering he’s subbmitted Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belts like Lucio Linhares in MMA and Rafael Lovato Jr. in grappling. I think it’s safe to say he’ll be just fine against Massenzio in the grappling. Stick the "Tree Stump" in a parlay. There might have been something worth risking money on when one of these gentlemen was in the positives, but as it stands, Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson strikes me as too close a match up with too little profit. "Rumble" is enormous even as a middleweight, possesses staggering power in his hands and feet, and has a previously-underutilized wrestling game in his back pocket in case things take a turn for the worse. Belfort, on the other hand, has faster hands and more experience at 185 pounds, in addition to cleaner punching on a technical level. Frankly, I think it best to just sit back and pray this doesn’t turn into Melvin Guillard vs. Jeremy Stephens. While Aldo hasn’t been the perpetual violence machine he was in the World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC), the gap between him and the rest of the division still looks enormous. Mendes, however, may have the best chance of all. In addition to his vaunted wrestling game, he’s got extremely good striking and some serious pop in his hands. For example, nobody has dominated Omigawa on the feet like that in recent memory. Even if Aldo’s historically-impregnable takedown defense holds, Mendes is willing and able to hold Aldo against the fence until he tires, and unlike Kenny Florian, he’ll have Aldo on his toes at all times. That said, he’s still fighting Jose Aldo, who is still one of the most vicious dudes on the planet. If you’re going to bet on this fight, make it a pittance on Mendes. I don’t think he’ll pull it off, but he has the tools and is a decent bargain at those odds. My UFC 142 Best Bets: Parlay: Mike Pyle and Michihiro Omigawa -- Bet $34 to make $65.73 Parlay: Rousimar Palhares and Antonio Carvalho -- Bet $66 to make $45.22 Single Bet: Terry Etim -- Bet $24.67 to make $64.14 We’re about to hit one hell of a streak of UFC events; I, for one, am ready for the ride. Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver live UFC 142 results this Saturday, which is as good a place as any to talk about all the action inside the Octagon, as well as what you've got riding on the sportsbook. See you then, Maniacs!

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UFC 142 Rio: Aldo vs. Mendes live results and play-by-play on Saturday, Jan. 14, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The main event features Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes.

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UFC 142 Rio: Aldo vs. Mendes quick results on Saturday, Jan. 14, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The main event features Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes.

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As many fans may know, Jose Aldo enlisted the help of one of the premier wrestlers in the lightweight division for his upcoming fight with Chad Mendes this Saturday night at UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes. However, the story behind how their relationship developed and how progress has gone at Nova Uniao are a bit more mysterious. With Mendes providing a very strong challenge to his reign as featherweight champ Aldo knew improving his takedown defense was important. As such, he brought Gray Maynard down to train with him recently. “The Bully” is a former standout at Michigan State University and nearly claimed the UFC lightweight title from Frankie Edgar on more than one occasion. “We met a few times at UFC events, and from there we started a friendship,” said Aldo in a video documenting his time with Maynard. “It’s great to have such a talented guy come over. And thank God now was a good time for him.” Mendes is a member of Team Alpha Male out of California, training with the likes of Urijah Faber and Joseph Benavidez. He is a NCAA runner-up while competing at Cal Poly. His bout against Aldo will serve as the main event for the UFC’s return to Brazil, as the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro will play host to the card. Vitor Belfort and Anthony Johnson tangle in the co-main event. Check out the video of Aldo-Maynard below:

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UFC lightweight Gray Maynard helped dominant champion Jose Aldo prepare for his latest title defense, along with enjoy some sun and fun in Brazil. Maynard reportedly spent more than three weeks at Aldo’s camp, helping the UFC featherweight champion train for his fight against Chad Mendes. Maynard called Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas his home, but has trained at a number of gyms, including American Kickboxing Academy and Nova Uniao. Here is what Maynard had to say about Aldo’s overall skillset: “I knew he was good, but I had no idea he was as good as he is in every area. Really unbelievable, especially his takedown defense. That goes for all of Nova Uniao [Aldo's home gym] also. He’s really one of the most, if not the most complete fighter I’ve ever worked with.” Aldo has remained undefeated in the WEC/UFC, and has quickly climbed the pound-for-pound rankings — a dominant win against Mendes will only help him gain more fans. Mendes is a tough guy and skilled fighter, but I just don’t think he’s ready for someone like Aldo.

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"Countdown" to UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes" aired just last night (Jan. 10, 2012) on Fuel TV to promote the upcoming pay-per-view (PPV) event scheduled for the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Sat., Jan. 14, 2012. The network special provided a glimpse into the preparation and training camps of the fighters set to headline the show, featuring current featherweight champion Jose Aldo and number one contender to the throne Chad Mendes. "Aldo vs. Mendes" will also feature Vitor Belfort making his big return in front of his native people to take on Anthony Johnson, who will make his middleweight debut. Part two of Countdown to UFC 142, after the jump. MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action on fight night (Sat., Jan. 14, 2012), which is slated to air at 10 p.m. ET on pay-per-view. The latest quick updates of the live action will begin to flow earlier than that around 7 p.m. ET with the preliminary bouts. For the latest UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes" news and notes click here.

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The Countdown to UFC 142 video has been released previewing Saturday’s UFC 142 main event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo will fight on home soil against undefeated challenger Chad Mendes. Also check out the Countdown to UFC 142 video preview for UFC 142′s co-main event between middleweights Vitor Belfort and Anthony Johnson. Watch Countdown to UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes below and stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com for complete coverage of UFC 142:

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Jose Aldo Jr. knows an impressive win at UFC 142 will make him a superstar in his homeland.

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UFC.com photographer Josh Hedges was on the scene at the Barra de Tijuca Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, today (Jan. 11, 2012) to shoot several of the UFC 142 combatants during the pay-per-view (PPV) event's open media workouts. Naturally, the little but lethal men who will be featured in the main event of the evening -- Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes -- were on the scene to promote their clash, as well as work up one of the last few real sweats prior to fight night at the HSBC Arena this upcoming Saturday night (Jan. 14, 2012). Co-main event participants, Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson, were also in attendance prior to their middleweight scrap, which is teed up to be one hell of an exciting showdown. Check out more great pics from the UFC 142 open media workout after the jump: Jose Aldo Chad Mendes Vitor Belfort Anthony Johnson Wanderlei Silva says hi So does Gray Maynard Don't forget about Junior dos Santos To check out the complete UFC 142 open media workout photos gallery from Law, which includes 105 images, click here. Remember, too, that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of UFC 142, beginning with the preliminary card bouts on Facebook. In addition, we will also provide LIVE, real-time results of the main card action as it happens throughout the evening this upcoming weekend. See you Saturday!

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Check out the full episode of Countdown to UFC Rio: Aldo vs. Mendes.

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Chad Mendes looks to remain unbeaten at UFC 142 against featherweight champion Jose Aldo, who has won 13 straight since 2005.

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If Gray Maynard, who knows a thing or two about wrestling, is to be believed, then Chad Mendes doesn’t stand much of a chance against Jose Aldo this weekend at UFC 142. Maynard has been training with Jose Aldo down in Brazil for UFC 142, and says Aldo’s takedown defense is “unbelievable.” “I knew he was good, but I had no idea he was as good as he is in every area. Really unbelievable, especially his takedown defense. That goes for all of Nova Uniao [Aldo's home gym] also. “He’s really one of the most, if not the most complete fighter I’ve ever worked with.” “I think Mendes is a tough kid, but I think its too early for him to fight Jose Aldo.” If Aldo was going to bring someone in to help him prep for Mendes’ wrestling, there probably isn’t anyone better his size than Gray Maynard. The big question is: Will training with Maynard give Aldo the competitive advantage he needs to shut down Mendes’ explosive wrestling and force him into a striking match? If so, it’s definitely going to be Aldo’s fight to lose. Image via Jeff Sherwood for Sherdog

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Filed under: UFCThe last time the UFC went to Rio de Janeiro, it was a learning experience for everyone -- particularly those of us in the media who needed a solid hour to find our way into the arena. Among the other lessons we learned that night was: bet against a Brazilian in Brazil, and you'd better be prepared never to see that money again. Of the eight foreigners who faced Brazilians at UFC 134, only one -- Stanislav Nedkov -- left Rio a winner. Granted, it's a small sample size from which to form broad conclusions, but it does give us something to think about heading into UFC 142 on Saturday night. All four foreigners on the main card come in as underdogs to one degree or another. Surely there must be at least one Stanislav Nedkov in the bunch, but who's it going to be? Jose Aldo (-250) vs. Chad Mendes (+200) The tough part about analyzing two fighters who have 32 fights and only one loss between them is that there's not much of a blueprint for defeat on either man. Mendes has about half as many fights, but he's never been beaten. Aldo's lost once, but I think we can all agree that he's come a long way since "Jungle Fight 5," which was more than six years ago. While it's possible that Mendes could be knocked out or Aldo could be totally outwrestled, we haven't seen either scenario play out in the cage before. So why do oddsmakers favor Aldo so heavily? For starters, Aldo's been tested. He's beaten the likes of Kenny Florian, Mark Hominick, and Urijah Faber, which, let's be honest, is far more impressive than Mendes' list of victims. Aldo's win over Faber alone -- who seems like a more experienced and well-rounded version of Mendes -- is probably enough to justify the line all by itself. You factor in the home country advantage, which could really make a difference in the very likely event that the fight goes the distance, and suddenly the numbers start to make a lot of sense. It's not at all far-fetched to think that Mendes could wear Aldo out over the course of five rounds. After all, we saw how Aldo faded in the Hominick fight. But if Aldo is of sound mind and body here, it seems more likely that he'll purée Mendes' legs with kicks the same way he did to Faber's. My pick: Aldo. I'll admit that I had to talk myself down from the underdog pick, and I still think Mendes might be worth small action if the line creeps past +250. But it's hard for me to go against the champ in his own backyard. Vitor Belfort (-120) vs. Anthony Johnson (-110) This one is basically a pick-em that oddsmakers have cleverly skewed in their favor, and why not? It's the kind of fight that derelict sports gamblers love, because you can talk yourself into believing almost anything about it. Belfort fans will convince themselves that this is another blitzkrieg knockout in the making, while "Rumble" supporters can be certain that their man will be an unstoppable juggernaut in his new weight class. So who's right? I'd put my money on the Johnson camp, but not by much. Belfort is always a danger in the first few minutes of any fight, but the threat-level diminishes significantly as soon as he hears the words 'round two.' Johnson's never been knocked out in his MMA career, and you have to think he'll only be better at tiring out and breaking down opponents now that he's gone up a weight class. Both these guys hit hard enough to reduce any reasoned analysis to an unpredictable game of drunken rock-paper-scissors in the end, but Johnson has more ways to win and fewer ways to lose. My pick: Johnson. Who knows if he'll make it out of the arena in one piece if he beats a Brazilian MMA icon like Belfort, but I like his chances to take this into the later rounds and win a decision or a late stoppage. Rousimar Palhares (-485) vs. Mike Massenzio (+385) On skill alone, sure, Palhares deserves to be this big of a favorite. But as we've seen in the past, when Palhares fights it's not always that simple. To put it gently, the guy's a bit of a head case. Remember when he decided to try and call a mid-fight timeout against Nate Marquardt? How about when he leapt on top of the cage in celebration of a victory that he hadn't yet achieved in his fight with Dan Miller? Then there's the other end of the spectrum, like when he refused to release Tomasz Drwal from a heel hook even after the fight was clearly over. One bizarre incident might be a fluke, but Palhares has established a habit of weirdo happenings. Is it worth the risk that one such mental mishap could hand a victory to the major underdog Massenzio? If Massenzio were just a little better, and maybe not so dependent on his wrestling, I might say yes. Against Palhares, however, I fear he has the exact wrong style to take advantage of a guy whose brain isn't always operating in perfect harmony with his body. My pick: Palhares. But you know what? He's so mercurial I don't even want him in my parlay. There's just too great a chance that he'll screw everything up by deciding to quit in the middle of the fight and go work a concession stand instead. Erick Silva (-485) vs. Carlo Prater (+385) We still haven't seen enough of Erick Silva to have a great handle on what he's capable of, but what we have seen has been pretty impressive. He starched Luis Ramos in his Octagon debut the last time the UFC was in Rio. This time he'll get a tougher opponent, but not necessarily an overwhelming one. Prater's a replacement for Siyar Bahadurzada, who would have likely been a much stiffer test for the young Brazilian. Not that Prater's an easy mark, mind you. He's been around, has fought some recognizable names, but doesn't have much to show for it. His willingness to step up here will earn him a UFC roster spot for the first time in a nearly ten-year career, but I don't even like his odds to hang on to that for very long, much less pull out a win on relatively short notice. My pick: Silva. I still think he's overvalued at almost 5-1, but I'm willing to take the bait and put it in my parlay out of a lack of better ideas. Edson Barboza (-280) vs. Terry Etim (+220) Can we cut the crap and be real with each other for a minute, fellow derelicts? Don't tell anyone, but I'm starting to suspect that Barboza might be just the tiniest bit overrated. I know, I know: he looked great in his UFC debut against Mike Lullo. And he also looked sharp against Anthony Njokuani. And then he did just enough to get a decision over Ross Pearson. But have you noticed that as the competition gets better, he seems to stay more or less the same? It makes me wonder if he's like one of those pitchers who strikes out everyone when he first gets called up to the majors, but gets steadily shelled as hitters start to figure him out. Granted, Barboza's still undefeated, so it's not like he's giving up grand slams (to stick with this already troublesome mixed sports metaphor), but I can't help but feel like this line is a reflection of his hype more than his skills. Etim is better than many people realize, and this style match-up is right in his wheelhouse. I understand why he's the underdog, but he could surprise some people. I just wouldn't want to go to the judges in this fight if I were him. My pick: Etim. Is this another instance of me talking myself into an underdog pick just to avoid looking like a jerk who takes all the favorites? Maybe. But still... Quick picks: - Michihiro Omigawa (+110) over Yuri Alcantara (-140). I'm not sold on Alcantara, and Omigawa is better than his record in the UFC reflects. - Ednaldo Oliveira (+120) over Gabriel Gonzaga (-150). Most have never heard his name, but word is that Oliveira has acquitted himself well as Junior dos Santos' sparring partner. Meanwhile, Gonzaga hasn't had a truly significant win since 2007. The 'For Entertainment Purposes Only' Parlay: Aldo + Johnson + Silva + Omigawa. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Filed under: UFCWill Jose Aldo continue to run roughshod over the featherweight division? Or will Chad Mendes pull off a huge upset in Aldo's homeland? Will Anthony Johnson look even more powerful now that he's not killing himself to cut down to welterweight? Or will Vitor Belfort's patented power punches put Johnson to sleep? Will any of the favored Brazilians lose in front of the fans in Rio? I'll attempt to answer those questions and more as I predict the winners at UFC 142 below. What: UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes When: Saturday, the FX preliminary card begins at 8 p.m. ET and the main card begins on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. ET. Where: HSBC Arena, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Predictions on the five pay-per-view fights below. More Coverage: UFC 142 Results | UFC 142 Fight Card José Aldo vs. Chad Mendes The undefeated Mendes has talked in recent weeks about how he's sure he has the right game plan for Aldo, and about how he has the best wrestling credentials of anyone Aldo has ever fought, and he's coming into this fight with a lot of confidence. And if you look at the fight from a certain point of view, you can see where that confidence comes from: Mendes has, after all, used that superior wrestling to take decisions from some pretty good opponents, and even though this will be Mendes' first five-round fight, he may have a cardio edge over Aldo. But that's my analysis when I'm trying to look for a reason to think Mendes could win. The hard truth for Mendes is that while he's a better wrestler than anyone Aldo has ever fought before, Aldo is a much, much, much better striker than anyone Mendes has ever fought before. Aldo has become more cautious and tentative in recent fights, and so I'm not expecting to see the kind of devastating knockout that the Aldo of 2008-2009 could be counted on to provide. But I am expecting Aldo to employ leg kicks to keep Mendes at distance, perhaps some knees when Mendes shoots for takedowns, and enough punches to bloody Mendes's face. This fight should be another good opportunity for Aldo to show that he's hands down the best featherweight in MMA. Pick: Aldo Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson Johnson's decision to move up to middleweight is long overdue -- while fighting at welterweight he twice came in more than five pounds over. So will he look better now that he's fighting in a division where he can actually make weight comfortably? I think he will, but I'm not sure how much of a difference that makes because I see this fight as being more about Belfort's power than Johnson's. Belfort has had five fights since moving down to middleweight in 2008, and in four of them he knocked his opponent cold with punches. In the fifth, he got knocked cold himself by Anderson Silva's front kick. Johnson certainly has the ability to land a head kick and knock Belfort out with it, but I see Belfort catching Johnson with his hands down and knocking him out. Pick: Belfort Rousimar Palhares vs. Mike Massenzio Massenzio is a good wrestler and a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt, and he's coming off a solid win over Steve Cantwell at UFC 136. But he's not even close to Palhares' level on the ground, and I'll be surprised if this fight doesn't end with Palhares cranking on Massenzio's leg, and Massenzio tapping. Pick: Palhares Erick Silva vs. Carlo Prater Silva made his UFC debut at the last Rio show and needed just 40 seconds to knock out Luis Ramos. Prater, who's finally making his UFC debut 40 fights into his MMA career, has a good chin and won't be knocked out as quickly as Ramos was. But Prater took this fight on short notice and really isn't on the same level as Silva, and it would be shocking if Silva doesn't win this fight handily. Pick: Silva Edson Barboza vs. Terry Etim Barboza has built up a 9-0 record without ever really being tested on the ground, and Etim has a very dangerous submission game (he's won the Submission of the Night bonus in each of his last three wins). So if he can get this fight to the ground, Etim may just be the first person to beat Barboza. But Barboza is such a lethal striker that I expect him to hurt Etim badly standing up. Pick: Barboza  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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"I met Gray when I was going to fight Kenny (Florian), he was the main event against Frankie (Edgar). We were always joking around with each other. From there we started a friendship. I told him it would be great if he could come train with us. Good for him and good for us. It's great to have such a talented guy come over. And thank god, now was a good time for him to come. He came around now that I am needing a wrestler to train with. Gray is a great wrestler who has a lot of experience and is a great competitor. So it was great to have him test our skills. I hope this partnership will last, and that he will come train for his fights here. For us to learn from him and for him to train with a lot of good lightweights." UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo brought in the big guns to prepare him for his next title defense against Chad Mendes at UFC 142 this Sat., Jan. 14, 2012, at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. After striking up a friendship at the UFC 136 event they both competed on, Aldo asked former lightweight title challenger Gray Maynard to come help get him ready for the biggest grappling test of his career. It was incredible timing, really, that led to these two getting together just in time for "Scarface" to get some solid work in with an accomplished 155-pound wrestler. But will "The Bully" be able to teach him enough to defeat "Money" Mendes this Saturday night?

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This Saturday night, Featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo will put his belt on the line when he meets top contender, Chad Mendes, at UFC 142 in Rio de Janeiro. In preparation for the bout, two-time Lightweight title challenger Gray Maynard was brought in to assist the champ with his wrestling skills, which will be a key element when he faces the Team Alpha Male product... Photo: MMAWeekly.com

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"UFC Tonight" is the official weekly news and information show of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), airing every Tuesday night at 10 p.m. ET on FUEL TV. The show is co-hosted by veteran UFC fighter and multiple title contender Kenny Florian and former World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) announcer and UFC host Todd Harris. Two-time World MMA Awards "Journalist of the Year," Ariel Helwani, adds insider news, too. Tonight (Jan. 10, 2012) the crew breaks down the upcoming UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendez" pay-per-view (PPV) event, which is scheduled to take place at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this Saturday night (Jan. 14, 2012). In addition to the look ahead of UFC 142, Harris will also reveal the location for UFC 146. Get a sneak peek, including comments from the various experts, of tonight's episode after the jump: UFC Tonight Analyst Kenny Florian on UFC RIO: "It's huge for the UFC. The Brazilian fan is about as passionate as any fan out there right now. The Brazilian economy is doing very well. This is the birth place of mixed marital arts. It's great to see [the UFC] go back to Rio. It's going to be huge, no questions about it." Florian on fighting Jose Aldo: "Jose Aldo is very explosive. He's fast and, of course, he's known to have the best leg kicks in the game. Really what impressed me the most was how smart he fought against me. His MMA IQ in the cage is very impressive." Chad Mendes on fighting Aldo in Brazil: "I will fight the guy anywhere. This is a title fight. It's something you don't pass up. I feel like I am prepared and have set up a great game plan for this [fight]. I know his stand up is very explosive, very fast, but I feel like I have a lot of power on my hands and I am very fast also." UFC Tonight Insider Ariel Helwani on Anthony Johnson shifting to a higher weight class: "Anthony told me last week that he feels quote ‘a thousand times better as a middleweight.' He says he can eat more and he's more comfortable and he doesn't have to cut as much weight. As of right now he's not thinking about 170. He's very happy fighting at 185." Florian on Vitor Belfort: "Vitor Belfort, in my opinion, is the most talented fighter in the UFC today. This is a guy with very fast hands. He's been in the game a very long time. He's a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, he can wrestle, he can do it all." Florian on Edson Barboza: "A lot of people are very excited about Barboza. They believe he'll be the next big star. He's so technically sound, he's a fighter that can go forwards, he can fight backwards, and he possesses some of the most devastating leg kicks in the game. A lot of people have been having trouble taking this guy down." Florian on Terry Etim: "Etim has to be the taller fighter here, and that gives a lot of fighters problems, even if you're a great striker. Etim needs to use his reach and he's going to have to be very active on the ground." Florian on Rousimar Palhares: "Palhares has been on a tear lately. He's a guy who really possesses the most dangerous submission game in the UFC." For more on UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes" be sure to hit up our complete event archive right here.

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Top featherweight contender Chad Mendes, a wrestler by trade, has openly spoken about putting champion Jose Aldo on his back at will when the two face off this weekend at UFC 142. However, one of the weapons Aldo expects to use in their headlining bout is an improved ability to fend off takedown attempts, a skill he honed in part due to the recent presence of 155-pound grappling-machine Gray Maynard at Nova Uniao. Fortunately for fans, UFC cameras were on hand to document some of the process and get s\comments from both men relating to their newfound relationship as both training partners and friends. Mendes Ready to “Blast” Aldo with a Takedown Attempt “I met Gray when I was going to fight Kenny (Florian), he was the main event against Frankie (Edgar),” said Aldo when asked about his initial run-in with “The Bully”. “We were always joking around with each other. From there we started a friendship. I told it would be great if could come train with us. Good for him and good for us. It’s great to have such a talented guy come over. And thank God, now was a good time for him to come over.” “I hope this partnership will last and that he will come train for his fights here,” Aldo concluded. The 10-1-1 Maynard echoed Aldo’s sentiments in terms of how enjoyable the process has been, explaining, “It’s been eye-opening about how they train and it’s been eye-opening about how I train, my techniques. It’s just been an awesome time so far.” The world will find out how helpful the training has been come showtime on Saturday night. However, regardless of outcome, it sounds like a both Maynard and Aldo will see each other inside the ring again someone soon, albeit as friends rather than foes. Check out the video below: PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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"Countdown" to UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes" will debut TONIGHT (Jan. 10, 2012) at 9 p.m. ET on Fuel TV to promote the upcoming pay-per-view (PPV) event scheduled for the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Sat., Jan. 14, 2012. The network special will provide a glimpse into the preparation and training camps of the fighters set to headline the show, featuring current featherweight champion Jose Aldo and number one contender to the throne Chad Mendes. "Aldo vs. Mendes" will also feature Vitor Belfort making his big return in front of his native people to take on Anthony Johnson, who will make his middleweight debut. Replays of "Countdown" to UFC 142 will air sporadically throughout the entire FOX family of networks, including FX, right up until showtime. Check your local listings. Feel free to talk about the hour-long special, as well as share your predictions for the fights this weekend, in the comments section below. In the meantime, check out the current UFC 142 fight card and line up after the jump: Main event: 145 lbs.: Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes Main card (pay-per-view): 185 lbs.: Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson 185 lbs.: Rousimar Palhares vs. Mike Massenzio 170 lbs.: Carlo Prater vs. Erick Silva 155 lbs.: Edson Barboza vs. Terry Etim Preliminary card (FX Channel): 155 lbs.: Thiago Tavares vs. Sam Stout 265 lbs.: Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Ednaldo Oliveira 145 lbs.: Michihiro Omigawa vs. Yuri Alcantara 170 lbs.: Ricardo Funch vs. Mike Pyle Preliminary card (Facebook): 145 lbs.: Felipe Arantes vs. Antonio Carvalho MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action on fight night (Sat., Jan. 14, 2012), which is slated to air at 10 p.m. ET on pay-per-view. The latest quick updates of the live action will begin to flow earlier than that around 7 p.m. ET with the preliminary bouts. For the latest UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes" news and notes click here.

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During the build towards their headlining bout this weekend at UFC 142, unbeaten wrestler Chad Mendes has been very open in expressing his firm belief featherweight champion Jose Aldo will be unable to stop his takedowns. However, while Mendes’ mat-based acumen is well-documented, Aldo remains unconcerned about what his challenger has to offer and not necessarily because he feels he will stuff every attempt. “About his speed, it won’t be a problem,” said Aldo in an interview with the UFC. “He’s always been an explosive fighter, but I’m an explosive fighter as well. I’ve been training jiu-jitsu since I was a kid, so if we both hit the ground, I will be the one with the advantage.” Another advantage Aldo feels he has pertains to a past pairing against Urijah Faber, Mendes’ coach and confidant. Aldo beat “The California Kid” soundly in April 2010, picking apart his leg with kicks throughout their five round affair. “Chad’s style of fighting is very similar to Faber’s,” Aldo explained. “The height, the wrestling, the way they move…they are very similar. Mendes is younger than Faber, but it’s basically the same type of fight for me.” And, of course, Aldo also feels he’s the superior stand-up artist, stating a stoppage seems likely given the match-up. “Mendes has got a disadvantage fighting me on his feet. He’s not as good a boxer as the other guys I have faced and I don’t think he can do well standing up in this fight. I will be looking for a knockout or a submission.” Catch Aldo defend his belt against Mendes when the main card of UFC 142 takes to the PPV airwaves on Saturday night. Other featured bouts include Sam Stout vs. Thiago Tavares and Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes" features the headlining fight of Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes for the promotion's featherweight title, which goes down this Saturday night (Jan. 14, 2012) live on pay-per-view from the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The boys over at THQ recently simulated the 145-pound clash with their "UFC Undisputed 3" video game, matching up "Junior" against "Money" to see who brings home the gold. The Results? After 25 simulations, Mendes wins the first round 80-percent of the time, hits 72-percent of his takedowns and only gets submitted once in 48 attempts. Aldo, however, lands 50-percent more strikes than his opponent and wins 14 out of the 25 simulated contests. In other words, "Junior" defends. Anyone think this fight of wrestler versus striker plays out any differently this weekend? Get up to speed on all the UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes" news and notes by clicking here.

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The official weigh in event for UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes" is set to take place this Friday (Jan. 13, 2012) live from the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The first fighter is expected to tip the scale at 4 p.m. ET. As usual, MMAmania.com will provide up-to-the-second coverage of the UFC 142 weigh-ins, as well as provide a detailed recap of the festivities as soon as they conclude. "Aldo vs. Mendes" will be headlined by featherweight champion Jose Aldo, defending his 145-pound title against undefeated wrestler Chad Mendes. In addition, Vitor Belfort will strap on the gloves to try and ruin Anthony Johnson's debut at middleweight. Here is the current UFC 142 fight card and line up: Main event: 145 lbs.: Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes Main card (pay-per-view): 185 lbs.: Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson 185 lbs.: Rousimar Palhares vs. Mike Massenzio170 lbs.: Carlo Prater vs. Erick Silva155 lbs.: Edson Barboza vs. Terry Etim Preliminary card (May not be broadcast): 155 lbs.: Thiago Tavares vs. Sam Stout265 lbs.: Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Ednaldo Oliveira145 lbs.: Michihiro Omigawa vs. Yuri Alcantara 170 lbs.: Ricardo Funch vs. Mike Pyle145 lbs.: Felipe Arantes vs. Antonio Carvalho MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of UFC 142, beginning with the PPV telecast at 10 p.m. ET on Jan. 14. In addition, we will deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the under card action much earlier on fight night. It's going to be a fun night of fights so don't miss it. And remember to check us out for all the pre, during and post-fight UFC 142 coverage you can handle. For the latest "Aldo vs. Mendes" news and notes check out our event archive right here.

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In the main event of UFC RIO 142: Aldo vs. Mendes, UFC Featherweight champion Jose Aldo will make the third defense of that title when he faces undefeated Chad Mendes. It's an intriguing fight; Mendes is the lowest profile and least marketable fighter Aldo has yet defended against, while also having the best shot at dethroning the champ, as Mendes will likely try to use his wrestling to control Aldo and grind him down. For Aldo, one of the best strikers in MMA today, I anticipate one of his best weapons will be back on display against Mendes. I'm talking about the strike he used to completely dismantle Mendes's Alpha Male teammate Urijah Faber - the leg kick. The leg kick is a great technique to employ against a wrestler; as Aldo lands more and more shots to the leg, Mendes will lose his ability to explode off his feet, hurting his chances to take Aldo down. But there's a dangerous flipside to that - by throwing a leg kick, Aldo gives Mendes the chance to grab that leg and use it to secure a takedown. So what makes Aldo's leg kicks so good? And why do I think he is still safe to use them against Mendes? Let's break down those kicks in this Judo Chop, focusing specifically on the Faber fight for our examples. The Basics: Leg Kicks 101 Against Faber, Aldo showed absolute mastery of leg kicks, but that mastery has to start with a solid foundation in the fundamentals. Here is a look at some of those Aldo kicks, starting with the basics of the kick and what he is doing right. Complete breakdown, with gifs, in the full entry. SBN coverage of UFC RIO 142: Aldo vs. Mendes On your right you see Aldo landing a kick that fully demonstrates his technique (there are two kicks in the gif - I am focusing on the one shown from a side angle that spins Faber around). There are three specifics to bring to attention here. 1. Hip rotation. As Aldo throws the right kick, he twists his whole body, ending so that his belly button is perpendicular to Faber. By throwing his body so fully into the kick, he increases the force - the power is coming not just from the whip of the leg, but from the twist of the hips, the shoulders... everything. 2. Turning the left foot. Similar to the hip rotation, watch the way Aldo rotates his left foot when throwing the right kick. That small turn of the foot helps with what we discussed above, making his whole body turn to the side and increasing the impact on the leg. I also love the way he immediately twists it back into position when he is done, allowing him to quickly move back and avoid any counter shots. 3. Striking with the shin. This is the most devastating part of this kick. Aldo lands it perfectly, not with the top of his foot, but with his shin. That is the ideal weapon. If you land with the foot, you run the risk of breaking bones in your own foot, while also striking your opponent with a much softer tissue area. The shin is all bone, and keeps you safe while maximizing damage. Landing with the shin is easy to say, harder to do because your opponent is often moving away from the kick, but for a leg kick to be truly effective, that needs to be where the attack comes from. 4. Bringing the right hand down. You can see this more clearly in the 2nd kick actually - as Aldo lands the kick, he brings his right hand down in a chopping motion, again adding to his momentum, and increasing the torque behind the kick. This is the common Muay Thai way of using your hands in a leg kick, but it's also a source of some debate. A lot of fighters prefer to keep that hand up, as bringing it down leaves your right side exposed to counters. Here, Aldo chooses to sacrifice defense in the name of power. With those fundamentals in place, Aldo already becomes a dangerous combatant with leg kicks, and already puts himself in the top tier of MMA fighters using this strike. But Aldo takes the kicks even further with some extra details. Advanced Studies One of the things that makes Aldo's leg kicks so dangerous is his ability to land them on an opponent who may perceive himself to be out of range. He does this by stepping in with the kick, as shown on the left. Before throwing the strike, watch how Aldo uses two steps to close the distance quickly, catching Faber off balance. Even though Faber lifts his lead leg to throw a push kick, Aldo still connects on the back leg because he has gotten so far inside. Two little details really set this movement apart. First, watch Aldo's left foot. On the second step, he brings it a little further out, so that he is immediately in position for the kick - great economy of movement there. Second, this time he keeps that right arm mostly in front of him instead of chopping it down. Because Faber is trying to strike back, Aldo makes the adjustment to use that arm for defense, not power, keeping himself safe from a Faber left hook. Aldo also makes the most of the low kick by both repeatedly coming back to it, while also mixing it into a wider arsenal. The leg kick is not a one shot KO kind of blow - it takes a few to really do damage (though, when thrown by someone like Aldo, not many). Aldo keeps coming back to it, landing in the same spot to really weaken Faber's legs. But he also doesn't become repetitive and predictable. Sometimes he throws the kick by itself, sometimes he sets it up with a punch. Here, a bit later in the fight, he has Faber thinking about the leg kick, so comes up high with a head kick instead. Because Faber has begun to drop his hands in anticipation of the leg kick, his head is more exposed. That is a superb use of the leg kick to both do its own damage, while also opening the door for other strikes. The last great asset for Aldo's kicks is one you can't really see in this slowed down clips - speed. He throws the kick with great speed, catching Faber before he has time to defend. When Faber switches stances, putting his right leg forward, Aldo quickly attacks that leg. And not only does he strike quickly, he brings the leg back quickly as well. That is perhaps what will serve him best against Mendes - the ability to land the strike, then quickly bring the leg back before it can be grabbed and used for a takedown. The Featherweight title defense against Faber was one of Jose Aldo's finest moments, and it is largely a result of this absolute clinic in leg kicks. For any fans of striking, it was a beautiful thing to watch, and I can't help but hope that we see the majesty of these kicks once again on display in full force Saturday night in Brazil.

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Home turf advantage also comes with it's own special set of pressures and distractions, but Jose Aldo believes he's prepared to deal with them at UFC 142 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, NewsBy the time he's done in Brazil, Gray Maynard will have spent a little more than three weeks helping Jose Aldo, the UFC featherweight champion, prepare for his next title defense against Chad Mendes at UFC 142 on Jan. 14. And while it seems like a no-brainer for Aldo to train with Maynard for this fight, considering Maynard is built very much like Mendes, the idea was actually Maynard's, not the champ's. "I've talked to him backstage at the UFC's and [the UFC 136] press conference in Houston," Maynard told MMAFighting.com recently. "[He] really seemed like a humble, nice guy. So, I wanted to reach out to him to help." Maynard has trained with some of the best fighters in the world at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, and more recently at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Calif., but he believes Aldo may top them all. "I knew he was good, but I had no idea he was as good as he is in every area. Really unbelievable, especially his takedown defense. That goes for all of Nova Uniao [Aldo's home gym] also. "He's really one of the most, if not the most complete fighter I've ever worked with." Maynard is coming off a UFC lightweight title loss to Frankie Edgar at UFC 136 in Houston. The loss marked the first of his career. Since then, he's been a bit of a nomad, training at different gyms across the world. He said he is "still in the process of moving" gyms but did not commit to a new home just yet. He's also still waiting to finalize his next fight, which is expected to take place in the first quarter of 2012. Interestingly enough, Maynard, who was complimentary of Mendes' skills, believes "Money" isn't quite ready to fight someone like Aldo, even though Mendes is getting his first title shot in his 12th pro fight, while Maynard fought for the UFC 155-pound title in just his 11th pro fight. "I think Mendes is a tough kid, but I think its too early for him to fight Jose Aldo." UFC 142, headlined by Aldo vs. Mendes, airs live on pay-per-view from the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Jose Aldo has something to prove on Saturday night.That got your attention, didn’t it? Follow along for a couple of paragraphs before getting all crazy in the comment section, because the reigning UFC featherweight champion certainly does have something to prove in my honest opinion.Anderson Silva and Georges St-Pierre are universally regarded as the top two fighters in the world, pound for pound. Yet, both are currently sidelined by injuries that will keep them out of action for a while and may or may not have a lasting impact on their respective abilities moving forward. For the first time in years, there is finally a crack in the pound-for-pound door. Two men instantly come to mind when thinking about the next in line behind Silva and GSP—Jon Jones and Jose Aldo.  Jones had such an amazing 2011 that many are ready to anoint him on par with the two reigning pound-for-pound kingpins. But the fact of the matter is that Jones has only recently entered the world of the elite. In 2010, Jones wasn’t even a footnote in the pound-for-pound debate. Don’t get me wrong. Jones has always been a fighter with seemingly limitless potential. I was calling this guy out as a future champion as early as his 2009 win over Stephan Bonnar. But nobody, other than maybe Jones’ immediate family, was referring to him in pound-for-pound terms until he won the championship from Mauricio “Shogun” Rua last March.Jose Aldo, on the other hand, has been part of the discussion since at least the middle part of 2010. Aside from a gut-check win over Mark Hominick last April, the Brazilian bomber has seemed largely invincible during his current 13-fight, five-plus-year winning streak. Go back and check out his wins over Cub Swanson, Mike Brown, Urijah Faber, Manny Gamburyan and Kenny Florian. You’ll understand what I’m talking about. This guy is scary good—absolutely scary.The problem for Aldo is that Jones’ 2011 was one of the best years that we’ve seen in the UFC in a long, long time. And we all know that mixed martial arts is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately sport. Aldo’s 2011 was good, but not that good.Nonetheless, Aldo’s body of work over the past five years suggests that he is more deserving of pound-for-pound glory than his younger, larger fellow champion. None of that matters, though, if he cannot put on a stellar performance on Saturday night against undefeated challenger Chad Mendes.Aldo can’t just beat Mendes if he wants to reinsert himself into the pound-for-pound discussions. He needs to destroy him, which is exponentially easier said than done.Many believe that Mendes is the best wrestler that Aldo has ever faced. That is a gigantic statement considering the fact that Aldo already owns a lopsided win over Faber, a very successful collegiate wrestler in his own right. And he made it look like just another day at the office.  The question is whether he can do the same thing to Faber’s Alpha Male teammate on Saturday night. The answer all depends on whether Aldo can stop the takedown. If so, the champion will undress his opponent with a violent array of strikes. In fact, it will probably seem more like target practice than a fight, if the action remains standing.But that is a big IF. Remember, we are talking about the 2008 Pac-10 Wrestler of the Year. That means he is no joke when it comes to putting opponents on their backside with takedowns and slams.  More on that in a minute. If Aldo wants to stop the takedown, he should go right back to the same game plan he used against Faber, which means dishing out a heavy dose of kicks.Aldo is a master at using kicks to both control the distance and exact damage. He knew that that he needed to avoid the takedown against Faber in order to maximize his chances at defeating the former collegiate wrestling star. That same logic applies against Mendes. Thus, Aldo should put on the same clinic on how to control the distance with lightning fast leg and body kicks. Aldo’s lower body attack was so effective against Faber that he actually scored multiple knockdowns from leg kicks, something rarely seen at the highest level of MMA. There is no reason to believe that he cannot do the same thing against Mendes for two reasons. First, Aldo delivers his kicks with such insane speed that they are unbelievably difficult to time and catch. Second, if Mendes drops his hands in an unsuccessful attempt to catch an Aldo kick, he opens the door for a one-punch knockout loss. Not only is Aldo the best puncher in the division; he is also the best at feinting with a kick and then unleashing a nuclear right hand, something that will always be in the back of Mendes’ mind throughout the fight. That isn’t to suggest that Mendes can’t take the fight to the ground. I actually think quite the opposite is true. Mendes is eons better than Hominick in the takedown arena. Yet, the Canadian scored multiple takedowns in his April bout against Aldo. He was able to succeed where others failed because of his willingness to stand in the pocket and trade with the champion. Hominick is an expert striker in his own right, so standing and trading with Aldo wasn’t a crazy idea. It is the equivalent of single-night career suicide for Mendes. Yet, that is basically what he needs to do, if he wants to get the fight to the ground. Otherwise, Aldo will shuck his takedown attempts, just like he did against Faber and Brown. The remainder of Aldo’s game plan will be the same as every other fight—stand and bang.  This guy has a thirst for thrilling the crowd with masterful displays that harken back to the gladiatorial days of Ancient Rome. He quenches his thirst with a variety of explosive strikes, including straight right hands, left hooks, leg kicks, high kicks and flying knees.  Personal safety is an afterthought, because Aldo is the type of fighter who believes that the best defense is non-stop offense. Aldo’s offense-first mindset should actually open the door for takedowns, assuming Mendes is smart enough to keep his hands up and either walk through the initial barrage of kicks (ouch) or check them en route to a quick, explosive double-leg takedown attempt.Keep in mind that I’m not talking about a haphazard shot. I’m talking about Brock Lesnar or Josh Koscheck freight-train-style shots. Mendes has to accept that the only way he is winning this fight, absent a lucky strike, is by taking the fight to the ground. Thus, he must change levels and explode with every part of his being each time the opportunity presents itself. He cannot worry about eating a flying knee. He cannot worry about eating an uppercut. He has to completely commit to the takedown attempt. If Mendes fights with that sort of confidence in his own wrestling ability, then this fight gets very interesting very quickly. Conventional wisdom is that great wrestling defeats great striking more often than not. Why? Simple. A great wrestler can dictate where the fight unfolds.  A great striker cannot, unless he also happens to have great takedown defense.Aldo has very good takedown defense, but it is predicated as much on hesitation from his opponents due to the fear of eating a fight-ending strike as it is his ability to drop quickly and effectively sprawl. If Mendes eliminates hesitation from the equation and makes sure he both sets up his takedowns and shoots from an appropriate distance, then I don’t see any reason why he won’t get the action to the ground. Again, that is far easier said than done, but let’s assume that he will be successful in scoring at least one takedown in Rio de Janeiro.      Once on the ground, Mendes needs to work cautiously aggressive ground and pound.  Aldo is a black belt in BJJ and would almost certainly outpoint, or possibly even submit, Mendes in a submission grappling contest that allowed or required a gi.  But this is MMA, and there is neither a gi nor a prohibition on strikes, which changes everything.  Thus, any perceived superiority in Aldo’s practical ground skills are largely a myth in the face of Mendes’ ground-and-pound attack.  A healthy diet of pounding and slicing elbows would be my assault of choice.  By throwing elbows, even those that are thrown with real shoulder turn, which helps guarantee maximum force, don’t expose an attacker to triangles and armbars the way that punches do.  In addition, elbows tend to exact more damage when properly thrown because there is no padding, which means a higher likelihood of fight-ending cuts or, possibly, a true knockout.    A healthy diet of elbows is also a great way to grind down an opponent.  If he can tire Aldo during the first three rounds, then takedowns will become close to automatic in the championship rounds, which is where Mendes needs to bring the fight, if he wants to maximize his odds of winning.  QUICK FACTSJose Aldo•    25 years old•    5’7, 145 lbs•    70-inch reach•    20-1 overall •    13-fight winning streak•    Last loss November 26, 2005•    70.0% of wins by KO/TKO/submission due to strikes •    5.0% of wins by submission•    25.0% of wins by judges’ decision•    Lone career loss by submission•    3 of 8 WEC fights won Knockout of the Night•    Fight of the Night in UFC debut against Hominick•    Two consecutive successful defenses of UFC title•    Current layoff is 95 days•    Longest layoff of career is 347 daysChad Mendes•    26 years old•    5’6, 145 lbs•    66-inch reach•    11-0 professional record•    18.2% of wins by KO/TKO•    18.2% of wins by submission•    63.6% of wins judges’ decision•    First title challenge•    First fight against a current or former champion•    Current layoff is 161 days•    Longest layoff of career is 182 days 

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"There's nothing more motivating than fighting for your fans. I was really glad with their support and affection. Fans are good all over the world, but here in Brazil it's special. There'll be great fights, great MMA names. Jose Aldo is the man to be defeated on his division, like Anderson." -- Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight champion Mauricio Rua, via Tatame.com, pays the ultimate compliment to current UFC Featherweight Champion, Jose Aldo, comparing him to 185-pound kingpin, Anderson Silva. "The Spider," who is regarded by many to be the consensus number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world, is definitely atop the totem pole of mixed martial arts (MMA). Having won 15 straight fights, including a record breaking 14 consecutive in the Octagon to accompany nine title defenses (also a record) there's no denying Silva is the man many aspire to be like in the sport. Aldo, on the other hand, is also riding an impressive streak, winning 13 in a row dating back to his dominant run with the now defunct World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) promotion, which is coupled with five straight title defenses. Like Silva, he has not tasted defeat in more than five years. Coincidentally enough, Aldo often trains alongside Silva over at Team Blackhouse. Evidently, iron does indeed sharpen iron. "Scarface" will try to extend his win streak and continue his ascension to the top pound-for-pound ranks when he takes on undefeated wrestling powerhouse Chad Mendes this weekend (Jan. 14, 2012) at UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes," live from the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. At the young age of 25 and with plenty of years of competing ahead of him, can Aldo one day surpass his Brazilian counterpart as the greatest MMA fighter of all time?

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Next Saturday, Jose Aldo will put his title on the line against Chad Mendes. Their match headlines the UFC’s second foray into Brazil, after a wildly successful first show earlier this year. Jose, whose list of conquered foes contains Urijah Faber and Mike Brown, will be putting his title on the line for the fifth time. So what makes Chad "Money" Mendes different than Urijah Faber and Mike Brown? That's the question I asked myself when breaking down the scrap between Aldo and

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UFC Featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo Junior will step inside the Octagon for the third time in his Mixed Martial Arts career, this time facing Chad "Money" Mendes in the main event of UFC 142. Aldo used the services of MMA veterans Marlon Sandro (Bellator) and Gray Maynard (UFC) to prepare for Mendes, with sights on proving himself after a somewhat dsappointing performances against Kenny Florian and Mark Hominick. UFC 142 will take place at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on January 14th. Further

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Undefeated Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) featherweight Chad Mendes will have the unenviable task of stepping into the Octagon against one of the most dangerous strikers in mixed martial arts (MMA) -- 145-pound champion Jose Aldo. Mendes will collide with "Scarface" in the UFC 142 main event on Jan. 14, 2012, in hostile territory at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The former NCAA Division-1 wrestler has undoubtedly earned his shot at the featherweight title, remaining unbeaten (11-0) in his young mixed martial arts (MMA) career, while relying heavily on his exceptional mat experience to control the pace of fights. As a member of Team Alpha Male, Mendes has trained alongside UFC featherweight Urijah Faber, who can provide invaluable inside information to "Money," seeing as how "The California Kid" spent 25 minutes locked inside a cage with Aldo at World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) 48, losing via unanimous decision. In an attempt to brush up on his wrestling skills to contend with those of Mendes, Aldo enlisted the services of former number one contender, UFC lightweight Gray Maynard, another accomplished wrestling powerhouse. Speaking at today's UFC 142 conference call, Mendes feels that his skills are more than enough to dethrone the featherweight champion, regardless of who Aldo has in his camp. Check it out: "I don't care who Jose trains with. I train with some of the best guys in the world. It's what I've done my entire life and I don't take a year off ever. You can work with the best wrestler in the world but his wrestling is not going to be anywhere near mine. Maynard doesn't know how good I am. He's just saying that because he's training with Aldo. I feel I'm prepared. My stand-up is gonna be good and my wrestling will be better. I'm in the best spot possible. I think Jose has all the pressure on his shoulders. He's the one fighting in his home crowd, he's the one with the belt. I feel my skills are enough to beat him and all the pressure is on him. I don't think any of the guys that fought him have the wrestling credentials or ability to get him to the ground and hold him there. We figured out his strengths and weaknesses. We've gone over situations and we've come up with something that's gonna be great for the 14th." Unbeaten in his last 13 fights, Aldo has proven to be one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world, breezing through his opponents with relative ease, relying heavily on his laser-like striking. However, Mark Hominick -- who is not known for great wrestling -- was able to take the Brazilian down at will in their co-main event bout at UFC 129 this past April, taking the 145-pound champion the distance. It's an eye-opening performance that Mendes surely picked up on and hopes to capitalize when they step into the Octagon next weekend. Can Mendes go into the Brazilian's home turf and end the reign of Aldo atop the featherweight division using his impressive wrestling techniques? Or will "Scarface" continue his dominance with his striking in this classis striker vs. grappler match up? Predictions, please.

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“I have a good game plan and I’m confident that I’m going to do it — I’m excited. I think Jose has all the pressure on his shoulders. He’s the one fighting in front of his home crowd. He’s the one who has the belt. I’m the underdog everyone is overlooking, and I’m confident that the things I’m good at are what’s needed to beat him. I’m feeling confident going into this fight… I don’t think Jose has any holes or cracks in his game. I feel the same way about my game. I don’t have any holes… Guys have to get their hands on him more. Honestly, I don’t think any of the guys who have fought him have had half the wrestling credentials — or the wrestling ability — to get him down and hold him down. I think my strengths are my keys to beating Jose… Beating the champion in his own backyard? To me there’s no better way to prove that I’m the best 145-pound fighter. This is the best shape I’ve ever been in and I’m excited to get this opportunity.” — Chad Mendes on the UFC 142 conference call (via MMA Fighting) talking about his upcoming title fight against Jose Aldo at UFC 142 Jose Aldo is a tall order for anyone in the UFC’s featherweight division, especially in his home country of Brazil, but if any featherweight can beat Aldo, it’s Chad Mendes. This match-up reminds me a lot of Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen. You don’t want to stand in front of Aldo all fight because he’s just going to pick you apart. You need to put him on his back and hold him there, and if anyone has the strength and wrestling ability to keep Aldo off his feet, it’s Mendes. That doesn’t necessarily mean I’m picking Mendes, but stylistically, I think he has the best shot out of anyone in the featherweight division. Anyone think Mendes will win? Image via Sherdog

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In the end, everything boils down to training for Jose Aldo. The UFC featherweight champion believes he's found areas where opponent Chad Mendes is exposed to his brand of violence, and he admits there are places - one, really - where he'd like to avoid. "But really what it comes down to being well-trained and seeing if the training was well worth it, and if what I saw was really going to (help me) impose my game," Aldo today said.

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Chad Mendes is a decided underdog heading into his UFC 142 Rio bout with Jose Aldo. But he believes he's got what it takes to blast Aldo off his feet.

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Exciting featherweight champion Jose Aldo is a little more than a week away from defending his title in front of an arena of his fellow Brazilians with powerful wrestler Chad Mendes standing in his way, trying to fulfill a dream of his own by laying claim to divisional gold. However, before they mix it up inside the Octagon the two talented 145ers are set to sit down with media during a conference call this afternoon and discuss their upcoming bout. Joining them on the line will be middleweights Vitor Belfort and Anthony Johnson, two apt adversaries also scheduled to face off on January 14 at UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes. As always Five Ounces of Pain will be tuned in and listening throughout, ready to relay interesting information and scintillating soundbytes to readers as things unfold in real time. The call starts at 1:00 PM EST so make sure to check back in and see what the quartet of competitors had to say with their respective match-ups creeping ever closer. Read below for UFC 142 conference call highlights: Jose Aldo Chad Mendes Vitor Belfort Anthony Johnson PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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The Ultimate Fighting Championship will host a media conference call with the stars of the upcoming UFC RIO: ALDO vs. MENDES card on Wednesday, January 4, 2012, at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT. UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo and title challenger Chad Mendes will participate, while middleweight co-main event stars Vitor Belfort and Anthony Johnson will also be available to discuss their upcoming bout. As usual Bloody Elbow will be on the call. Follow Matthew Roth for instant updates via twitter (@mattroth512). Any major quotes and news will be posted after the jump following the conclusion of the media call. UFC 142 will be the UFC's first event of 2012 and the UFC's return to Brazil after a fantastic card the summer of 2011. Since that event Brazil has become very supportive of MMA and its fighters. Expect to see the same passion at UFC 142. SBN coverage of UFC RIO 142: Aldo vs. Mendes

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Filed under: UFCChad Mendes knows he's an underdog who will face a hostile crowd when he fights UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo in the main event at UFC 142. But Mendes is brimming with confidence at his chances of taking home the belt. "I have a good game plan and I'm confident that I'm going to do it -- I'm excited," Mendes said Wednesday. "I think Jose has all the pressure on his shoulders. He's the one fighting in front of his home crowd. He's the one who has the belt. I'm the underdog everyone is overlooking, and I'm confident that the things I'm good at are what's needed to beat him. I'm feeling confident going into this fight." That's not to say Mendes doesn't think highly of Aldo as an opponent. Mendes knows that Aldo is 20-1 in his MMA career, and that Aldo has gone 10-0 while dominating all ten opponents since leaving his native Brazil and making his North American debut in 2008. But Mendes thinks he has the right skill set to be the one to finally solve the puzzle of Aldo. "I don't think Jose has any holes or cracks in his game," Mendes said. But he quickly added, "I feel the same way about my game. I don't have any holes." Mendes has been working with his friend and training partner Urijah Faber, who lost a unanimous decision to Aldo in 2010, to formulate a game plan against Aldo. Mendes didn't give away all of his strategies, but he did say he believes other opponents have been too cautious and passive and failed to take the fight to Aldo. "I've watched his last few fights and that's something that's helped us put together a good game plan for this fight. I've sat down with Urijah," Mendes said. "Fighters stand in front of him too much. You've got to put pressure on Jose. He's the kind who will pick you apart." Given his wrestling background, it's no surprise that Mendes plans to clinch with Aldo and attempt to take him down. "Guys have to get their hands on him more," Mendes said. "Honestly, I don't think any of the guys who have fought him have had half the wrestling credentials -- or the wrestling ability -- to get him down and hold him down. I think my strengths are my keys to beating Jose." Mendes said he has no qualms about going to Brazil and beating a popular local fighter in front of a capacity crowd. "Beating the champion in his own backyard? To me there's no better way to prove that I'm the best 145-pound fighter," Mendes said. "This is the best shape I've ever been in and I'm excited to get this opportunity." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Ultimate Fighting Championship will hold a public press conference today (Jan. 4, 2011) in advance of UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes, which will take place next week (Jan. 14, 2011). The conference call will begin at 1 p.m. ET. Scheduled to attend will be the headlining fighters of the evening, Jose Aldo, Chad Mendes, Vitor Belfort and Anthony Johnson. Aldo is the current UFC featherweight champion. The rising Brazilian star defended his title twice in 2011 with unanimous decision victories over Kenny Florian and Mark Hominick. He's hoping to ring in the New Year with his first UFC finish. His opponent, Chad Mendes, is undefeated and finally feels he's ready for his moment to shine. "Money" Mendes has had his way with everyone put in his path, from Michihiro Omigawa, RanI Yahya to fellow top contender Erik Koch. The Team Alpha Male fighter is hoping his wrestling will help him win the title. Vitor Belfort is coming off an emphatic first round knockout of the hardheaded Yoshihiro Akiyama. He came up short in 2011 in his UFC middleweight title bid, and he's hoping a victory here, plus one over fellow Ultimate Fighter Brazil coach Wanderlei Silva will give him one more shot. Belfort's opponent, Anthony Johnson, is making the move to middleweight at least for now. Long heralded as the largest welterweight on the UFC roster who cut the most weight, "Rumble" will actually be two inches taller than Belfort with a four inch reach advantage. He's riding a two fight winning streak and could become a contender in either division with a victory. We'll have complete updates of the UFC 142 conference call after the jump: Brian Hemminger here. The press conference is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. ET.

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The UFC 142 fight card is complete again for “UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes” on January 14 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil after four fighters had to be replaced in recent weeks. UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo takes on Chad Mendes in the UFC 142 main event, while Anthony Johnson makes his middleweight debut against Vitor Belfort in the co-main event. The pay-per-view main card is filled out by Rousimar Palhares vs. Mike Massenzio, Erick Silva vs. Carlo Prater, and Terry Etim vs. Edson Barboza. The six-fight preliminary card, which is topped by Sam Stout vs. Thiago Tavares, airs live on FX. The complete UFC 142 fight card features: MAIN CARD Jose Aldo (c) vs. Chad Mendes UFC Featherweight Championship Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson Rousimar Palhares vs. Mike Massenzio Erick Silva vs. Carlo Prater Terry Etim vs. Edson Barboza PRELIMINARY CARD Sam Stout vs. Thiago Tavares Edinaldo Oliveira vs. Gabriel Gonzaga Yuri Alcantara vs. Michihiro Omigawa Mike Pyle vs. Ricardo Funch Fabio Maldonado vs. Caio Magalhaes Felipe Arantes vs. Antonio Carvalho For complete coverage of UFC 142 stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com. Pictured: Chad Mendes

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Check out the extended video preview of UFC Rio 2: Aldo vs. Mendes.

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There aren’t many things unbeaten featherweight Chad Mendes wants to be #2 at. However, when it comes to his January 14 title-bout against champion Jose Aldo at UFC 142 Mendes has no problem being second, at least when it comes to finishing the 20-1 Brazilian. Aldo’s only career loss came in his teens when he was submitted by Luciano Azevedo on a card in Brazil. He has since won thirteen straight, a run Mendes expects to stop cold come showtime. “If I want to take it to the ground, I take it to the ground. That’s where it’s gonna go,” explained the 26-year old in an extended preview for the event. “I don’t think he’s fought anybody with the athleticism, the strength, and the wrestling background that I have. It’s gonna be tough for him to throw any kind of submission when I’m on top, punching him in the face.” Mendes Thinks Aldo Could Have Easily Lost to Kenny Florian The 11-0 Mendes, who said he’s as motivated by the belt as he is in getting revenge for teammate Urijah Faber who lost to Aldo in 2010, offered up a telling prediction that no doubt may be used by the 145-pound king as “chalkboard” material. “If my right hand hits him on the chin he’s gonna go to sleep,” stated Mendes frankly. “I will defeat Jose Aldo. I’m gonna go into Brazil and I’m gonna take that belt.” Aldo-Mendes will be part of a PPV also featuring Sam Stout vs. Thiago Tavares and Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson. Preliminary fights will be shown on FX. Check out the full preview below: PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, i ’m, aldo, mende, luciano azevedo

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The UFC will make its return to Brazil for UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes, as UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo defends his title against Chad Mendes. Aldo, a native of Brazil, will be looking to defend his title successfully for a third time in the UFC. Mendes sports a perfect 11-0 record. “I am looking at this kind of like a ‘Rocky’ story,” Mendes said. “I am fighting the champion in his backyard, and I am going to take it from him.” In the co-main event, Vitor Belfort meets Anthony Johnson. Other bouts scheduled for the card include Rousimar Palhares vs. Mike Massenzio, Erick Silva against Carlo Prater, and Edson Barboza vs. Terry Etim. Every fight, including the prelim card, has at least one Brazilian competing in it. Others in action include Gabriel Gonzaga and Sam Stout. UFC 142 takes place January 14 from the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The five-fight main card airs live on pay-per-view while the prelims will be televised by FX. Check out the preview below:

Posted in: ufc, vs, brazil, aldo, mende

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"The way I see it, Chad Mendes is a great athlete, a very mature kid, but honestly I don't believe he's ready to fight Jose Aldo. I think it's too soon, he needed to fight few more times, but well... I'm not the one to decide that, it's just my opinion on the subject. Jose Aldo is a great champion, you can tell he feels comfortable at the cage and it seems he does what he wants to do in there. He's an impressive guy a while now I'll do whatever it is I can do to help him out. It's a pleasure training with a guy that talented. I can only say "thank you, Jose Aldo."" -- Former lightweight title contender Gray Maynard is training down at Nova Uniao with Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo to both sharpen his jiu-jitsu skills and help prepare "Junior" for his title defense against Chad Mendes at UFC 142 on Jan. 14 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. While there, "The Bully" took a minute to talk to Tatame.com about the upcoming 145-pound title scrap. And if Maynard is to be believed, Mendes is in over his head because he's just not ready for a bout against Aldo, a perennial pound-for-pound pugilist. For as "Money" as the Team Alpha Male product has looked throughout his career, winning each time out, that only encapsulates 11 fights over three years. Anyone agree with Maynard that Mendes isn't quite ready to swim with the top shark in the 145-pound weight class?

Posted in: fight, jose, aldo, chad mendes, mende

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [comment]

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Unbeaten since his sole career defeat in 2005, reigning Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo currently owns a 13-fight winning streak, with 12 of his 20 professional victories coming by way of knockout. Among those who have attempted to derail the Brazilian, few have succeeded in taking so much as a round from Aldo. So, how does one neutralize such a threat?

Posted in: fight, jose, jose aldo, aldo, career defeat

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Dominant featherweight champion Jose Aldo’s struggles while growing up in Brazil are well-documented. Dealing with abject poverty from a young age, Aldo was fueled more by an overwhelming desire to become a professional fighter more so than by actual food. Now, with his dream fulfilled and status as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in MMA, Aldo has turned his attention towards one day coaching a season of the Ultimate Fighter set in his home-country. The 20-1 Aldo spoke some about it earlier this week at a press conference related to his upcoming bout at UFC 142, a show taking place in Rio de Janeiro, where he mentioned he hopes to follow in the footsteps of Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort who are poised to coach the inaugural run of TUF Brasil. Aldo Staying at 145 for Foreseeable Future “I dream about it and I hope someday I can be a coach of TUF. I hope it’s here in Brazil, because it’d be wonderful, so that I can show you a new champion as good as me in Ultimate,” said Aldo in a post-presser interview with TATAME. In fact, Aldo believes he actually has some insight into the process even though he’s never been part of the popular reality show before. Before hitting his stride in WEC/UFC Aldo lived with a group of his Nova Uniao teammates. “I lived in the gym with people from other places in Brazil and I became a champion. That’s the result of a lot of work. My past was great, it helped me to become the champion I currently am.” Aldo will face Chad Mendes on January 14 in the main event at UFC 142. He will enter the bout on a thirteen-fight winning streak including past victories over Urijah Faber, Mark Hominick, and Kenny Florian. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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A special UFC Rio: Aldo vs. Mendes press conference with UFC president Dana White was held on Tuesday, December 13 to announce details of the event, scheduled for January 14th at HSBC Arena. In addition to announcing the complete fight card and ticket on-sale information for the event, White revealed that Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva would coach the two teams featured in the first Brazilian version of The Ultimate Fighter. White confirmed that the show will premiere on March 25th with a season finale scheduled for June.The event marks the first Rede Globo broadcast of an edition of The Ultimate Fighting Championship held in Brazil. “We are very happy with the success of the event in Brazil, and that is why we knew we wanted to go back to Rio de Janeiro as soon as possible”, he concluded.Attending the press conference were White, Lorenzo Fertitta, CEO of the UFC, featherweight champion Jose Aldo and contender Chad Mendes, as well as middleweights Vitor Belfort and Anthony Johnson. UFC RIO: Aldo vs. Mendes Reigning UFC featherweight champion Aldo (20-1) is undefeated in the UFC; in January, he will put his belt on the line against the undefeated Mendes. "“It’s a great emotion to be able to defend my belt in Brazil," said Aldo. "It will be a tough fight, but the important thing is to do my job." Born and raised in Leblon, in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro, Belfort (20-9) will finally fulfill his dream of fighting in his hometown. “I have always believed in my sport, and it will be an honor to fight in Rio de Janeiro with all my team," said the former UFC champion. "I really can’t express my happiness." His opponent, Johnson (10-3), his known for his toughness. Coming off of two resounding wins in the welterweight division, Johnson is now moving up to fight middleweight to meet Belfort. Brazilian fans will also be able to see nine more of their own in action at UFC Rio: Rousimar “Toquinho” Palhares (middleweight), Erick Silva (welterweight) and Edson Barboza (lightweight),  Thiago Tavares (lightweight), Paulo Thiago (welterweight), Yuri “Marajó” Alcântara (featherweight), Fabio Maldonado (light-heavyweight), Ednaldo “Lula” Olivera (heavyweight) and Felipe “Sertanejo” Arantes (featherweight) will all defend the Brazilian flag in the HSBC Arena.Ticket informationUFC Rio: Aldo vs. Mendes tickets went on sale Wednesday, December 14 at 11:30 pm (local), exclusively through www.ingresso.com website. Sections and prices are as follows: Single Bleacher Sector (R$ 275 / R$ 137,50 – half-price ticket). North and South Special Chairs (R$ 1.000 / R$ 500 – half-price ticket), East and West Premiere Chairs (R$ 1.600 / R$ 800 – half-price) and North and South Premiere Octagon (R$ 1.600 – R$ 800 – half-price). There will also be sectors for People With Special Needs (R$ 137,50) and Premiere People With Special Needs (R$ 800).Scheduled for January 14th at HSBC Arena, UFC Rio also had an HSBC customer ticket pre-sale, which sold out in under four hours.Also at the press conference, the UFC announced a partnership with the Ministry of Health to support the national campaign for the fight against dengue.

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Countdown to UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes" will debut Tues., Jan. 10, 2012 at 9:00 p.m. ET on Fuel TV to promote the upcoming pay-per-view (PPV) event scheduled for the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Sat., Jan. 14, 2012. The network special will provide a glimpse into the preparation and training camps of the fighters set to headline the show, featuring current featherweight champion Jose Aldo and number one contender to the throne Chad Mendes. Replays of "Countdown to UFC 142" will air sporadically throughout the entire FOX family of networks, including FX. "Aldo vs. Mendes" will also feature Vitor Belfort making his big return in front of his native people to take on Anthony Johnson, who will be making his middleweight debut. Here is the current UFC 142 fight card and line-up: Main event: 145 lbs.: Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes Main card (pay-per-view): 185 lbs.: Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson155 lbs.: Thiago Tavares vs. Sam Stout155 lbs.: Edson Barboza vs. Terry Etim185 lbs.: Rousimar Palhares vs. Mike Massenzio Preliminary card (May not be broadcast): 170 lbs.: Paulo Thiago vs. Mike Pyle205 lbs.: Fabio Maldonado vs. Stanislav Nedkov170 lbs.: Siyar Bahadurzada vs. Erick Silva145 lbs.: Michihiro Omigawa vs. Yuri Alcantara145 lbs.: Felipe Arantes vs. Antonio Carvalho265 lbs.: Rob Broughton vs. Ednaldo Oliveira MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action on fight night (Sat., Jan. 14), which is slated to air at 9 p.m. ET on pay-per-view. The latest quick updates of the live action will begin to flow earlier than that around 6:30 p.m. ET with the preliminary bouts. For the latest UFC 142 news and notes click here.

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The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to Brazil in January for UFC 142, which features a featherweight title fight between current champion Jose Aldo and undefeated contender Chad Mendes. In anticipation of that championship matchup, FUEL TV debuts "Countdown to UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes" on Tuesday, Jan 10 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. "Countdown to UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes" takes place Jan. 14 at Rio de Janeiro's HSBC Arena.

Posted in: ufc, countdown, aldo, mende, championship returns

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will head back to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Jan. 14, 2012, with a UFC 142 fight card stacked with home grown talent. In the main event of the evening, Jose Aldo will defend his featherweight championship against top contender and suffocating wrestling Chad Mendes. In addition, super popular Brazilian banger Vitor Belfort will get his chance to show off in front of his native fans against middleweight debutant Anthony Johnson. To get fans pumped up for the upcoming pay-per-view, UFC President Dana White kicked things off with a UFC 142 pre-fight press conference earlier today (Dec. 13, 2011) from Rio, featuring the aforementioned sluggers staring each other down. And yes, even at middleweight, "Rumble" is still huge. Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson staredown pic, after the jump. For more on UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes" click here.

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Filed under: UFCUFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo appeared in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, where he'll defend his title against Chad Mendes at UFC 142 next month. That fight will take place at the HSBC Arena, where the UFC played before a capacity crowd in August. But Aldo is hoping to fight in a much bigger Brazilian venue in the future. "I hope one day to be able to fight in a football stadium," Aldo said. That opportunity may come soon: UFC President Dana White said that while he's in Brazil this week he'll be looking at stadiums, and there are indications that ticket demand remains very strong in Brazil. One Brazilian reporter pressed White on Tuesday about why so many fans were left disappointed in August when they couldn't get tickets. (White's advice: Get online immediately tickets go on sale Wednesday.) Aldo, who will be fighting back home in Brazil for the first time since he signed with Zuffa in 2008, said there will be some distractions associated with having family and friends around, but he said that won't make a difference come fight time. "I have to put all that out of my mind," Aldo said. Some other notes on the UFC 142 press conference. Mendes thinks he has one key advantage in preparing for Aldo: He trains every day with Urijah Faber, who has faced Aldo before. "Having a teammate in Urijah Faber who's already fought Jose is an advantage for me," Mendes said. "We were able to sit down and put together a great game plan for this camp based on that. Urijah trains with me every day." Don't get your hopes up for Anderson Silva vs. Jon Jones: White has said he views Silva and Jones as the two best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, but when a Brazilian reporter asked if that meant the two of them would fight each other, White said he doesn't see either man taking on an opponent outside his own weight class any time soon. "Jon Jones has a couple of obligations. He has to fight the winner of Rashad Evans and Phil Davis," White said. "Anderson Silva has been very reluctant to move up to 205 pounds. We'll see. We always try to make the fights that people want to see. If people want it, we'll try to make it." Anthony Johnson isn't expecting to go back down to welterweight: Johnson, who is moving up to middleweight to face Vitor Belfort in the co-main event at UFC 142, said he's putting all his focus on his new weight class. "Right now 170 isn't in my mind at all," Johnson said. "My mission is to conquer 185." Belfort thinks MMA can be bigger than soccer: "I remember when Dana White said UFC was going to become the No. 1 sport in the world," Belfort said. "He wasn't crazy when he said that." Brazilian fans want to see some non-Brazilian stars: Multiple members of the Brazilian media questioned White about why none of the promotion's top North American stars are on this card. White said he has a lot of Brazilian fighters on the UFC roster who requested to fight in Brazil, and that didn't leave much room for non-Brazilian fighters. "This is our second fight here and you have people who it's always been their dream to fight here," White said. "But yes, we will bring in talent from around the world. Georgest St. Pierre or whoever else it might be. We do realize people here want to see them too." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Seven seconds. That's what it took for Chan Sung Jung to knock out Mark Hominick at UFC 140. Seven seconds. That number officially ties The Korean Zombie for fastest KO in UFC history (alongside Todd Duffee). Any fast victory like that is extremely impressive, but the fact that it came against Mark Hominick? That is something special indeed. With that win, Chan Sung Jung suddenly vaults into the upper levels of the Featherweight ranks. But after this win, Jung shouldn't just be near the top. Chan Sung Jung should be next in line for a shot at the Featherweight title. That's quite a jump, I know. After all, Jung is only on a 2 fight win streak, and prior to those 2 wins, he had been rather emphatically knocked out himself by George Roop, and lost a controversial decision to Leonard Garcia. There are plenty of fighters above him in the ranks - men like Hatsu Hioki, Roop, Dustin Poirier, and Erik Koch. From a purely sports/rankings perspectives, those men should get the shot, it's true. But that doesn't mean it's the right choice for the division. Just one year into their time in the UFC, the Featherweights are still struggling for relevance. Aldo looks to be gaining popularity, but it's a slow process, and his lack of big highlight reel wins inside the Octagon is not helping. Next up for the champion is Chad Mendes, in a fight that will perhaps interest the live crowd in Brazil and the hardcore MMA fanbase, but I don't see Aldo vs. Mendes drawing in many casual fans. Same goes for Aldo versus any one of those contenders named above. And that's assuming Aldo wins. A Mendes vs. Poirier title fight would be destined for Fuel or FX. But Jung is different. Thanks largely to his epic brawl with Garcia, he has a strong appeal for casual fans. Like Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar years ago, Jung will forever get respect for his part in that fight. Add in the nickname, the persona, and the t-shirts, and you have a fighter that casual fans recognize and respond to. Now, casual fan recognition is not the only factor, obviously. If it was, we'd be looking ahead to UFC 147: Junior dos Santos vs. Kimbo Slice. You need the credentials to back that recognition. At UFC 140, Jung established those credentials. Mark Hominick is a near 10 year veteran of the sport. He is one of the best strikers in the division. He went 25 minutes with Jose Aldo. He's never been stopped by strikes. And in seven seconds, Jung took him out. Those are serious credentials, and when you pair them with his popularity, you have a strong title contender. Right now, the division needs a boost. As the division works to establish itself, it needs main event names fans can get behind - as we saw with Kenny Florian's fast-track to a title shot. The WEC always understood this, vaulting men up to title shots quickly if they had momentum. Chan Sung Jung has that momentum, and he will provide that name. He's exactly what the division needs. Can he defeat Jose Aldo? Probably not, but that's not really the point. The point is, he can make you care to find out the answer. Jose Aldo vs. The Korean Zombie for the UFC Featherweight title. Make it happen Joe Silva.

Posted in: ufc, title, division, jung, aldo

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Mark Hominick didn’t beat Jose Aldo when they met in April at UFC 129, but he did go the distance with the UFC featherweight champion in what was a breakthrough performance.

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On Jan. 14, Chad Mendes will have the biggest opportunity of his MMA career when he challenges featherweight champion Jose Aldo at UFC 142.

Posted in: aldo, mma career, chad, mende, aldos belt

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The UFC 142 fight card is now officially complete, as the UFC has confirmed a welterweight showdown between Paulo Thiago and Mike Pyle and a heavyweight matchup between Rob Broughton and Ednaldo Oliveira for the January 14 event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. UFC 142 is headlined by UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo taking on Chad Mendes, while middleweight contender Vitor Belfort welcomes welterweight slugger Anthony Johnson to 185-pounds in the co-main event. Here’s the complete UFC 142 fight card, though the exact bout order has not yet been finalized: MAIN CARD Jose Aldo (c) vs. Chad Mendes UFC Featherweight Championship Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson Siyar Bahadurzada vs. Erick Silva Sam Stout vs. Thiago Tavares Paulo Thiago vs. Mike Pyle PRELIMINARY CARD Terry Etim vs. Edson Barboza Rousimar Palhares vs. Mike Massenzio Fabio Maldonado vs. Stanislov Nedkov Edinaldo Oliveira vs. Rob Broughton Felipe Arantes vs. Antonio Carvalho Yuri Alcantara vs. Michihiro Omigawa For complete coverage of UFC 142, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com. Pictured: Jose Aldo

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If you invite them, they will come ... maybe. UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo is preparing to defend his title against one of the best wrestlers in the division, former All American college wrestler, Chad Mendes. Mendes, the former WEC standout, is undefeated in his young mixed martial arts career and relies heavily on his wrestling background. So much so, that he has won six out of his last seven fights via unanimous decision. "Money," who naturally uses his wrestling skills to dictate the pace of the fight, will definitely pose problems for Aldo when it comes to the grappling department. How does Aldo plan on preparing for such a dangerous wrestler? By training with another wrestling guru, of course; specifically, former lightweight title challenger Gray Maynard. Maynard, who was co-captain of the Michigan State University team during his college days and a 2004 U.S. Olympic Wrestling team hopeful, has also relied on his wrestling pedigree to get the job done throughout his career and has the credentials to be of great assistance to Aldo's ever expanding game. Speaking to Sherdog.com, "Scarface" says he hopes to bring Maynard in to help prepare him for his fifth title defense against Mendes, which headlines UFC 142 in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, on Jan. 14, 2012. "We have a big interest in bringing Maynard to train with me. He has such strong wrestling and we want people that (have) the same game Chad Mendes does. Mendes is a competitive and hard guy to fight. Me and Maynard have been in touch since UFC 136, and he also said it's his will to train with us at Nova Uniao, but nothing is confirmed thus far, especially because of the Thanksgiving holiday. I'm waiting for the answer." Maynard, who was last seen at UFC 136 on October 8, 2011, being knocked out at the hands of UFC lightweight champion and arch nemesis Frankie Edgar in the final chapter of their trilogy, recently parted ways with long time camp Xtreme Couture out of Las Vegas, Nevada. After suffering the first loss of his mixed martial arts career, Maynard seeks newer pastures to broaden his horizens in order to climb the ranks of the UFC lightweight division once again. Though Maynard has not settled on a new gym he can call home, he has stated that he wouldn't be opposed to traveling to as many gyms in order to train with as many new partners as possible in hopes of increasing his MMA knowledge. A few training sessions with one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world would definitely benefit Maynard as much as it would Aldo. But is bringing in "The Bully" enough to help "Scarface" neutralize the wrestling skills of Chad Mendes? Or will "Money" prove that he has what it takes to dethrone the UFC featherweight champion regardless of who he trains with? Opinions, please.

Posted in: ufc, train, maynard, aldo, mende

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Jose Aldo will put his UFC featherweight title on the line against Chad Mendes at UFC 142, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on January 14. An elite striker and Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist, Aldo wants to focus his attention on wrestling, Mendes' specialty. To sharpen his takedown defense, the 145-pound king invited former UFC lightweight No. 1 contender Gray Maynard to join his camp.

Posted in: ufc, aldo, chad mendes, mende, janeiro brazil

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [1 comment]

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Soccer is serious business in Brazil and not something to be played with or make jokes about. Not even Chael Sonnen, who might be the most hated person in Brazil has dared to make light of soccer team rivalries. Maybe when Chad Mendes tweeted a picture of himself wearing Jose Aldo's rival team jersey he didn't realize that joking about soccer is like Ray Liotta telling Joe Pesci he's a 'funny guy' in the movie Goodfellas. Jose Aldo is letting him know now though. The picture Chad Mendes recently posted is of himself smiling and wearing a Vasco soccer jersey, Vasco is Aldo's Flamengo team rival. The rivalry between the two teams is fierce and according to an interview with Esporte Aldo says Mendes has no idea what he is geting himself into: "He did it just to spice up the fight. He doesn't understand this rivalry of Vasco and Flamengo. There will be a classic, it will be Brazil against the United States. The crowd will be with me Vasco and Flamengo will be still more against him." "I'm doing everything right in the gym and will not go wrong, "said the champion. "I've got the same style fighters with him and won. The business now is to train, get out there and bust. "  Here's a side by side view of the rivalry brewing for UFC 142: RIO II coming up January 14, 2012. [source]

Posted in: team, aldo, rivalry, soccer, vasco

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Chad "Money" Mendes will have his shot at becoming a champion in the UFC, facing the Featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo in the main event of UFC 142. According to Mendes, Jose Aldo doesn't like to be on the ground, and that's exactly where he he's going to put him. Still, Mendes promised to have his striking just as sharp, with sights on proving he's a well rounded Mixed Martial Artist against Jose Aldo. The card will take place at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, co-headlined by the Middleweight

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Event: UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes"Date: Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012, at 10 p.m. ET on pay-per-view (PPV)Location: HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Main event: 145 lbs.: Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes Main card (pay-per-view): 185 lbs.: Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson155 lbs.: Thiago Tavares vs. Sam Stout155 lbs.: Edson Barboza vs. Terry Etim Preliminary card (May not be broadcast): TBA** **Fight card and line-up subject to change For more on UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes" be sure to hit up our event archive right here.

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The UFC Bantamweight division is in trouble. Dominick Cruz is a dominant champion who has come close to cleaning out the division, but his style and personality have not clicked with fans. Urijah Faber is the only semi-name in the division, leaving casual fans almost no one to grab their attention. The result? A severe lack of fan interest in the fledgling division. With nearly every top Bantamweight already holding a loss to Cruz, it looked like the division might have to wait some time before catching on with the casual fans. Enter Renan Barao. At UFC 138, the Brazilian fighter turned in a star-making performance, crushing Brad Pickett in the first round and establishing himself as one of the top new names at 135. And with this win, Barao may have just proved himself as the man to bring life to the division. Barao's win is sure to draw comparisons to his Nova Uniao teammate Jose Aldo, and with good reason. Like the UFC Featherweight champion, Barao is the kind of dynamic, explosive fighter that fans were promised when these lighter division came to the UFC. He's exactly what the division needs - a fighter that fans can rally behind. So the big question is - now that the UFC has a potential Bantamweight star on their hands, what do they do with him? There is an obvious temptation to fast track Barao into a title shot. With champion Cruz on the sidelines, we may have some time before the next defense. An option would be for Barao to face the winner of UFC 139's Urijah Faber vs. Brian Bowles fight in two weeks, with the winner moving on to a title shot. But I don't believe that is the move to make. The UFC should send Barao down the same path Aldo traveled in the WEC. Right now, Barao is in the same position Aldo was after defeating Rolando Perez at WEC 38. He's scored his first televised win, and immediately turned heads in the process. But with Aldo, the WEC did not rush the title shot, giving him two more high profile fights and wins before setting up the Aldo vs. Mike Brown title clash. By the time that fight rolled around at WEC 44, Aldo had tremendous momentum and fan interest on his side - both of which have carried over to his current run as the UFC champion and his status among many as a top five pound for pound fighter. Barao can reach those same levels. And the UFC 138 win over Pickett was a great first step to getting there. But it was just that - a step. The UFC has a potential star on their hands, but to get the most out of this star, they need to introduce him to a wider range of fans first. Put his next fight on the PPV portion of a strong card and let the casual fanbase get excited about this new Bantamweight phenom. After that? Put him against Cruz and cross your fingers. If all goes well, Bantamweight could have their own Jose Aldo, and a new champion to put in the pound for pound rankings.

Posted in: ufc, division, fan, barao, aldo

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UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo will fulfill a lifelong dream when he fights in front of friends, family, and countrymen on January 14 at UFC 142 where he will defend his title against undefeated grappler Chad Mendes. The event, previously rumored but now confirmed by the UFC, is believed to be taking place in Rio de Janeiro as their South American stop in August did. Mendes has been very vocal concerning his belief that he has the dynamic Brazilian’s number based in large part on Aldo’s lackluster wrestling. With eleven wins in eleven attempts, as well as victories over apt adversaries such as Rani Yahya, Michihiro Omigawa, and Erik Koch, the 26-year old Californian’s claims certainly can’t be completely dismissed. Mendes Sees Glaring Holes in Aldo’s Attack The 20-1 Aldo is coming off a fairly one-sided outpointing of Kenny Florian at UFC 136 and will be putting his belt up for the third time since crossing over from WEC. He is currently on a thirteen fight winning streak including success against Mike Brown, Manny Gamburyan, Mark Hominick, and Urijah Faber. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, jose aldo, kenny florian, aldo, mende

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The next UFC Featherweight title fight is set, as champion Jose Aldo will face Chad Mendes at UFC 142 on January 14. The bout has been confirmed at UFC.com: After the success of UFC Rio in August, UFC officials promised that they would stage another event in the country as soon as possible. That return has now been confirmed as UFC 142, to be held January 14 in a to-be-named Brazilian city. Besides the date, a title-fight main event was also confirmed. Pound-for-pound superstar Jose Aldo will fight in Brazil for the first time since 2007 when he defends his UFC featherweight title against unbeaten powerhouse Chad Mendes. Jose Aldo has been the combined WEC / UFC Featherweight champion for over two years. He's defended the belt a total of four times, including two defenses in the UFC. During this time, he's moved up the ranks to be considered one of the top pound for pound fighters in the world by many fans and analysts. Chad Mendes poses an interesting threat to the champion. The 11-0 fighter is a wrestler who trains with Aldo's former for Urijah Faber as part of Team Alpha Male. He's also 2-0 in the UFC. That wrestling background will make him a unique challenge for Aldo. So far, Aldo has not faced a fighter who has focused his game and taking down the champion and grinding him out. We've also seen Aldo struggle with the weight cut to 145 pounds and talk openly about leaving the division. Against Mark Hominick, Aldo slowed in the later rounds. Mendes, like his Alpha Male teammates, can push a furious pace. He's never been in a five round championship fight, but if he can keep the pace on Aldo, it could be his path to upsetting the champion. Look for more updates on the UFC's return to Brazil in the coming weeks. Jose Aldo (20-1)W - Kenny Florian (Unanimous Decision, UFC 136)W - Mark Hominick (Unanimous Decision, UFC 129)W - Manny Gamburyan (KO R2, WEC 51 Chad Mendes (11-0)W - Rani Yahya (Unanimous Decision, UFC 133)W - Michihiro Omigawa (Unanimous Decision, UFC 126)W - Javier Vasquez (Unanimous Decision, WEC 52)

Posted in: ufc, champion, aldo, chad, mende

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UFC featherweight phenom Jose Aldo‘s wish came true today when it was revealed the dynamic Brazilian will get a chance to defend his divisional title in front of a hometown crowd when the UFC returns to the South American hub on January 14 for UFC 142. As expected, Aldo will face undefeated Team Alpha Male representative Chad Mendes. Aldo and Mendes could be the start of an America vs. Brazil rivalry, as the two will likely be one of numerous pairings involving the clash of nationalities and also meet a few months before a likely encounter between UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen. For Aldo, the bout will mark the first time he has fought in Brazil since 2007. “Scarface” is 20-1 in his career and has won thirteen straight fights including back-to-back decision victories to defend his UFC title against Kenny Florian and Mark Hominick. Mendes (11-0) is 2-0 in the UFC since the company folded in the WEC. He has won seven of his fights via decision and two each by KO and submission. “Aldo hasn’t lost in over five years, but Mendes has yet to lose in MMA, and after clearing out all the contenders put in his way, he believes he has what it takes to beat the champion,” said UFC President Dana White in a recent interview with FOX Sports’ website and has since been announced by the UFC. A venue for the title fight has yet to be decided, but rumors have mentioned Rio de Janeiro as a possible site meaning the promotion would likely return to the HSBC Arenar where UFC 134 was held. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, title, brazil, aldo, mende

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Jose Aldo will defend his UFC featherweight title against unbeaten Chad Mendes on Jan. 14 in Brazil.

Posted in: title, jose, january, aldo, chad

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Jose Aldo is coming home. (He's coming home. Tell the world, he's coming home.) After defeating longtime veteran Kenny Florian a little over three weeks ago at UFC 136 in Houston, Texas, Aldo already has his next fight lined up, against undefeated wrestling powerhouse, Chad Mendes. Only this time, Aldo will be fighting on his home soil. It will be the first time he has done so since May 2007. UFC President Dana White broke the news today to FOXSports.com: "Pound-for-pound superstar Jose Aldo will return home to fight in Brazil for the first time since 2007 when he defends his UFC featherweight title against unbeaten powerhouse Chad Mendes. Aldo hasn't lost in over five years, but Mendes has yet to lose in MMA, and after clearing out all the contenders put in his way, he believes he has what it takes to beat the champion." "Scarface" will be trying to add to his impressive 13-fight win streak, which includes notable victories over such superstars as Urijah Faber and the previously mentioned Florian.  Team Alpha Male's Mendes is undefeated in his young mixed martial arts career, boasting a record of 11-0 just three years into the game. This will be, without a doubt, his stiffest test to date. Mendes and Aldo were originally set to collide at UFC 133 this past August, but the injury bug forced the featherweight champ to bow out. Instead of riding the pine to preserve his title shot, Mendes opted to stay on the card and defeated a very game Rani Yahya. UFC 141 will take place in Brazil on Jan. 14, 2012, the second such trip for the world's largest fight promotion in the past six months. No word on whether or not Aldo vs. Mendes will be the main event of the evening. Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more on this still-developing fight card.

Posted in: aldo, mende, ufc, home, fight

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Jose Aldo’s next title defense is set. As expected, Chad Mendes will challenge Aldo for his UFC featherweight title, but catch is he’ll have to do it in hostile territory. That’s right, the fight is set to go down in Brazil on Jan. 14 when the UFC returns to Rio de Janeiro for UFC 142. Following an initial report from Tatame, Dana White confirmed the news with FOXSports.com. Fighting in his home country of Brazil, Jose Aldo will defend his UFC Featherweight Title Jan. 14 in UFC 142 against undefeated fighter Chad Mendes, FOXSports.com has learned. “Pound-for-pound superstar Jose Aldo will return home to fight in Brazil for the first time since 2007 when he defends his UFC featherweight title against unbeaten powerhouse Chad Mendes,” UFC president Dana White told FOXSports.com. “Aldo hasn’t lost in over five years, but Mendes has yet to lose in MMA, and after clearing out all the contenders put in his way, he believes he has what it takes to beat the champion.” Beating Jose Aldo in any country is a tall order. Beating Jose Aldo in Brazil might be next to impossible. Chad Mendes could be the guy to do it though. His Division 1 wrestling game might be the answer for Aldo’s lightening fast speed and devastating striking. We’ll find out in January. Image via Tracy Lee for Yahoo! Sports

Posted in: ufc, jose, aldo, chad mendes, mende

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Fight card and rumors for UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes, which takes place on January 14, 2012, at in Brazil.

Posted in: ufc, fight, vs, rumor, aldo

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A UFC featherweight title fight between champion Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes has been set for UFC 142. Foxsports.com broke the news earlier today. The fight was originally supposed to take place at UFC 133 but linguring injuries to Jose Aldo forced the event to be postponed. Aldo is coming off a recent win over Kenny Florian at UFC 136. Aldo is currently riding a thirteen fight winstreak dating back to 2006. Aldo will be looking to defend his UFC title for the third time. Chad Mendes defeated Rani Yahya at UFC 133 to stay in contention for the title. Mendes is 11-0 in his career and has used his dominant wrestling base to overwhelm most of his opponents. UFC 142 is tenatively set for January 14 at the HSBC Arena in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Expect more bout announcements to made in the coming weeks.  

Posted in: ufc, aldo, chad mendes, mende, bout announcements

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Jose Aldo to Face Chad Mendes January 14th. The story, which was originally posted on Fox Sports, also mentions Aldo's relationship with Anderson Silva and Mendes' friendship with Chael Sonnen.

Posted in: jose aldo, aldo, mende, aldos relationship, mendes friendship

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Cue the music, Diddy. UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo is coming home. Jose Aldo will defend his belt against top contender Chad Mendes at January's UFC 142 event in the UFC featherweight champion's native country of Brazil. UFC president Dana White today revealed the booking to FOXSports.com, and MMAjunkie.com has since confirmed the promotion's plan.

Posted in: ufc, jose, featherweight, aldo, chad mendes

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Filed under: UFC, NewsLess than a month after successfully defending his UFC featherweight belt, champion Jose Aldo has his next assignment. The Brazilian will return home and attempt to extend his current run of dominance over the division in a stern test against undefeated American Chad Mendes. The bout will take place at UFC 142 in Brazil, though an exact venue has yet to be officially announced. UFC president Dana White broke the news to FoxSports.com on Monday night. The matchup comes as no surprise. Shortly after Aldo defended the belt in a win over Kenny Florian at UFC 136 on October 8, White said that Mendes was his likely next challenger. Aldo (20-1) has not lost a fight in six years, and has won 13 in a row. Since winning the WEC championship in Nov. 2009, Aldo has defeated all four of his challengers, even as the promotion was absorbed by the UFC and the belt was re-christened as the UFC championship. Mendes is a perfect 11-0 in his career. He debuted under the Zuffa banner in March 2010 and has won all six of his fights. His most recent bout came against Rani Yahya at UFC 133, a fight which he won by unanimous decision. Some have speculated that Mendes, a former two-time collegiate wrestling All-American, could give Aldo trouble by employing his grinding style. Thus far in his career, though, Aldo has been up to the challenge. According to FightMetric, he's only been taken down twice in his last 10 fights, and has successfully defended 94 percent of the takedown attempts against him. The Aldo vs. Mendes fight is the first one officially announced by the UFC for the January 14 event.  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, monday night, aldo, mende

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Jose Aldo will defend his UFC featherweight title on January 14th at UFC 142.The defence will take place in his native Brazil and the opponent will be...

Posted in: ufc, title, jose, jose aldo, aldo

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"The Hammer," the major motion picture that tells the life story of former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight Matt Hamill, is set to open this weekend at select theatres. The movie depicts the life of the Utica, N.Y., native and how he has faced challenges as a deaf athlete from his childhood in Loveland, Ohio, to the Octagon. Now, another UFC fighter will have a movie made about his trials and tribulations on his road to mixed martial arts (MMA) stardom, as it has been revealed that featherweight champion Jose Aldo will be the focus of a new movie set to come out in 2012. According to Tatame.com, "Vale Tudo" -- the title for the proposed project -- is still being written, meaning the details such as cast and set locations are still being considered. Though information about the movie is sketchy at this point, the man selected to portray the UFC featherweight champion has been confirmed. Brazilian actor Malvino Salvador will portray Aldo in what the actor says is a similar story to the one he experienced: "There're two motivations for this movie. Aldo born in the same city I did, so we're in the same tune. Second, he left Manaus to another state, went through many things like I did, built a career and today is one of the best fighters in the world." Aldo, who most recently defended his 145-pound title with a unanimous decision win over Kenny Florian at UFC 136, also chimed in on the actor selected to portray him: "He's my twin brother. He's just like me, but I'm more handsome." The movie's director, Afonso Poyart, gave a little insight on the movies basis: "His story has all components for a good film, a fiction filled with the elements we need, like romance, fights... It's an adventure". With movies such as "Warrior" and "The Hammer" being released this year, MMA is reaching new levels of mainstream media that many would have never thought possible just a few years ago. "Vale Tudo" is yet another project aimed to help the sport, as well as its most provocative personal stories, reach the masses. No word yet on whether the film will have an international release.

Posted in: ufc, life, story, aldo, movie

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submitted by AbeRudder [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: vs, jose, aldo, chad, mende

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At UFC 136, Kenny Florian got picked apart by Jose Aldo in what I felt was a brilliant, very underappreciated performance. Aldo won the fight everywhere. On the feet he outclassed Kenny. On the ground, Aldo made him look almost amateurish. It was a fantastic performance, but the narrative of Kenny "choking" once again seemed to overshadow Aldo's technical acumen (who wants to talk about the sport anyway?). I think people's perception of Kenny Florian is a bit skewered. He's thought of as a world class fighter who can't win the big one. When really, he's simply an overachiever. He's very skilled, but he's not physically imposing. Between Gray Maynard's strength, and Jose Aldo's speed, Kenny doesn't have the traits to overcome significant physical deficits. A world title fight requires the ability to if not hit a home run, threaten with one, and Florian can only step on that five sided plate with singles at a time. Kenny has simply lost to better fighters. And that should be the proper narrative. I suppose there's truth to the notion that "Kenny chokes", but I can't think of any way Florian wins fights with Maynard, Penn, or Aldo. A lot of people made fun of Florian for dropping weight, wondering whether or not he had become the Christian Bale of the MMA world (minus the loose screws, and the need for a throat lozenge when wearing the Batsuit). It seems Florian now agrees with the criticism. "I still love this sport tremendously and still want to be a part of it," Florian said in an exclusive interview with the Herald. "I know myself and it’s not even just being competitive, but it’s just being there learning and competing. There’s still very much a fire burning there so I’m going to do it." Florian is also quoted as saying "not everyone can be a champion". Kenny does continue with looking to score wins at LW, and "see where it puts (him)", but you can probably understand if Florian still feels dejected.      Kenny also says he's looking to take a lengthy break to put on some muscle. Is he charting Frank Mir territory? I don't know, but I do know that Kenny is a really good fighter. The kind of fighter that can fluster the less cerebral (Melvin Guillard), and pick apart the Florian knockoffs (Joe Lauzon). Both guys are good by the way (especially with Lauzon on his way up), but the Florian/Lauzon match was telling: Lauzon simply wasn't on his level. Perhaps Kenny's not on the level of a Frankie Edgar, but that doesn't mean he's not good enough to get a shot at them when the contender dust has settled (Clay Guida could be on the verge of a title shot after all though I think Henderson beats him). Poll Will Kenny Florian one day fight for the LW title a third time? LOL Yes. People will hate him for it, but he's still one of the best LW's around.   3 votes | Results

Posted in: florian, kenny, kenny florian, aldo, he

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[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on FighterXFashion.com, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] Round 5 takes us back to Aldo’s days as the WEC Featherweight champ with a preview of his upcoming limited edition WEC figure. Individually numbered and limited to just 750 units in total, the new Aldo figure is scheduled to hit stores this November, alongside the rest of the characters included in the Round 5 UFC Ultimate Collector Series 8 set. But before it drops later on this Fall you can sneak a peek at the limited edition figure below which includes a mini replica Dethrone walkout tee, DTR fight shorts and bright blue WEC fight gloves. See the Ultra Rare Figure...

Posted in: figure, round, wec, aldo, edition figure

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UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo has heard the recent chatter concerning a fight between himself and current UFC lightweight champ Frankie Edgar. “Scarface,” however, has no desire to move up to 155 pounds and would only take the “superfight” if it was set for his own weight class. Aldo’s talk of wanting to meet Edgar at 145 pounds is something that could work out in the future, as even UFC President Dana White believes “The Answer” would be better suited for the featherweight division because of his size. The odds of Aldo facing Edgar are slim-to-none for now, as both men have plenty of challengers left in front of them. For Aldo, many feel like he needs to move up from featherweight because of the drastic weight-cut he takes on before fights. But, with his talk of wanting to face Edgar there, that would seem to be something that hasn’t crossed his mind yet. “Man, I think it’s great. Frankie is the lightweight champion, so if he moves down, no problem,” said Aldo, in a recent interview with Tatame. “Just like Kenny Florian did, and others are doing…to me, it’s okay. I’ll always fight the guys they point out for me to fight. Move up is (expletive). If someone’s deciding it someday, it’s (coach) Andre Pederneiras.” Aldo and Edgar each competed on UFC 136, with Aldo defeating Florian and Edgar finishing off his trilogy of fights with Gray Maynard by knockout. As for potential opponents, Aldo looks to be on track to defend against Chad Mendes, with Edgar awaiting either Gilbert Melendez or the winner of Ben Henderson-Clay Guida. Melendez is the current Strikeforce lightweight champ but looks to be coming to the UFC as soon as possible. “Now, I’m just taking (a vacation), so I’m not worried about that,” Aldo said. “I’m spending a few days in the United States. Then, I’ll go back to Brazil, I’ll return to the trainings, and in, the future, I’ll think about it (my next opponent). I’ll fight whoever they tell me to.” PHOTO CREDIT – ZUFFA

Posted in: fight, edgar, i ’ll, aldo, ’ll

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Fresh off his second featherweight title defense inside the Octagon at UFC 136 against Kenny Florian, Jose Aldo made it clear he has no intentions of moving up to the lightweight division. Why bother? He's the man at 145-pounds. But there is a certain challenger who currently resides in the 155-pound division that fans and pundits alike think needs to happen sooner rather than later. Even UFC President Dana White expressed his desire to see Aldo square off against current Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar. Regarding the possibility of a future showdown between the two, Aldo says he's good to roll -- on one condition: "Man, I think it's great. Frankie is the lightweight champion, so, if he moves down, no problem. Just like Kenny did and others are doing... To me it's ok. I'll always fight the guys they point out for me to fight. Move up is bullshit. If someone's deciding it someday, it's Pederneiras." Speculation of champion vs. champion superfights are all the rage these days, and the smaller guys are no exception. Both Aldo and Edgar proved why they are the best in their respective divisions by soundly defeating their opponents, Kenny Florian and Gray Maynard, respectively, at last weekend’s Texas-sized UFC 136 event live in Houston. A move from lightweight to featherweight would be a rather easy cut for the undersized Edgar. However, with his success in his current division and plenty of challenges still ahead of him, it may be a while before we see this match-up. Boo. Would an eventual showdown between these two seemingly unstoppable champions be enough to spend your hard-earned coin? If so, who takes it? And how?

Posted in: champion, division, jose aldo, edgar, aldo

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Filed under: DREAM, UFC, Bellator, Rankings, FeatherweightsJose Aldo is continuing to run roughshod over the rest of the featherweight division, improving his professional MMA record to 20-1 with a unanimous decision victory over Kenny Florian at UFC 136. So does anyone at 145 have a chance against Aldo? So far it hasn't looked like it. It's not just that Aldo has won every single one of his fights since coming to North America at WEC 34 in 2008. It's that none of his fights have been close. He's shifted from being a knockout artist to usually winning one-sided decisions, but he really hasn't been tested by anyone. Is Chad Mendes the man to change that? He's certainly the most worthy challenger to Aldo's title. We'll run down the top of the featherweight division below. Top 10 featherweights in MMA (Number in parentheses is the fighter's previous ranking.) 1. Jose Aldo (1): After struggling to cut down to 145 pounds, Aldo has talked about moving up to lightweight, but I think that would be a mistake. I don't think he has the frame for 155, and I think he'd really struggle against big lightweight wrestlers. In fact, I think he might struggle against a good featherweight wrestler like ... 2. Chad Mendes (2): The undefeated Mendes was a good college wrestler and may be the opponent to put Aldo on his back and keep him there. If there's anyone in the featherweight division who represents a threat to Aldo, it's Mendes. 3. Hatsu Hioki (3): Hioki is the big question mark in the UFC's featherweight division. He's about to make his UFC debut after going on a great run in Japan, and if he can make the adjustment to the cage and the North American unified rules, he could be a title contender: Hioki's reach, high-volume striking and active guard make him a tough puzzle to solve. Unfortunately, the recent track record of Japanese fighters coming to the U.S. has not been good. Hioki makes his debut against George Roop at UFC 137. 4. Pat Curran (NR): Curran has looked sensational since dropping from lightweight to featherweight, and after seeing him knock out Marlon Sandro, I think he's the best featherweight outside the UFC. Bellator has a strong featherweight division, and fights with Joe Warren or Patricio "Pitbull" Freire would be great matchups for Curran. 5. Erik Koch (8): Koch looked good in his September victory over Jonathan Brookins, which improved his record to 13-1, with the only loss coming against Mendes. At age 23, Koch has a very bright future ahead of him. 6. Mark Hominick (7): After taking several months off following his loss to Aldo, Hominick will return at UFC 140 against Chan Sung Jung in what should be an outstanding battle. 7. Kenny Florian (4): It's tough to see where Florian goes from here. He's good enough that he's earned three title shots in his career, but not good enough to win any of them, or even be competitive in any of them. And at age 35, with 20 pro fights under his belt, it's not like he's suddenly going to get a lot better. Still, I hope we haven't seen the last of Florian. He can have a gatekeeper role at either featherweight or lightweight, even if he's done fighting for belts. 8. Tyson Griffin (NR): Featherweight -- not lightweight -- has always been the right weight class for Griffin. It was the right weight class for him when he beat Urijah Faber in 2005, and it's the right weight class for him now, after he's moved back down from lightweight and beaten Manny Gamburyan. Up next for Griffin is a featherweight fight with another former lightweight, Bart Palaszewski, at UFC 137. 9. Tatsuya Kawajiri (NR): Another former lightweight dropping down, Kawajiri put on a good show in submitting Joachim Hansen at Dream.17. I'd like to see the UFC add Kawajiri to its featherweight roster. 10. Dustin Poirier (9): The 22-year-old Poirier is a rising star at featherweight. He gets Pablo Garza on the undercard of the November 12 UFC on Fox event. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, featherweight, aldo, featherweight division, mende

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UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo is giving back to his community in Brazil with a couple charity auctions with 100-percent of the proceeds going to a noble cause.

Posted in: jose, brazil, jose aldo, aldo, community

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In keeping with tradition, UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo is auctioning off a few fight-night items to benefit his team's Nova Uniao Community Program. Aldo has autographed his UFC 136 corner banner, as well as a Nova Uniao T-shirt, and is offering both of them in individual auctions on eBay.com. Aldo has done the same for previous UFC and WEC title fights and has used the proceeds to purchase mats and gis for underprivileged jiu-jitsu students in his native Brazil.

Posted in: ufc, aldo, brazilian charity, purchase mats, fight-night items

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I had the pleasure of joining Sherdog's Jordan Breen once again on his Press Row segment (listen and download here) and we spent about forty minutes talking about a variety of topics. We started off discussing Jose Aldo's performance against Kenny Florian at UFC 136 and why I was left more impressed than others with what I saw. That conversation turned into expectations versus realities as far as fighting styles: Breen: It seems like once guys get to a certain level, that there is a certain style of fighting that is demanded to go out and retain a title over and over again. I don't think it's any mistake that Anderson Silva, Georges St. Pierre, Jose Aldo and Frank Edgar who, no matter how you arrange them are the four that are going to comprise the top four fighters in the sport right now, along with Jon Jones as well...Jones is maybe the only exception who has gotten to this level who continues to finish guys time in time out for it to be expected. We've gotten Anderson Silva knockouts which have been brutal lately, but maybe the spectres of Demian Maia and Thales Leites aren't that Far behind us. Do you think that maybe That says something for what it means for elite level mixed martial artists now for all of these guys who we see as great athletes who time and time again beat great fighters to fight in a strategic such a way that, even when they're showing dominance over twenty-five minutes, we're maybe not getting bone breaking knockouts and things that make us go crazy. Is there something to be said for just what it means to face top five, top ten guys every three to four months inside the UFC Octagon? Brookhouse: Yeah, to a degree it's that you're constantly preparing for a top level opponent in a sport where there are so many different ways to lose. It's not fan friendly to go in and fight in a way that's risk averse or whatever, but it's maybe intelligent in terms of...you know, you make one mistake and you're knocked out. You make one mistake and you slip to the ground because you're throwing an ill advised headkick and all of a sudden someone is on your back. There's just so many way to lose and when you're facing the best your division has to offer every single time you go out it build maybe a bit of an aversion to risk into a fighter. I mean, you had Anthony Pettis in the wake of his fight with Jeremy Stephens that "this is how you win in the UFC, by holding guys down. And maybe that was a shot at, you know, losing his last fight and the method that Clay Guida used to beat him. But I think there is kind of a feeling among fighters and camps that this is a way that seems to work to get you to the top. And it's just as valuable to get a win this way if you do it consistently. It's hard to say if it's just the top level fights being a consistent part of your schedule or if it's just a mentality that is being built in by being in camps by training with other high level guys. After more discussion about upcoming fights we'd like to see, we settled into a discussion about if the UFC is doing a poor job of selling the champions in an era which features truly dominant fighters: Breen: One thing that came through very interestingly to me after UFC 136, I had the good fortune of watching Aldo/Florian with the sound off, but many people seemed outraged and had a significant amount of rancor for Joe Rogan who attempted to make the fight seem more competitive than it was as, outside of a good first round, Florian didn't really do a whole hell of a lot over the last 20 minutes of the fight and was basically dominated despite being competitive for certain stretches of the fight. With Rogan and, in general a very, very well traversed path of pathologically making fights sound close, in conjuction with Dana White who has now come out and said "Oh, Georges St. Pierre is slipping down my pound-for-pound list" as though he hasn't achieved immesurably fantastic things in mixed martial arts...I was thinking about an e-mail that I got recently where the person brought up the idea that...doesn't it seem weird to you that we talk now about how the UFC is in this "dominant champion era" and yet they don't really seem to be able to respond to it? Because in other sports when champions are GREAT and outstanding, they're championed for being such. And yet, in mixed martial arts and as far as the UFC's promotional focus, we never hear about, or it's not emphasized to the extent that "oh, Anderson Silva's unbeatable! Oh, Georges St. Pierre is unbeatable! These are great athletes!" It's always "this is the guy, this is the guy who can do the thing to beat this guy!" It always seems that the emphasis is on detracting from the champion to try to pump up the challengers. And, when you get into a fight like Aldo/Florian, it kind of paints an ugly and distorted picture of the champion because Jose Aldo did his job to a high degree. He took out a perenial top ten lightweight and did it with a high level of proficiency and in turn it seems a lot of people felt like "Oh, Kenny Florian...he actually did somet stuff" and they're down on Aldo as a result. Do you think there's any merit to that thought that the UFC and Zuffa process of trying so desperately to pump up and manufacture challenges ends up kind of marring their champions when they do win, if they don't win in the most superlative fashion possible? Brookhouse: Yeah, it's kind of...there's a lot of different layers to it. The first is that I think the UFC is always been very cautious to try to prevent any single star from being built up as you know "above the UFC brand." And that's not necessarily a bad thing, but it does lead to kind of the situation you were talking about where... Breen: Is that even a feasable worry anymore though? Like, what are the odds of, even if they poured all their resources into a champion to turn him into a star that that person would become such an overwhelming star that it could be contaminous to the UFC down the line? I know they're maybe trying to guard against the unknown unknowns but...what are they? What is going to threaten the UFC if they turn these guys into stars? That's what kind of bothers me. When I think a lot about that e-mail and maybe what the e-mailer was getting to. It seems to me that maybe it's an outdated kind of point of view in that, at a certain point in time I could kind of understand why maybe that was the case. But I think it's a different landscape now. And I was talking about this on radio last week, when you reach a point..because I think MMA or at least the UFC...what's ended up happening now is that you have a more boxing-like set-up where you have two or three stars, six to ten guys that people are aware of and might buy on PPV and then kind of everything else. People will buy for superstars and to a lesser extent for commodities, but in general there's just so many things happening that people have to pick and choose and they pick the highest of peaks normally to throw out their PPV dollars on. And that seems to be more in line with boxing than anything else. And with that in mind it would seem you would want to emphasize and make those things that people are banking on even stronger. We want on the boxing side, we want guys like Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao and we also want guys who are commodities but aren't stars like a Sergio Martinez maybe. We want to be able to provide them with some sort of profile so that people are able to watch great fights and they care about these things. It seems like the UFC and Zuffa maybe haven't adapted their promotional strategies to the reality of how people are rocking and getting into the UFC and mixed martial arts now. Brookhouse: Well yeah, you can even look at the boxing method. Selling Mike Tyson was never about selling his opponent's ability to beat him. Of course you want to sell enough that you're not paying your money to see "come see the dominant force knock out a bum." You want to see this guy..then when a guy like Buster Douglas comes along and knocks him out, you get a transfer of star power naturally because nobody expected it and he did it in a surprising and vicious fashion. SO there's a natural transfer that isn't just setting the champion up to fail. And when you establish that...you know, when you focus entirely on the risks present to the champion, you take away what's unique and what value there is to seeing him. If they had sold that Aldo is an explosive knockout artist with good ground skills, but he is also a technically proficient striker...then you have the framework for your commentary during the fight to explain exactly what is good about what he is doing instead of just focusing so much on what is good that Florian is doing while he's losing round after round. I think it's also a case where the UFC doesn't do a very good job, in my opinion, of differentiating between its champions. As far as really digging into what makes each guy particularly unique. I think right now Aldo is being sold as "this guy is really good, he's a Brazilian Striker" and it just doesn't feel all that much different than how...say, Shogun was sold when he had the title. That only scratches the surface of all the ground we covered as there's about twenty-two minutes more after that (plus another 6 in between the stuff I transcribed. I fully advise checking out the entire thing. I'm going to have a little bit more in an article tomorrow, expanding on some of these ideas...so look forward to that. Or don't. Whatever.

Posted in: ufc, fight, guy, champion, aldo

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Last weekend, UFC 136 featured a unique situation where both champions on the card found themselves fielding questions about moving up/down in weight even after finding a high rate of success in their current divisional home. While Frankie Edgar’s future as a 145 seems to be a given, at least based on comments the fighter has made regarding his willingness to give it a shot, it appears Jose Aldo won’t be moving up to 155 pounds anytime soon. Aldo’s coach, Andre Pederneiras, recently addressed the issue and made it clear his scintillating student will be staying put based on the number of tests still remaining at featherweight. “He might be invited to fight at lightweight, but he won’t abandon featherweight, because, I believe, there are a lot of challenges left for him there,” Pederneiras explained in a conversation with Sherdog. He’s just arrived in the UFC and has only fought there twice. Also, I believe many 155-pound fighters will drop to 145 in order to get a title shot they couldn’t get (at lightweight). So, he has a lot of fights to make before thinking about it.” The Nova Uniao chief also shrugged off any criticism surrounding the toll cutting a significant amount weight could be taking on Aldo’s performances, “He lost 22 pounds in Toronto and 19 pounds in Houston, but it’s exactly the same thing two days before the fight. People think it’s nonsense, but it’s something he’s done since his first MMA fight and it’s something that a fighter who wants to fight at the highest level needs to get used to.” Aldo Comments on UFC 136 Outing Given Aldo’s accomplishments as a featherweight it’s hard to dispute Pederneiras’ take on the situation. “Scarface” holds an overall record 20-1 with past victories over Urijah Faber, Mark Hominick, Mike Brown, and most recently Kenny Florian. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, fight, pound, featherweight, aldo

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Chad Mendes is 11-0 in his career and, if he has anything to say about it, Fight #12 will be against Jose Aldo for the UFC featherweight title. Mendes is widely considered to be the #1 contender, a spot he solidified in August with a win at UFC 133 over Rani Yahya. After watching Aldo defeat Kenny Florian at UFC 136, Mendes believes he has all the tools to do what Florian and Mark Hominick couldn’t – finish five strong rounds with “Scarface.” “I think with my wrestling credentials, my strength, my athleticism, I don’t think he’s faced anybody like that year,” said Mendes, in an interview with MMAFighting “And for me to get in there, put him on his back and take him out of his comfort zone, I think that’s going to be key to beating a guy like that.” Mendes has went the distance in each of his last four fights and trains with athletes like Urijah Faber and Joseph Benavidez in Sacramento, California as part of Team Alpha Male. He was a standout wrestler in college, advancing to the NCAA finals as a senior. In Aldo, he will be facing a man many consider to be the next Anderson Silva. Aldo is also ranked highly in the pound-for-pound rankings, something that is driving Mendes to train even harder. “He’s the guy that everyone looks at as unbeatable, and he’s got this hype around him like no one can beat him,” Mendes said. “I want to be the guy to get in there and take that belt from him.” PHOTO CREDIT – WEC/UFC

Posted in: ufc, jose aldo, aldo, mende, ncaa finals

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Jose Aldo is not moving up to lightweight. At least, not yet. That's probably the best news Chad Mendes has gotten all week, as the undefeated featherweight patiently waits for his crack at the 145-pound crown. "Money" was hoping to cash in his expected title shot at UFC 136; however, that honor went to Kenny Florian, who pulled rank on the Team Alpha Male wrestler and took over as top contender. Not that it did him any good. After five rounds of action at the "Edgar vs. Maynard 3" pay-per-view event on Oct. 8, 2011, "KenFlo" was once again sent to the back of the line. Mendes, meanwhile, racked up another unanimous decision win (his fourth straight) by outlasting Rani Yahya at UFC 133 back on Aug. 6. And as he tells MMA Fighting, the belt is going to be his "sooner or later." "My time is going to come. I've only been doing this for three years. I've got 11 fights into my career. I've got plenty of time. That belt's going to be mine sooner or later. It's just hurry up and wait ... I think with my wrestling credentials, my strength, my athleticism, I don't think he's faced anybody like that yet. And for me to get in there, put him on his back and take him out of his comfort zone, I think that's going to be key to beating a guy like that. He's the guy that everyone looks at as unbeatable, and he's got this hype around him like no one can beat him. I want to be the guy to get in there and take that belt from him." The idea of Mendes being able to defeat Aldo, perhaps a year ago, seemed unlikely. But after back-to-back fights inside the Octagon, "Junior" looks content to ride out the clock and let the scorecards do the talking -- a far cry from the deadly finishes fans saw while he competed in the WEC. Is Aldo playing it safe? Or just fighting better competition? And does anyone think he'll have trouble fighting Mendes off his back? How do you see this potential title fight playing out?

Posted in: guy, belt, jose aldo, aldo, mende

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Filed under: UFC, Rankings, OverallWe mixed martial arts fans are spoiled right now. Of my Top 10 pound-for-pound fighters in MMA, seven have fought in the last two months, and the other three have fights scheduled in the next month. I don't believe there's ever been a time in the short history of MMA when we had this many opportunities to see this many great fighters in this short a period of time. So now seems like a good time to revisit my Top 10 list, where Anderson Silva remains on top, Frankie Edgar is rising, and two heavyweights make the list as they prepare to fight each other in what may be the most significant fight in UFC history. The full Top 10 is below. Top 10 Pound-for-Pound Fighters in MMA (Number in parentheses is the fighter's rank in the last pound-for-pound list.) 1. Anderson Silva (1): Silva is still the best, and up next he'll get a chance to cement his legacy with a rematch against the only man who ever put him in any real danger inside the Octagon, Chael Sonnen. I believe Silva is going to make a statement with a sensational showing against Sonnen. 2. Georges St. Pierre (2): The Carlos Condit fight at UFC 137 will give St. Pierre yet another chance to show he's head and shoulders above the rest of the welterweight division. Some fans are starting to get bored with GSP because he keeps winning by decision and hasn't finished many fights, and I think those fans are going to be disappointed in the Condit fight: This looks like another unanimous decision victory for GSP to me. 3. Jon Jones (3): If Jones beats Lyoto Machida at UFC 140, his 2011 may go down as the best year any MMA fighter has ever had. Jones has absolutely demolished Ryan Bader, Shogun Rua and Rampage Jackson this year, and adding Machida to the list would make him 4-0 in 2011 while fighting some of the best light heavyweights the UFC can throw at him. 4. Frank Edgar (6): I'm moving Edgar up a couple spots on the list after he beat Gray Maynard and showed definitively that he's the best lightweight in the sport. UFC President Dana White said after UFC 136 that Edgar deserves to be No. 2 on the pound for pound list, but I can't get on board with that yet. White's explanation for having Edgar at No. 2 was, "The guy weighs 145 pounds, he's fighting at 155 pounds and beating everybody." But until we actually see Edgar fight at 145 pounds we have no idea if that's really true. Maybe a big part of Edgar's greatness at 155 is that he's fresher than his opponents because he didn't cut as much weight the day before. If Edgar were to move down to featherweight and beat Jose Aldo he'd have a good case for No. 1, but until he does it, I wouldn't rank him higher than GSP or Jones, and definitely not higher than Silva. 5. Jose Aldo (4): Aldo improved his record to 20-1 with a unanimous decision victory over Kenny Florian. It appears that Aldo will get Chad Mendes next, and Mendes's wrestling should make him a good test for Aldo. But Aldo-Mendes won't be a big money fight (Mendes is still not very well known, and Aldo hasn't proven that he can be a pay-per-view draw), which may be why White was hinting at a potential future Aldo-Edgar fight. 6. Dominick Cruz (5): Cruz suffered a hand injury against Demetrious Johnson, which may keep him shelved for a few months. Whenever he's ready to return, he's likely to face the winner of the upcoming Urijah Faber-Brian Bowles fight. Cruz has already beaten both Faber and Bowles, but the UFC doesn't have many better bantamweight options for Cruz. 7. Cain Velasquez (8): The undefeated heavyweight champion will fight Junior dos Santos on Fox in a bout that's been getting heavy promotion during the baseball playoffs and NFL games. It should easily be the most-watched MMA fight in American history, and it's Velasquez's chance to become a major sports star. 8. Shogun Rua (9): After beating Forrest Griffin in August, Rua will make a quick turnaround and take on Dan Henderson in November. Although Jones completely dismantled Rua, Shogun is still the No. 2 fighter in the UFC's best weight class. 9. Junior dos Santos (10): I don't think anyone in the sport hits as hard as dos Santos, and that makes him an easy sell to the casual audience that will tune in on Fox. Dos Santos will give Velasquez everything he can handle when they meet for the heavyweight title. 10. Gray Maynard (7): Does Maynard still belong in the Top 10, despite his loss to Edgar? I think he does: He's still 1-1-1 in three fights against the best lightweight in the world, and in non-Edgar fights he's beaten good opponents like Kenny Florian, Nate Diaz, Jim Miller and Roger Huerta. But if you have someone else ahead of Maynard on the pound-for-pound list -- someone like Rashad Evans, Lyoto Machida, Gilbert Melendez, Jon Fitch, B.J. Penn, Joseph Benavidez or Dan Henderson -- I won't argue. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, list, edgar, aldo

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Sorry UFC featherweights, Jose Aldo is sticking around to make your life miserable. When the world's largest fight promotion released a video chronicling "Scarface's" struggles to make the 145-pound limit for his title defense against Mark Hominick at UFC 129 back in April, whispers began of a possible jump up to 155-pounds.  Let's face it, a guy shouldn't have to turn himself into a skeleton just before he hits the scales. Despite his weighty issues, Aldo went on to successfully defend his belt that night in Toronto. And he did the same just this past Sat., Oct. 8 in Houston, Texas, against Kenny Florian. That marked his fourth title defense under the Zuffa banner and win number 20 in 21 career fights, including 13 in a row. Quite frankly, he looks unstoppable. So why not move up, right? Because he's still got plenty of challenges to take care of before he does all that. At least, that's what his coach, Andre Pederneiras told Sherdog.com: "He'll keep fighting in his weight class. He might be invited to fight at lightweight, but he won't abandon featherweight, because, I believe, there are a lot of challenges left for him there. He's just arrived in the UFC and has only fought there twice. Also, I believe many 155-pound fighters will drop to 145 in order to get a title shot they couldn't get (at lightweight). So, he has a lot of fights to make before thinking about it." Believe it or not, one of the 155-pounders that might just drop down for a superfight is current Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar. That's because UFC President Dana White, who recently ranked "The Answer" the number two pound-for-pound fighter in the world (ahead of Aldo), has been pushing for the New Jersey native to make the drop. The bossman thinks Edgar is fighting outside of his natural weight class and if he can win the championship 10 pounds above the weight he should be fighting, what could he possibly do at 145-pounds? Could he beat Jose Aldo? If Pederneiras is to be believed, and if White can be convincing enough, we might just find out.

Posted in: ufc, pound, title defense, jose aldo, aldo

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With 11-0 Chad Mendes up next in the long line of talented contenders UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo has thus far fended off with relative ease, the Team Alpha Male representative has already started studying the belt-wearing Brazilian in anticipation of their future fight. Mendes recently offered up his assessment of Aldo’s performance this past weekend at UFC 136 where he supported the notion Kenny Florian could have actually emerged a winner based on what he saw. “Kenny definitely could have won that fight,” Mendes explained to MMAJunkie. “I just think it was probably the weight cut. You could tell he slowed down, and it looked like he got a little weak throughout the fight… If he was able to keep that same pace and the strength that he had throughout that first round, he would have been able to beat Aldo. But I think he just kind of faded off.” Florian Reflects on Loss to Aldo Not only did Mendes like what he saw from Florian but what he didn’t see from Aldo – an overwhelmingly good takedown defense, a factor that has the accomplished grappler salivating like a lion in front of an injured gazelle. “(Florian’s win was) just another fight to build my confidence,” said the 26-year old Californian. “That and the Mark Hominick fight…seeing that Aldo can be taken down.” “He’s going to be uncomfortable being on his back. That’s my strength, and that’s where I want to put him,” he concluded. The undefeated youngster, who mentioned his interest in rounding out the top of a Super Bowl Weekend card against Aldo, is 2-0 since joining the UFC after picking up four wins under WEC’s banner. Both victories were the result of decisions, the most recent of which occurred in August against Rani Yahya at UFC 133. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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After seeing UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo outpoint Kenny Florian to retain his title in Saturday’s UFC 136 co-main event, UFC President Dana White is “pretty sure” Chad Mendes will challenge Aldo next, unless lightweight champ (and fellow UFC 136 winner) Frankie Edgar drops to 145-pounds. “I’m pretty sure [Aldo will fight Mendes next],” White said after UFC 136. “But we’ll see. Maybe Frankie calls me and says he wants to move to 145. We’ll see what happens.” While his title shot isn’t yet official, the unbeaten Mendes is already discussing the likely fight, telling MMAFighting he sees his wrestling as the difference in the matchup. “I think with my wrestling credentials, my strength, my athleticism, I don’t think he’s faced anybody like that yet,” Mendes said. “And for me to get in there, put him on his back and take him out of his comfort zone, I think that’s going to be key to beating a guy like that. He’s the guy that everyone looks at as unbeatable, and he’s got this hype around him like no one can beat him. I want to be the guy to get in there and take that belt from him.” For the latest UFC news and UFC rumors stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com. Pictured: Jose Aldo (via UFC.com)

Posted in: ufc, jose, jose aldo, aldo, mende

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Filed under: UFCJust a few days before traveling to Houston last weekend, Chad Mendes was in Wyoming's wide open spaces, hunting mule deer. But now, his sights will shift to some other, much more dangerous big game. Mendes was in attendance at Houston's Toyota Center to watch Jose Aldo's win over Kenny Florian at last Saturday's UFC 136, and he believes he'll receive the next opportunity to fight for the featherweight championship. At least in the immediate aftermath, UFC president Dana White seemed to agree, saying he was "pretty sure" it would happen. So it's likely just a matter of when. Mendes hopes it's soon. Above all else, the native Californiana likes to challenge himself, and to stay busy. That's why the unbeaten (11-0) 26-year-old risked No. 1 contender status a few months back to fight at August's UFC 133. "My time is going to come," he said. "I've only been doing this for three years. I've got 11 fights into my career. I've got plenty of time. That belt's going to be mine sooner or later. It's just hurry up and wait." Coming from his wrestling background, Mendes says that he would fight every month if he could, feeling that constant competition would keep him sharp. But now he's willing to wait a bit for the chance to take home his division's most coveted trophy. In the meantime, he will find other ways to occupy himself. Mendes is an avid outdoorsman, who likes to fish and hunt. And recently, he ran his first-ever half-marathon. Asked how he did, Mendes said "not too bad, but not anything great," saying that his "little, short legs" didn't work well over long distances. Turns out, he did very well, as research shows he clocked 1:40.52 in the Los Gatos (CA) Jungle Run Half-Marathon, finishing 11th in his age group. Even more impressive, he did the race in the midst of his preparation for the Rani Yahya UFC 133 fight, with about one month to go. Mendes said he got inspired to add more running and cycling into his training after learning more about Mike Tyson's pre-fight preparations, and said he believed it helped him in the bout against Yahya, leaning out his body and improving his stamina. In his mind, the latter could pay big dividends against Aldo, who looked good in the late rounds against Florian, but struggled badly in the last round of his UFC 129 fight against Mark Hominick. "He started grappling a lot more and got tired," he said. "It's a different type of conditioning. I know I'm going to be in great shape in that sense, the grappling sense. And I know he's going to be in great shape in the standup part, because he's going to go out there looking to finish me with some kind of knee or big shot from his hands. But taking him into my world, taking him on the ground and making him work to get up, it's going to tire his ass out, and I'm looking forward to taking that belt from him." Mendes is able to break down his impeding matchup objectively, noting that his standup is "nowhere near" Aldo's. But if you acknowledge that, he says, you must also acknowledge that Aldo's wrestling, while "pretty good" for someone who didn't grow up doing it, is not in Mendes' league. Mendes began wrestling at the age of five, competed all through high school, and was a two-time All-American in college. To date, his wrestling has been one of his best weapons, as he's notched 27 takedowns in his six fights under the Zuffa banner. He's also never been taken down. But his striking has been a bit undervalued, as he's landed 47 percent of his significant strikes, according to FightMetric. By comparison, Aldo lands 49 percent of his significant strikes and has stopped an impressive 94 percent of takedown tries against him, making the matchup quite a challenge for Mendes. "I think with my wrestling credentials, my strength, my athleticism, I don't think he's faced anybody like that yet," he said. "And for me to get in there, put him on his back and take him out of his comfort zone, I think that's going to be key to beating a guy like that." Prior to the fight, Mendes predicted an Aldo win, and more than that, he hoped for it. The way he figures it, if you're going to go try to win the belt, you might as well try to take it from the best. For better or worse, the big-game hunter has his target set. "He's the guy that everyone looks at as unbeatable, and he's got this hype around him like no one can beat him," Mendes said. "I want to be the guy to get in there and take that belt from him." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, jose aldo, aldo, mende

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It didn’t take long for questions to surface surrounding Kenny Florian’s future after the Massachusetts native came up short this past weekend for the third time in three tries at winning a UFC championship. Outpointed and outclassed by featherweight king Jose Aldo, the MMA community wondered if he would continue to cut down to 145 pounds, return to the lightweight division, or possibly even hang up his gloves for good to focus on work as an analyst/commentator. Two days later and the 35-year old Florian remained uncertain himself as he made clear through a statement from his management. “First, I’d like to thank Jose Aldo for giving me the opportunity to compete for the featherweight title last Saturday. I gave the fight my all, but Jose won that night,” Florian stated. “I would also like to thank the UFC, Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta for their continued support. I am passionate about Mixed Martial Arts, and I love being involved in this sport. It is incredible to see how much MMA has grown and that, today, there are millions of people who enjoy the UFC as much as I do.” “Second, everyone is asking what is next for me,” Florian continued. “The only response I can give right now is that I’m going to take some time. I want to rest, spend some time with my family and friends, and then evaluate all of my options.” Aldo and Florian Talk Title-Fight at Post-Event Presser Florian ended the message by saying he would discuss his “next move” with his manager as well as White but assured his followers that he’ll keep them as informed as possible. “When I make that decision, my fans will be the first to know. One way or another, you haven’t seen the last of Ken-Flo!” The 14-6 Florian has graced the Octagon seventeen times in his career including impressive performances against Roger Huerta, Joe Stevenson, Takanori Gomi, Joe Lauzon, and Clay Guida. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, time, florian, jose aldo, aldo

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Posted in: aldo, route ...., spinach, route, hulk

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Rankings. Just the mere mention of the term around mixed martial arts' fans can produce a collective sigh of frustration. Why are we so adamant to rank fighters? The UFC doesn't seem to care, nor should they since their business model revolves around entertainment. I can, however, see some relevance in divisional rankings, if not simply to give a fan a snapshot of where fighters stand among their counterparts. Pound-for-pound rankings, on the other hand, have no significance. Whether or not Georges St. Pierre or Anderson Silva is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world is a matter of opinion, and there aren't any guidelines in determining who's better. We can't make Frankie Edgar a 265 lb. heavyweight and pit him in a fantasy fight with Cain Velasquez. We have no idea, if weight weren't an issue, who is the better fighter or how the added weight would affect a fighter. Shockingly, some people hold that as the definition. Others simply compare accomplishments. For many fans and media, Jose Aldo belongs on that list, usually in the top five, maybe even in the top three. The combination of his blazing speed, knockout power, touted Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills, and solid takedown defense make him one of the most complete fighters in the world, regardless of weight. While I think pound-for-pound rankings are irrelevant, they do serve one purpose. They are a list of the current greats fighting in the sport today. I'm not ready to claim that Jose Aldo belongs high on that list as many suggest. His dominant victory over Kenny Florian at UFC 136 this past weekend seems to have vaulted his stock even higher among fans. The win was undoubtedly a piece of evidence to prove the theory that Aldo is "one of the greats", but his track record, or as I alluded to in the headline... his resume, doesn't cut it.  Mike Brown, Urijah Faber, Manvel Gamburyan, Mark Hominick, and most recently Kenny Florian are the fighters Aldo has ran through during his title reign. It's debatable how many of these names contribute to the legacy of Aldo. The wins over Urijah Faber and Kenny Florian stand out the most, and perhaps a showdown between Mark Hominick and Urijah Faber could settle whether the Canadian striker deserves the consideration. He's undoubtedly a great fighter, but is he an elite level fighter who has the skills to maintain that status?  I won't attempt to answer that question. The problem here isn't the level of talent Aldo has defeated. It's the fact that the division is relatively young in its progression. There still isn't a tremendous amount of confidence that fighters ranked highly in the division will maintain their standings. There isn't a barometer for us to say... yes, this guy is a legit talent. If you beat him, you are obviously elite. All we have to go on at this point is winning streaks and title defenses.  This isn't a critique of Jose Aldo by any means. He's an elite talent, but Mike Brown, Urijah Faber, Manvel Gamburyan, Mark Hominick, and Kenny Florian don't possess all the tools to make me believe Aldo is one of the very best champions in the UFC. Urijah Faber is a great win, but he doesn't possess the wrestling acumen that his teammate Chad Mendes brings to the table. Mendes, who is a two-time NCAA All-American who was once ranked #1 nationally, will likely step up to face Aldo next. That is, unless, UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar decides to move down to featherweight, a more natural fit for him. He provides the ultimate challenge. A well-rounded, speedy wrestler who can also box well. If Jose Aldo can beat both Mendes and Edgar, I'll be convinced that he's one of the best, if not the best champion in the UFC.

Posted in: ufc, fighter, jose aldo, urijah faber, aldo

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Filed under: UFCTrainer Firas Zahabi was encouraged by what he saw out of Kenny Florian early on in his UFC featherweight title fight against Jose Aldo on Saturday night. But ultimately, Zahabi told Ariel Helwani on Monday's MMA Hour, their team just couldn't keep up with Aldo down the stretch. "Aldo did a beautiful job of adjusting in the second, and I feel that our side had to adjust as well to keep the match going in our favor, but we weren't able to adjust," said Zahabi, who works with Florian at the Tristar gym in Montreal. "Aldo's a brilliant fighter and he had a brilliant counter to our attacks and he just did a great job." The unanimous decision loss to Aldo was the third failed bid for a UFC title in Florian's nearly nine-year MMA career, and now the 35-year-old fighter faces some difficult questions about his future. As for how he'll decide to answer those questions, Zahabi said he doubts even Florian knows just yet. "I feel we did everything we could to prepare him for Aldo and Kenny's going to have to let his mind take some time off, clear his mind, then make that decision for himself afterwards," Zahabi said, adding, "I don't think he's decided yet." As for Zahabi, he must quickly turn his focus to his most celebrated fighter, long-time friend Georges St-Pierre, who puts his UFC welterweight title on the line against Carlos Condit at UFC 137 on October 29. St-Pierre, who Zahabi still considers to be the world's best pound-for-pound fighter ("Of course I'm biased, like all coaches," he admitted), was originally slated to take on former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz before Diaz angered the UFC by no-showing a couple press conferences, which led to Condit replacing him in the main event. The GSP-Diaz bout's champion-versus-champion angle might have been more interesting "from a marketing perspective," Zahabi said, "but in terms of skill, I think it's even harder with Carlos." "He has good knees and good kicks. He's more of a diverse fighter standing up. And if you look at his record, he's very good at finishing. He's just got a few more threats. Diaz has a different style of boxing, which made him more of a threat with the hands, but I find that in terms of Muay Thai, we have to adjust for more of a Muay Thai fighter and less of a boxer." Of course for St-Pierre, who has defended his title with four straight decision victories, the most common criticism concerns his perceived inability or unwillingness to look for the finish. Many fans and pundits accuse him of playing it too safe, but Zahabi said he encourages his fighter to put those matters out of his mind altogether. "I think he has to focus on the process, not worry about the outcome, and let that part take care of itself. If he starts trying to finish him I think he'll have a harder time finishing him. He's just got to let it happen. I think that's the secret to finishing. "When you're looking to knock the guy out, you telegraph more. You come out of your game plan. You start taking more risks and you start skipping steps. If you want to finish a guy, in my opinion, you have to go through all the steps, just keep adding more pressure, adding more attacks, tying your moves together until you get that finish. You don't have to jump to the end. You have to take every step along the way to get to that end." Whether GSP can get to that end against Condit, who hasn't been finished since 2006, remains to be seen. If the bout ends with another decision win for the current champ, however, don't be surprised if many fans focus exclusively on the result, no matter what the process might have entailed.  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fighter, florian, aldo, zahabi

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In a Featherweight title fight at UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III, Jose Aldo defended his UFC crown against Kenny Florian. This was Aldo's second defense of the UFC Featherweight title, and his 4th overall defense since winning the belt in the WEC. Florian now falls to 1-1 at 145 pounds. The big story going into the fight was Aldo's pound for pound status vs. Florian's UFC title aspirations. In the end, Aldo proved too good, though Florian did manage to start strong and win round 1. Round 2 was more even, but as the fight progressed, Aldo continued to pull ahead. Fans grew a bit restless by the end, and some are not impressed by Florian's performance here, but I thought it was a great tactical battle. Ultimately, Aldo once again wins, but fails to do so in the spectacular fashion his accolades promise, while Florian sadly adds another big fight loss to his resume. What was the high spot of this fight? This was a solid all around fight, although nothing in particular jumps out as a real highlight.  Where do these guys go from here? Aldo still has plenty of challengers left for his title, though none remotely as high profile as Florian (or, for that matter, Mark Hominick). Chad Mendes is probably most deserving of a shot, but we'll see how that plays out. There was also a lot of talk about Aldo's future being in the Lightweight division, so keep an eye on that move. For Florian, immediately after the loss, the word retirement started to be thrown around. And honestly, I can't say it's a terrible idea. At 35 years old, and with three title fight loses, Florian may have reached the limits of what he can accomplish in the ring. He has a good career ahead of him as a commentator - perhaps now is the time. If not, I'd love to see him against Hatsu Hioki. Watch it now, later, or never? Later. No crazy fireworks, but an all around very solid tactical fight. More BE coverage of UFC 136 in the full entry. UFC 136 Results: Post-Hangover Thoughts and Reactions - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136 Results: Frankie Edgar Embodies Rocky's Message in Win Over Gray Maynard - Leland Roling UFC 136 Results: Aldo vs. Florian, Phan vs. Garcia FightMetric Reports - Mike Fagan UFC 136 Results: Chael Sonnen vs. Anderson Silva II Will Produce Massive Interest Despite Skepticism - Leland Roling UFC 136 Results: Dana White Says Frankie Edgar Is Top 2 Pound-for-Pound, Wants Him to Face Jose Aldo - Anton Tabuena UFC 136 Results: Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard Post-Fight Recap and Analysis - Mike Fagan UFC 136 Results: Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian Fight Video Highlights UFC 136 Results: Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard 3 Fight Video Highlights Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 88: UFC 136 Results Review UFC 136 Results: Frankie Edgar Stops Gray Maynard In Four - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III - Live Results and Play-by-Play for PPV Fights - Brent Brrokhouse UFC 136 Results: Jose Aldo Decisions Kenny Florian - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136 Results: Chael Sonnen Challenges Anderson Silva After Dominating Brian Stann - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136 Results: Nam Phan Wins Decision Over Leonard Garcia - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136 Results: Joe Lauzon Makes Quick Work of Melvin Guillard - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III - Live Results and Play-by-Play For Spike TV Fights - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136 Results: Demian Maia Decisions Jorge Santiago - Leland Roling UFC 136 Results: Anthony Pettis Narrowly Edges Jeremy Stephens - Leland Roling UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III - Live Results and Play-by-Play for Facebook Fights - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136 Results: Stipe Miocic Makes Successful Debut, Edges Joey Beltran - Leland Roling UFC 136 Results: Darren Elkins Out Grapples Tiequan Zhang, Wins Decision - Leland Roling UFC 136 Results: Aaron Simpson Dominates Eric Schafer - Leland Roling UFC 136 Results: Mike Massenzio Batters Steve Cantwell, Takes Unanimous Decision - Leland Roling

Posted in: ufc, fight, result, florian, aldo

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After a closely-contested five round battle with UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo in the UFC 136 co-main event on Saturday, veteran contender Kenny Florian is going to rest up a bit before making any decisions on his fighting future.“Everyone is asking what is next for me,” said Florian in a statement issued Monday afternoon. “The only response I can give right now is that I’m going to take some time. I want to rest, spend some time with my family and friends, and then evaluate all of my options. I’ll speak with (UFC President) Dana (White), and my manager, Glenn Robinson, and we will figure out my next move. When I make that decision, my fans will be the first to know. One way or another, you haven’t seen the last of Ken-Flo!”The 35-year old Florian, who has competed in four weight classes in the Octagon (everywhere from 185 pounds to 145) has fought for UFC titles three times, coming up short against Sean Sherk, BJ Penn, and Aldo. On Saturday, Aldo pulled out the unanimous decision win, but many of the rounds were won by razor-thin margins, proving that Florian still has what it takes to fight it out with the best in the game. “I’d like to thank Jose Aldo for giving me the opportunity to compete for the featherweight title last Saturday,” said Florian. “I gave the fight my all, but Jose won that night. I would also like to thank the UFC, Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta for their continued support.”Considering his two shots at the lightweight belt and his recent featherweight title fight, Florian’s road back to the top may be a long one, something that has never deterred him after the losses to Sherk and Penn. And judging by Monday’s statement, he hasn’t lost that love for the sport.“I am passionate about mixed martial arts, and I love being involved in this sport,” said Florian, a true ambassador of MMA, who owns his own school in Massachusetts and is also a commentator on ESPN’s MMA Live. “It is incredible to see how much MMA has grown and that, today, there are millions of people who enjoy the UFC as much as I do.”

Posted in: ufc, bj penn, florian, jose aldo, aldo

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-Through three fights Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard have spent a total of 12 rounds in the Octagon together, with just under an hour of fight time (58:54) to their credit. -The loss was the first of Maynard's career. -The fight was the first non-decision or draw for Maynard since a September 2007 KO of Joe Veres-For Edgar it was his first win by TKO since July 2007 victory over Mark Boeck-Edgar and Maynard first fight came on the undercard of UFC Fight Night 13 in April 2008. 33 months later the two had their rematch at UFC 125. The third fight between the lightweights came nine months after their second fight. Three fights over the course of 39 months between Edgar and Maynard. -Per Compustrike Edgar outlanded Maynard 76-23 in rounds two thru four after being outlanded 36-11 in round one in total strikes.-Jose Aldo is now 10-0 inside the UFC/WEC cage-Three of five of Aldo's WEC/UFC title bouts have gone to a decision. -Aldo is 2-0 versus former Ultimate Fighter cast members -Kenny Florian drops to 0-3 in UFC title fights-Florian is 3-3 in his last six fights -Per Compustrike Aldo successfully stuffed 12 of Florian's 14 attempted takedowns. -Fight Metric scored the Aldo-Florian fight 300-74 in favor of the champ. In the ten point must system Fight Metric scored the fight 50-45 in favor of Aldo. -UFC 136 was the longest event in UFC history. The 11 fights equaled 158 minutes and 32 seconds of fight time.-Betting favorites at UFC 136 went 7-3 on the night. Joe Lauzon's upset of Melvin Guillard at +350 was the biggest upset of the night. -With UFC 136 the promotion returned to Houston, Texas for the first time since UFC 69 in April 2007. UFC 69 was headlined by Georges St. Pierre vs. Matt Serra. Below is a gate and attendance comparison. UFC 69Attendance: 15,269Gate: 2.81 millionUFC 136Attendance: 16,164 Gate: 2.23 million

Posted in: ufc, fight, edgar, maynard, aldo

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25-year old featherweight champion Jose Aldo picked up the twentieth win of his career Saturday night though it’s hard to argue any of his past victories were any bigger. Facing Kenny Florian, a seasoned veteran with a high rate of success at 155-pounds, Aldo avoided trouble throughout while delivering enough damage of his own to walk away with a Unanimous Decision. Both men spoke to media after the show where they reflected on their UFC 136 performances and looked forward to what might on the horizon. “I had to pace (myself) a little bit in this fight,” Aldo explained in the post-event press conference. “I knew if I was too explosive that Kenny could end up beating me. So I had to really pace. I couldn’t be as explosive as I wanted to in the fight. Everybody was telling me to hold back so I kept it cool, studied the fight.” Aldo Says Fight with Florian is Moment of Truth When asked about the prospect of facing undefeated grappler Chad Mendes, an 11-0 competitor out of Team Alpha Male who most recently beat Rani Yahya in the Octagon this past August. “That’s really not up to me,” said Aldo of the potential match-up. “I think Chad’s a great fighter and I think he’s ready for it. I think it’s gonna be great. I’m here to fight the best, whoever they put in front of me.” As far as Florian, the mood of the Ultimate Fighter 1 alumnus was far more glum as might be expected after his third failed attempt at winning a UFC championship. “I wasn’t successful on the wrestling end of it. I think that was the difference and I made some mistakes out there – simple as that,” Florian stated frankly while remaining elusive about his future in MMA whether in regards to retirement, a return to the lightweight division, or another run at 145-pounds. “I haven’t really thought past this fight so we’ll see what happens,” the 14-7 Massachusetts native concluded. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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This weekend I saw the movie Real Steel. The new Hugh Jackman film about a future where prizefighters have been replaced by robots. Jackman's character provides a brief explanation for why this is a future that favors the pugilism of robots over real people: 'people wanted more carnage, and so robot fighting was the next logical step'. As is customary for the genre, the link between the science and the fiction is bridged by non sequitur bullshit. But the story is really about a boy (a very annoying one), and his robot. The robot in question is a small, undersized, older model of the fightbots that permeate boxing's new culture. And yet, despite its limitations, it thrives in the ring, prompting the question in light of Edgar's performance: who needs shitty metaphors when reality is so much more compelling? I tuned out Goldberg and Rogan last night, who were truly awful, and so I missed the insufferable amount of comparisons of Frankie Edgar to Rocky Balbao. But if there's one thing I took away from both experiences, watching the movie, and seeing Edgar transcend the sport with his performance, it was the value of sentiment. In a culture consumed by cynicism, it's important to avoid mocking our cliches so that we don't detach ourselves from their inherent wisdom. Edgar plays the underdog role like nobody's business, and dare I say about an athlete, I feel honored to watch him fight. I don't feel guilty one bit about having been inspired last night by a consummate athlete's performance. Give Mark Henry a hand. One of the keys to success last night was coach Mark Henry's continued brilliance in between rounds, giving Edgar technical advice without seeming incoherent. Beyond that, perhaps one of the biggest improvements to Edgar's game was the development of his left hook. He landed it on several occasions, and Frankie appeared to be putting a little more mustard on his punches: if you had any doubts about that improvement, consider the image of Maynard laying face down on the canvas. It's not enough to make Edgar feared, but that's exactly what Edgar would like them all to think. Gray Maynard needs to remember his wrestling. The second fight didn't feel like Gray choked so much as Frankie persevered. Here it felt like Gray dropped the ball a little. And roll downhill it did. Let this be a lesson for fighters who think they can get away with taking a round off. I don't know where Gray goes from here, but I wouldn't mind seeing him fight Guillard next. Aldo's ground game is underrated a way Rogan isn't aware of. I actually enjoyed the Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian fight. It was extremely technical, and perhaps the most impressive moments for me came when Aldo would slide his legs through Kenny's guard in a scramble. Florian is a very good grappler. To see him lose position on the ground was highly impressive. You always hear stories about Aldo's win over Cobrinha (a grappling wizard), and movement like that would appear to confirm it. Kenny fought as well as he could have. Aldo is simply a better fighter: a fighter Anthony Pettis needs to study (see below). Did Chael Sonnen steal the show? Not in my eyes. But wow, what a performance. For once Chael(-El?)  was as interesting in the cage as he was outside of it. It was an interesting sight to see him use all that jiu jitsu he calls "gay". As for his message to Anderson Silva: in the context if lame wannabe pro wrestling inspired antics, it was well done. Josh Barnett could learn a thing or two from him: sometimes less is more. Not that Chael himself understand that concept. But he did last night. Say goodbye to the Melvin Guillard hype train. I've always been a Guillard skeptic, mostly because I didn't think he was that far removed from some lackluster performances. And his anxiety on the ground (that he still openly mocks that aspect of the game speaks to the fact that he still has a lot of learning to do) remains a liability, and apparently, so does his chin. Stevenson, and now Lauzon, got him with seemingly innocuous punches. Against Stephens he looked tentative, if not intimidated. Give us Joe Lauzon vs. Anthony Pettis next. Was the Showtime kick the worst thing to ever happen to Pettis? Obviously not, but his game has stifled ever since. Pettis needs to take cues from Jose Aldo: Aldo defends takedowns so well precisely because he circles out, and moves laterally directly off a combination. Of course, Aldo throws with the intent to land and to score. Pettis seems to still be in love with arbitrary flash. Just let your hands go. The fact that Jeremy Stephens scored takedowns on Pettis while Roller and Henderson had difficulty is just odd, if not telling. In defending takedowns, he seems content to sit up against the fence and battle for underhooks instead of simply getting back to the center of the cage which is where he needs to be. Neither guy looked good, nor do their respective performances bode well for their future. Awesome sweep by Pettis though. Hit the jump for more, and my take on Rogan and Goldberg.                    Can Leonard Garcia finally get some respect? It was what it is, and to be honest, it was refreshing. After the disappointing SpikeTV fights (which weren't bad, but just not what was expected), it was nice to get something expected. Garcia seemed to look ok in the beginning, throwing jabs, and his punches were straight enough. Then he went into hypnotoad mode. Thankfully, his schtick didn't work. But I kind of feel bad for Garcia, whose promoters even seem to be saying to his face "you've wronged your opponents, so atone for your sins by losing to them again", what with his second rematch. Credit to Phan and his body work. Too bad "an asian brother still can't go no love": in victory nobody let him talk even with the microphone in front of his face. Demian Maia still has learning to do. Maia looked over anxious last night. Jorge Santiago is a good fighter, and so I wasn't expecting Maia to run through him, but all night Maia was forcing punches, and on the ground he looked jumpy, and a little twitchy. It was a bipolar performance, but a good win nonetheless. Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg need to learn from the "senile moron" (Dana's words) Larry Merchant. If there's one thing Merchant often gets right, it's avoiding how to sugarcoat a turd. For some reason, Rogan and Goldberg were on a hyperbole trip all night. It wasn't even hyperbole, come to think of it. It was just babble. Their thoughts drooled out. First they tried to sell us on the idea that Stipe Miocic was a new player in the HW division, despite getting taken down by Joey Beltran, and having all kinds of trouble (much was made of Stipe's wrestling background, though it appears he earned those stripes in the Czech Republic...six times). Plus he gassed. Maybe the guy has potential, but it wasn't a great performance. Then their habitual flaws showed up, and aggressively so: no, there was nothing close about Garcia/Phan going into the 3rd. Stop trying to sell us false narratives like this. Then there was the Aldo/Florian fight. Your job is to call the action. So call the action. Is that too much to ask? Goldberg is beyond saving, but Rogan, who I generally find at least agreeable (and who has moments when he's actually very good), was off and wrong for good portions of the night. Part of the problem comes from the fact that they don't seem to have defined roles. They both brag about not doing any set up pre-fight. When did practice and professionalism suddenly become a bad thing?      

Posted in: night, nbsp, performance, edgar, aldo

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From the FightMetric blog: UFC 136 broke the record for longest UFC event. The 158 minutes and 32 seconds of fight time bested UFC Fight Night 20, which lasted 149 minutes and 50 seconds. Nam Phan set the record for most significant strikes in a single fight with 174. He landed 102 significant strikes in their first fight as well. Phan and Leonard Garcia combined for 274 significant strikes, falling 4 short of the record held by Chris Lytle and Matt Serra. Phan doubled Garcia's output to the head (138-61) and body (57-21) while Garcia monopolized strikes to the leg (25-0). FightMetric scored the bout 30-27, and did not credit Garcia with a knockdown in the third. Phan had a significant lead in every striking category outside of leg strikes. Kenny Florian edged Jose Aldo in total strikes (69-66), but Aldo had the advantage in significant strikes (51-40). Aldo landed to the head more often (52-23) while Florian targeted the body (19-5) and legs (27-9). FightMetric credited Florian with 1 takedown in 19 attempts. FightMetric scored the bout 30-27. Despite being (slightly) outstruck by volume, Aldo was awarded round one based on strikes to the head (12-4). In the main event, Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard were unsuccessful in a combined 13 takedowns attempts (11 for Edgar, 2 for Maynard). Maynard outlanded Edgar 24-11 in significant strikes in the first, while Edgar reversed that in rounds two through four (50-8).

Posted in: strike, phan, garcia, aldo, fightmetric

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Jose Aldo is an incredibly difficult man to plan for. With his explosiveness, elusiveness and unpredictability in the cage, challenger Kenny Florian had his hands full when he stepped into the Octagon last night (October 8, 2011) in an attempt to take Aldo's UFC featherweight title in the co-main event of UFC 136. So maybe that's why Florian turned it into a grueling, grind-em-out and ugly affair over the course of five rounds.  Regardless, when it was all said and done, the judges unanimously handed Aldo the victory with a score of 49-46 across the board. So what did Aldo do correct to sway them? And how did Florian's strategy fail to impress? We'll explain inside: If Kenny Florian won a round last night, it was the first. He came out, took advantage of Aldo's slow start and really put the champion on the defensive with his repeated takedown attempts along the fence, actually scoring a couple even if they were brief. From then on, I don't think Florian was credited with a takedown for the rest of the fight, but it didn't stop him from trying. I believe Fightmetric credited "Ken-Flo" with one out of 19 attempts to take the fight down. That's not very good odds.  Meanwhile, Aldo was doing a lot of this:  It seemed that whenever the fight would finally get reset to the standing realm, Aldo would connect with something, whether it was a straight punch, a kick or a swift combination. Florian was only able to stall him out with those takedown attempts. The fight is judged based on effective striking, grappling, aggression and Octagon control and in that order. With how easily Aldo was in control of the striking department, it didn't matter one bit that Florian was pressing him against the fence so much (although it was certainly annoying), what mattered was the damage Aldo was able to inflict when he finally got some room to attack. The champion also did a nice job of attacking on the ground on the few occasions where he found himself in top position after a failed takedown attempt from Florian. Aldo aggressively looked to pass guard, something he didn't try at UFC 129 against Mark Hominick and that also helped turned the tide in his favor. In the end, Aldo's only truly dominant round was the third, but Florian's inability to get any offense going whatsoever other than those clinch attempts along the cage was enough to frustrate the judges and allow them to score the fight in favor of the champion. For Kenny Florian, you can't blame him for slowing down the pace of the fight and not standing toe-to-toe with the champion in the stand-up department. No one has ever been able to do that successfully. I just wish he'd done something more than just hang on in the clinch and look for the takedown when he had the champ pinned against the fence. He only really threw his razor sharp elbows one time when he had Aldo trapped, that's an embarrassingly low amount of times to be using his most effective weapon. Florian has been labeled a "choker" by some for his performances in title fights, but that wasn't the case last night. He did was he had to do to give himself a chance against a younger, faster and more dangerous fighter in Aldo. He simply didn't do enough. He's now resigned to the fact that he'll probably never get a title shot again and at 35 years old, he probably won't be wanting to fight for much longer if at all. If he decided to stick around, look for Florian to play spoiler in the featherweight division. He could face someone like Manny Gamburyan next, or perhaps the loser of the upcoming George Roop vs. Hatsu Hioki fight. For Jose Aldo, sure he won, but he didn't gain any fans with his performance last night. What happened to the fighter that exploded out of the gate with a flying double knee and stopped Cub Swanson in eight seconds? It seemed like he gave Florian way too much respect last night and never truly followed up when he landed a significant strike. His killer instinct was nowhere to be found and on a night where he should have been turning himself into a star against an established UFC name, he simply didn't do it. Aldo will almost certainly face Team Alpha Male fighter Chad Mendes in his next bout, and that likely won't be a barnburner either. If he's able to retain the title, it could be a while until we see him fight to his true potential. So what did you think, Maniacs? Did Florian do what was necessary to give himself a chance last night? Or was it another choke job in a career of playing second fiddle in the big fights? Why is Jose Aldo not winning fans over in the UFC right now? Sound off! For complete UFC 136 results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire pay-per-view (PPV) event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here, here and here. All gifs by Zombie Prophet via IronForgesIron.com.

Posted in: ufc, fight, night, florian, aldo

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Dana White spoke to the press following Frankie Edgar's monumental comeback KO victory over Gray Maynard. He complimented the lightweight champion for his performance, and says that he thinks Edgar is the No. 2 pound-for-pound fighter in the sport: "If you really look at what pound-for-pound means, you cannot deny that Frankie Edgar is Number 2. The guy weighs 145 pounds and he's beating guys at 155 pounds. He beat a guy who had him out of it. A guy who many believed had his number. He knocked him out tonight... He's an amazing human being. He's an incredible athlete, and he's got a heart the size of this room." The UFC president also says that he still wants Edgar to make the drop to featherweight, and face the current champion and fellow UFC 136 winner, Jose Aldo: "Honestly, I'd like to see him move to 145 and fight Aldo" "Did you see the size difference between those two tonight? I've been telling him for a long time he should fight at 145. I'm not his dad or trainer. That's his decision. He's a grown man and knows what he's doing." "All these other guys that he fights are so much bigger than him. I think that fighting out of your weight class isn't healthy. I don't think it's healthy long-term. I don't think that guys that fight a weight class above them and take damage can have the longevity that other fighters can have. I think when you fight with guys that are your own size, you don't take the punishment that you take when you fight bigger guys. The weight classes are there for a reason." Aldo is likely set to face Chad Mendes next, and with Melendez in the works to join the stacked UFC lightweight shark tank, Edgar isn't likely to run out of challengers at 155 anytime soon. He has already proven that he is the best lightweight in the world, so it is very tough to say that he should change things up and leave the division. Although that being said, I don't think the fans would mind seeing Edgar take on the Strikeforce champ in Melendez, then try to challenge for the featherweight title regardless of the outcome.

Posted in: fight, guy, edgar, frankie edgar, aldo

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UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo looked back at defending his title against Kenny Florian in the co-main event of UFC 136 in Houston, Texas. Speaking at the post fight press conference, Aldo declared he would move up in weight classes if tha'ts something the UFC wants. Aldo improved his Mixed Martial Arts record to 20-1, currently enjoying a 13-fight winning streak as a fighter. Unbeaten Team Alpha Male product Chad "Money" Mendes is currently considered by many as the next challenger for Jose Aldo's

Posted in: ufc, jose, jose aldo, aldo, unbeaten team

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Filed under: UFC, NewsHOUSTON -- Jose Aldo had barely caught his breath after a five-round unanimous decision win over Kenny Florian in a UFC featherweight championship defense when his future was already being decided. Aldo may need a rest after the grinding fight, but when he's ready to get back in the cage, he's likely to be facing unbeaten Chad Mendes, according to UFC president Dana White. When asked if Mendes was the next No. 1 contender, White agreed, but with a caveat. More Coverage: UFC 136 Results "I'm pretty sure, yeah," he said. "But we'll see. Maybe Frankie [Edgar] calls me and says he wants to move to 145. We'll see what happens." Edgar, though, made it pretty clear after his fourth-round TKO win over Gray Maynard that a move to featherweight is his ace in the hole, and it's not a move he plans to make while he still holds the lightweight championship. Unless he has a change of heart, that should clearly leave Mendes in position to try to unseat Aldo. Mendes is 11-0 after notching an August decision over Rani Yahya, and he told MMA Fighting on Friday that he was hopeful of the matchup. "I think I match up better than anybody in the division," he said. "Obviously my standup is nowhere near his. I'm not an idiot. I know that. But, I think with my wrestling credentials, my strength, my athleticism, I don't think he's faced anybody like that yet. And for me to get in there, put him on his back and take him out of his comfort zone, I think that's going to be key to beating a guy like that." Aldo moved to 20-1 by beating Florian. The win was his 13th straight. %VIRTUAL-Gallery-136100% Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, move, jose aldo, aldo, mende

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After defeating Kenny Florian at UFC 136, featherweight champion Jose Aldo was once again queried about moving up to lightweight, and doesn't seem all that reluctant.

Posted in: ufc, jose, jose aldo, kenny florian, aldo

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Jose Aldo defended his UFC Featherweight title for second consecutive time with a Unanimous Decision victory over Kenny “Ken-Flo” Florian in the co-main event of the stacked UFC 136 fight card. In a night highlighted by Chael Sonnen’s triumphant return to the Octagon and Frankie Edgar’s inspiring comeback, Jose Aldo’s performance inside the left a lot to be desired. Aldo’s poor gas tank during “championship rounds” almost cost him a title against Mark

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Miss the event live, or just want to relive the action from UFC 136? Well here's ESPN's brief highlight video of the featherweight championship bout between Jose Aldo, and Kenny Florian. Also, since 30 seconds isn't enough, here's the complete play-by-play from the fight: UFC Featherweight Championship - Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian - Round 1 - Florian with leg kicks early. Aldo tries to wade forward with some punches and lands a left hand. Big punch rocks Florian but he's back on his toes trying to come forward. Right hand lands for Florian. Kenny tries for a takedown and Aldo bounces back up. Florian with another takedown. Florian takes Aldo's back standing and Aldo tries to grab a kimura. Uppercut by Aldo just misses and Florian ducks under a hook but can't get the takedown. Florian pushes Aldo into the cage. 10-9 Florian for controlling the action. Round 2 - Leg kick by Florian. Left hand lands for Aldo. Aldo tries to land a right hand but Forian blocks it. The crowd boos the slow action and Florian's brother yells to listen to him, not the crowd. Aldo with a sharp leg kick. Leg kick by Aldo again. And one in return by Kenny. Head kick by Florian is blocked. Head kick by Aldo is blocked. Aldo throws Kenny aside but misses the kick to follow up. Florian misses the takedown and Aldo lands a right hand and a leg kick. Leg kick by Florian lands hard. Florian looking for a takedown but can't get it as the round ends. 10-9 Aldo, close round. Round 3 - Leg kick and body kick by Florian. Aldo with an uppercut and now a straight right. Left hook by Aldo. He's getting a little more loose with his strikes now. Leg kick and two hard punches by Aldo. Knee lands for Aldo. Right hand again by Aldo and this is a good round for him. Takedown attempt by Florian and Aldo reverses and ends up in mount. Florian gets out of mount and Aldo is in side control. Aldo still on top landing a punch. Florian manages to get to his feet. 10-9 Aldo. Round 4 - Right hand by Aldo. A lot of missed strikes and this round is much more of a grind. Florian has Aldo up against the cage looking for the takedown but cant' get it. Right hand by Aldo and a left hook. Florian just missed with an elbow on the break. Right hand by Florian. 10-9 Aldo again on my card. Round 5 - Florian pushing Aldo into the cage. Florian with an attempt to kick and Aldo pushes him to the mat. Aldo stands over Florian for a while landing kicks to the thigh before they're back to standing. Aldo pushes him into the fence. Aldo with another round won and that should do it. 10-9 Aldo makes it 49-46 on my card.

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Jose Aldo defeats Kenny Florian via unanimous decision to retain his featherweight championship in the co-main event of UFC 136: "Edgar vs. Maynard 3" on Oct. 8 in Houston, Texas. Aldo used superior speed, striking and a far more polished ground game to befuddle "Ken Flo," who likely just lost out on his final chance of winning a major mixed marital arts title. For complete UFC 136 results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the main card action click here. After the jump is blow-by-blow from this fight from our very own Andrew Mendez: UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian Round one: Leg kick from Florian. Another leg kick from Florian. Leg kick from Florian and another. Their landing hard from Ken Flo. Good charging right from Aldo. Left from Aldo. Leg kick from Florian. Florian goes for a take down and Aldo stuffs it and lands a HARD right that rocks Florian. RIght from Florian. Florian with a quick take down, but Aldo scrambles to his feet and now their tied up against the cage with Florian in the dominant position. Florian with a throw take down and Aldo back to his feet and then Florian with a trip take down and Aldo again right back to his feet. Now Florian has the back while standing up and Florian looses it. Florian back to the back. Now they break. Hard uppercut from Aldo. Florian goes for another take down and nothing and now a body shot from Florian. Florian is just relentless with his grappling and he lands a good knee. Elbow from Florian. Elbow at the bell from Florian. 10-9 Florian. Round two: Right from Florian. Leg kick from Florian. Good left from Aldo. Hard right from Aldo. Aldo with a good right hook and body kick from Florian. Uppercut from Aldo grazes Kenny. Inside leg kick from Florian and a double leg kick from Aldo. Good right from Aldo. Jab from Florian. Jab from Florian. Leg kick from Aldo. Leg kick from Florian. Another inside leg kick from Florian. HUGE head kick from Aldo lands HARD. Aldo tosses Florian to the mat and misses a front kick to the face. Good right from Aldo. Leg kick from Aldo. Florian with a good leg kick. Jab from Florian. Florian goes for the take down now. Right from Aldo at the bell. That round was razor close and almost impossible to score. Ill lean Aldo. 10-9 Aldo. Round three: Leg kick from Florian. Body kick from Kenny. Nice left and right hook from Aldo. Big overhand right from Aldo. Short uppercut and left hook from Aldo. Front kick from Aldo. Big right from Aldo and leg kick from Florian. Big inside leg kick and then left right combo which lands HARD from Aldo. RIght from Aldo. Jab from Florian. Nice left hook right hook combo from Aldo. Florian ducks under for a take down and Aldo reverses and is on top in full guard!!! Punches from Aldo and Florian slips out into half guard. Good right from Aldo on the top. Punches now from Aldo but Kenny is making him work hard on top. Aldo postures up and good up kicks from Florian. Aldo back on top. Florian scrambles up and eats a right for his troubles. Florian goes for the take down again, Aldo stops it. That is the bell and that is all Aldo. 10-9 Aldo. Round four: Inside leg kick from Florian. Inside leg kick from Aldo. Right from Aldo lands flush. Jab from Florian. Leg kick from Aldo. Now their tied up briefly. Aldo with a hard right. Florian goes for a take down and is stuffed and Aldo lands a BIG knee! Now their tied up against the cage. Florian going for a high single and nothing there and now their in the center of the cage. Aldo stuffs another take down. Now their tied up against the cage. Knee from Florian and Aldo reverses positions. Florian drops down for a single again. Aldo sprawling out. Right from Aldo and body shot from Aldo and then a left hook from Aldo. Florian ties things up once again. Short elbow from Florian. Hard right from Aldo and body kick at the bell. Close round, ill lean towards Florian for aggression. 10-9 Florian. Round five: This round according to my scorecard will decide the fight. Leg kick from Florian. Florian charges in for another take down and lands some knees against the cage as Aldo stuffs it. Now their tied up against the cage and Florian trying to work the position but Aldo with good defense. Aldo slips away. Aldo lands a big jab as Florian slips while throwing a knee. Now Aldo lands kicks to the legs while holding position with Kenny on his back. Florian goes for a heel hook and Aldo lands a big right. Aldo lands a big elbow. Aldo mounts now!! Nice right from Aldo. Florian goes to scoot out the back door and Aldo grabs a leg before he can get away. Aldo now on top in half guard. Aldo almost gets to the mount again, but Florian now back to his feet and their clinched up against the cage. Knees from Aldo. Knee from Florian and ref breaks themup. Florian ties it up instantly and Aldo just pushes him into the cage. Lots of grappling against the cage and Aldo seems content to ride out the round, Florian with a right and flying knee that doesnt hit. Left hook from Aldo and Aldo lands a big left hook right hook combo. Knee from Aldo and that is the bell. Round 5 was all Aldo and now well see how the judges scored the fight. In my opinion Aldo won 3 and 5 clearly, but now the other rounds could literally have gone either way so the judges will decide this one. 10-9 Aldo.

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Filed under: UFC, NewsHOUSTON -- Three championship tries in two weight classes finished in frustration for Kenny Florian. After a strong first round which he won on all three judges' scorecards, Florian was shutout the rest of the way by UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo, dropping a unanimous decision. Afterward, a dejected Florian sat at the UFC 136 press conference, his head hung low. The normally eloquent Florian was also short on words, and when asked if this might be it for his career, he seemed unsure of what might be next for him. "No, not right now," he said. "I haven't really thought past this fight. We'll see what happens." Florian said his struggles in the wrestling aspect of the fight -- he was 2-for-14 according to Compustrike numbers -- was the deciding factor. Aldo also out-landed Florian 39-9 in power strikes. "Kenny Florian went in there tonight going after it," UFC president Dana White said. "He wanted that belt. Everybody's talked about how dominant Jose is, but Kenny went out took him the distance. He fought a great fight." But you have to wonder if Florian has exhausted his title opportunities. The first one he got, back in 2006, was probably premature, and Florian lost a decision to Sean Sherk. Three years later, his game had matured a bit, but he could not withstand BJ Penn's power, and the Hawaiian legend finished him with a fourth-round rear naked choke. Against Aldo in the lower division, he did not have the explosive takedowns to make the fight a grind and take away Aldo's explosiveness. White, who once famously labeled Florian a "choker" in big fights, had nothing bad to say this time around. But he said Florian had reached a point where he had gone through a few divisions and hadn't accomplished his goal. White noted that Florian had options outside of fighting and needed to figure out his future on his own. Florian couldn't bring himself to think about it. Not with the overwhelming feeling of the night. At least for the moment, it felt like the end. "Obviously, I'm disappointed," Florian said. "I fought very hard. I trained extremely hard and wasn't successful. That's it." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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UFC 136 - Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian

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UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo retained the 145-pound title with a close unanimous decision over Kenny Florian in the co-main event of UFC 136 on Saturday night in Houston, Texas. Florian got out to a solid start as he dictated the pace early and attacked Aldo in the clinch as he worked for takedowns, but the champion quickly regained his composure and outpointed Florian down the stretch with hard leg kicks, combinations, and control on the ground. MMAFrenzy.com’s play-by-play of Aldo vs. Florian is below: Round 1 – Florian opens the action with leg kicks before Aldo rushes forward with punches. They settle down in the middle of the Octagon and Aldo lunges with punches again. Florian uses a leg kick to go for a jab then shoots for a takedown, but Aldo stays on his feet and tags him in a flurry. Florian quickly looks for another takedown, but Aldo stays standing against the fence. Florian gets Aldo down twice, but Aldo gets back to his feet and fights free. Florian ducks a punch a tries for a single leg but Aldo slips free. Florian punches the body then goes to the clinch as he presses for another takedown. A few elbows by Florian, but he can’t get another takedown before the bell. MMAFrenzy scores the first for Florian 10-9. Round 2 – Florian immediately closes in again and Aldo avoids, but Florian lands a punch. Aldo tries to find his rhythm as Florian avoids most of his punches. Aldo finally connects with a pair of punches, but Florian keeping his distance with kicks. The crowd starts to boo halfway through the second as they trade inside leg kicks. Florian cirles away and sets up more inside leg kicks, then goes high but it’s blocked. Aldo lands a high kick, tags Florian with a jab, then just misses with a kick in a scramble. Aldo goes inside again and also lands with his hands again. Florian looks for a takedown from the clinch in the final seconds but it isn’t there. MMAFrenzy scores the second 10-10 leaving Florian ahead 20-19 through two. Round 3 – Aldo connects more frequently to start the third. Florian tries to answer, but Aldo is landing with more power including another hard leg kick. Florian goes for a takedown, but Aldo reverses and nearly has mount but Florian keeps him in half guard. Florian content to keep Aldo under control and the champion does little from the top. Aldo stands and Florian throws upkicks. Aldo controls the feet and gets back to the ground, but Florian escapes back to his feet. Florian tries for another takedown from the clinch, but Aldo stays on his feet to finish the round strong. MMAFrenzy scores the third for Aldo 10-9 evening the fight at 29-29. Round 4 – Aldo and Florian go back at it in the center of the Octagon and Aldo continues to get the better of the excahanges as he attacks the inside of Florian’s leg with kicks. Florian goes for a single, but they end in the clinch again as Aldo shrugs it off and escapes back to the center of the cage. After another exchange, Florian grabs the clinch and walks Aldo to the fence. Aldo reverses to the outside and they trade knees as they struggle for position. Florian goes for a single again, but Aldo slips free. Florian immediately goes for another takedown from the clinch, but Aldo stays standing and they separate. Aldo misses with a jumping knee and they trade punches before the bell sounds. MMAFrenzy scores the fourth 10-10 and has the fight 39-39 heading to the fifth and final round. Round 5 -Florian and Aldo touch gloves to start the final round. Florian quickly goes to the clinch again as he looks for a takedown, but settles for a few knees before separating. Florian slips on a knee attempt, but attacks with upkicks and kicks to the knee from his back. Aldo controls Florian’s feet, drops into his guard, and lands an elbow. Aldo gets mount and Florian is forced to give up his back. Aldo can’t do anything with it as Florian gets back to half guard before scrambling to his feet. They trade knees in the clinch as Aldo presses Florian against the fence. They stall and are restarted with 80 seconds to go. Aldo clinches again and controls Florian against the fence, but Florian reverses to the outside. Florian fires some knees and backs away for a combo. Wild exchanges by Florian and Aldo before the final bell. MMAFrenzy scores the fifth for Aldo 10-9, giving him the win 49-48.  Jose Aldo (c) def. Kenny Florian via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)

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Jose Aldo looked to continue his quest to be recognized as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world as he took on UFC veteran Kenny Florian at UFC 136. Aldo's featherweight title was on the line as Florian attempted to do what he was unable to do at lightweight and become a champion. Florian was aggressive in the opening frame, using takedown attempts and kicks to throw off Aldo and force him out of his game. Aldo was able to figure out Florian's style after a single round, adapting and picking his shots carefully and landing pretty much every meaningful strike from rounds two until five. Florian gave good effort all fight but Aldo's use of the leg kick and two punch combinations left Florian unable to really get any offense off aside from the occasional moment of pushing Aldo into the cage. This likely represents the last time we see Florian get a title shot in the UFC as he is now 0-3 in his attempts to win gold and for Aldo he continues to make a case as one of the best in the world.

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Jose Aldo got that scar on his face by accidentally smashing into fence when he was running away from all the women who were chasing him after he made his WEC debut. Since then, I can't keep Cat from throwing in some mention of Jose Aldo and her 'knee-high socks' whenever I talk to her. If the prerequisite of being desired by every female MMA fan is to run an entire division, then it looks like I'm going to stick with chicks that really like guys that can defeat Mike Tyson's Punch-Out without losing a round (I know you're out there, somewhere). Imagine what the entire field of science would know if their experience about our world was only limited to Jose Aldo's left knee. Text books would be made about the exact trajectory required to do this to another human being. Our kids would grow up to be violent psychopaths and nothing would be accomplished in society. The political system would diminish and all gubernatorial debates would ultimately result in a one-on-one 'knee-joust' contest. World peace would be achieved in a year because everyone will soon realize that getting a knee to the head friggin' sucks. Tonight, Jose Aldo served Kenny Florian with an abundance of knees to the head, along with a plethora of straight jabs. Ken Flo tried his hardest to get the upper-hand by taking Aldo down, but his efforts were futile. Jose Aldo is just on a warpath right now, and at UFC 136, Kenny Florian became another casualty. Although Aldo couldn't finish Ken Flo, he did serve him with a unanimous decision win, thwarting Florian's efforts to latch on to his belt.

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The co-main event of UFC 136: "Edgar vs. Maynard 3" tonight (Oct. 8, 2011) in Houston featured a featherweight championship fight between titleholder Jose Aldo and longtime bridesmaid but never a bride, Kenny Florian. This was widely regarded as the last chance for the 35-year-old "Ken Flo" to attain his goal of wearing a major championship belt before leaving the fight game. It was a tall order to take on a pound-for-pound stalwart like "Scarface" in order to achieve such a goal but no one ever achieved greatness by doing something that comes easy. Unfortunately for Florian, Aldo proved to high a mountain to climb, a challenge to difficult to overcome. Is this the end of the line for the former Ultimate Fighter contestant? Who knows. But it's likely the last time he'll ever challenge for a title in the UFC. Every fight starts standing and with Aldo's natural speed and deceptive power, he took the early edge by landing strikes and surprising Florian with his quickness. But good old American wrestling has saved many a fighter and that's what the Massachusetts native used to try to even things back up. His timing was there and he earned a takedown, as well as taking "Junior's" back. Florian continued to use his reach advantage and a great game plan to keep Aldo at bay, working hard to keep pace with his feisty foe. It was close ... too close. Unfortunately for Florian, Aldo began finding his rhythm in that second frame, finding his own timing and figuring out distance and range. And using his leg kicks. The third round was contested almost exclusively on the ground, with "Scarface" gaining superior position and never quite giving it up, save for letting Florian to his feet with around 30 seconds remaining. Then, the championship rounds. Aldo's corner told him to use his leg kicks more because, in theory, it would end the fight. After all, it took just two kicks in the second round to back Florian up and get him thinking about them. "Ken Flo" went back to the clinch game, looking for a takedown and doing his best to tire Aldo out. It seemed to work, as Aldo visibly took multiple deep breaths. But would it be enough for Florian to steal the fight in the fifth and final round? It would not. And so, Kenny Florian, after three failed attempts at earning a major championship in the UFC, will likely go down in history as the greatest fighter to never win the big one. Whether that's a fair characterization or not. To check out MMAmania.com's LIVE UFC 136 results post, which includes up-to-the-minute, blow-by-blow coverage of EVERY fight click here.

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The champion was too much for the challenger as Aldo defeated Florian with scores of 49-46 from all three judges.

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Filed under: UFCJose Aldo remained the UFC featherweight champion with a unanimous decision victory over Kenny Florian on Saturday night at UFC 136, coming out on top after a hard-fought 25 minutes of battling. All three judges scored it 49-46 for Aldo, who got the better of Florian in the exchanges on the feet and stayed in control on the top when the fight went to the ground. "It played out great. He's a very strategic fighter, a smart and experienced guy and I just had to go out there and impose my game," Aldo said afterward. "I expected him to pin me against the cage, I watched his fight against B.J. Penn and he did the exact same thing, and I just had to be able to defend it.... He was always looking to take me down." Although Florian came out and fought hard and did, in fact, pin Aldo against the cage just as Aldo expected, Florian got very little going offensively. It was a fairly one-sided win for Aldo, even though it wasn't the kind of dominant performance that many expected from Aldo. The victory improved Aldo's professional MMA record to 20-1, and kept him atop the featherweight class. For Florian the loss drops him to 14-6, and pretty well demonstrates that he's done fighting for UFC titles. Florian may have some big fights left in him, but he's not quite at the same level as the champion. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Filed under: UFCHOUSTON -- This is the UFC 136 live blog for Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian, the co-main event of tonight's UFC 136 pay-per-view from the Toyota Center. Aldo (19-1), who is putting his UFC featherweight title on the line for the second time, defeated Mark Hominick at UFC 129 in April. Florian (14-5) made his featherweight debut at UFC 131 in June, beating Diego Nunes via unanimous decision. The live blog is below. More Coverage: UFC 136 Results | Latest UFC 136 News Round 1: Round 2: Round 3: Round 4: Round 5: %VIRTUAL-Gallery-136100% Follow Us on Twitter Friend Us on Facebook Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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The semi-main event of UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III features just the second Featherweight title fight in UFC history. Champion Jose Aldo (19-1; 1-0 UFC) will defend his title against challenger Kenny Florian (15-5; 12-4 UFC) in the second to last fight of the evening. Aldo will also unofficially be defending his #1 ranking in the USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings. Florian is ranked #4. The PPV begins at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. This is a fight defined largely by the pressure on both men. For Jose Aldo, there's the pressure of carrying the newly formed UFC Featherweight division. Since moving over from the WEC, the division has received little attention outside of Aldo. But he's the kind of fighter that can make people care about every fight he's in. For Kenny Florian, the pressure comes from his 3rd UFC title fight. Dana White has painted him as a choker, who can not win the big one. This could be his last chance to prove his boss wrong. How do these two stack up? Aldo: 25 years old | 5'7" | 70" reachFlorian: 35 years old | 5'10" | 74" reach What have these two done recently? Aldo: W - Mark Hominick (UD) | W - Manvel Gamburyan (KO) | W - Urijah Faber (UD)Florian: W - Diego Nunes (UD) | L - Gray Maynard (UD) | W - Takanori Gomi (Sub) How did these two get here? Aldo comes in making what is technically the 2nd defense of his UFC Featherweight title, though realistically, this is his 4th defense since winning the WEC belt from Mike Brown in 2009. Aldo's stand up skill and knock out power had brought him to the top of the 145 pound ranks, and has prompted many to call him a pound for pound top 5. He's coming off a fight where some felt he struggled with Mark Hominick, and needs a decisive win to keep in the pound for pound discussion. Florian has taken a long and winding road to this bout. Starting in the UFC as a Middleweight on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter (where he made the finals), Florian promptly dropped down to Welterweight, then Lightweight. As a Lightweight, he was in the first title fight of the reborn division, losing to Sean Sherk in a bloody battle. He won 6 in a row before his next title challenge, losing to B.J. Penn. After two more impressive wins, he was defeated by Gray Maynard in a top contender fight, which prompted both White's comments about Florian choking, and a drop down to Featherweight. His 145 debut saw him have a few troubles against Diego Nunes, but he won, and his name value was enough to earn him an immediate title shot. Why should you care? On the one hand, you have the dynamic Jose Aldo looking for another huge highlight reel KO. On the other, you have the long journey of Kenny Florian looking to finally capture UFC gold. Fireworks + emotion = win. More Bloody Elbow coverage of UFC 136 after the jump. UFC 136 Judo Chop: The Striking of Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard - Fraser Coffeen UFC 136 Preview - Melvin Guillard Gunning for Knockout Bonus - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 136 Video - Bruce Buffer: 'You Can't Announce the Way I Announce If You're Not Into It' - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III - Live Weigh-In Video and Results - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136 Video: Frankie Edgar Says Belt Proves He Belongs at Lightweight - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III - Bloody Elbow Staff Predictions UFC 136 Preview: Melvin Guillard Says Joe Lauzon Folds Under Pressure - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Chael Sonnen Denies Gameplanning for Brian Stann - Mike Fagan UFC 136: Frankie Edgar Talks Gray Maynard, Jose Aldo - Mike Fagan UFC 136: Melvin Guillard vs. Joe Lauzon Dissection - Dallas Winston Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 87: UFC 136 Preview UFC 136: Leonard Garcia vs. Nam Phan Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 136: Time Aplenty for Chael Sonnen Despite Competition for Contention - Leland Roling UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III Betting Lines - Tim Burke UFC 136: Spike TV Preliminary Card Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 136: Did Promotion Need More Chael Sonnen and Brian Stann? - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Jose Aldo's Second Chance to Destroy Foolish Assumptions - Leland Roling UFC 136: A Running Diary of Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard II - Mike Fagan UFC 136 Pre-Fight Press Conference Video and Updates - Tim Burke UFC State of the Union: UFC 136 and the Lightweight Division - Fraser Coffeen Countdown to UFC 136 Video UFC 136: Melvin Guillard's Continuing Quest for a Title Shot - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136 Preview: Looking Back at Edgar vs. Maynard 2 Highlights and Reaction - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Facebook Undercard Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 136: Dana White Video Blog, Day 1

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Jose Aldo remained the UFC Featherweight Champion, this time defeating Kenny Florian via Unanimous Decision in what could be easily described as "War of Attrition". Aldo was able to execute his gameplan, punishing Jose Aldo with sharp striking combinations and leg kicks. Jose Aldo also displayed an improved takedown defense and a fantastic submission game that prevented from Kenny Florian to get into dominant positions throughout the fight. Speaking about Florian, it was Ken-Flo's third run for the UFC

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In the first of two title affairs at UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III, fourth ranked pound-for-pound candidate Jose Aldo takes on longtime lightweight standout Kenny Florian for the featherweight strap. Let's just get into it: I'm going to take Florian for the upset here. I'm overly stubborn in not giving fighters the benefit of the doubt, perhaps, admittedly, to a fault. MMA is so complex and dynamic that I feel certain aspects require a consistent demonstration against reputable competition. I'm not going to use the "O-word", and I'm not demeaning Jose Aldo's elite abilities, but I think he has a lot to prove. Compared to current and past pound-for-pound constituents, the top-listers have cleaned out the division for years (Georges St. Pierre, Anderson Silva), mounted an insane surge by blowing through most of the top contenders (Jon Jones) or staked their claim behind the champions through an overall exemplary tour of duty (Jon Fitch, Jake Shields). Here are Aldo's relevant opponents: Cub Swanson, Mike Brown, Urijah Faber, Manny Gamburyan and Mark Hominick. The flying double-knee knockout of Swanson was absolutely amazing but Cub wasn't ever significantly ranked and I'd actually love to see a rematch. Cub is a tough S.O.B. and I'm baffled by his disappearance. Faber and Brown are totally legit and impressive wins. Gamburyan was a new transition to featherweight and always had some questionable striking tendencies, and Hominick is a multi-dimensional talent and a great win, but one that made Aldo look extremely mortal. Again, I'm not downplaying his performances or those opponents, but my opinion of Aldo has remained rather grounded. I will add the disclaimer that the bulk of the lighter weight talent (lightweight and below) has a significantly stronger global presence, where the majority of the higher weight classes had much more time to migrate stateside and consolidate after the purchase of Pride. In the full entry, I'll list some of Florian's attributes that might be foreign or unique to Aldo followed by my typical gif-barrage. Size: I put tremendous emphasis on the myriad advantages that stem from additional height and reach, especially when that same athlete matches it with good agility and know how to use it. The only other threatening opponent Aldo has faced who was significantly taller is Jonathan Brookins. While no slouch of a fighter himself, Brookins is a pure grappler with seriously lacking stand up technique. Florian, who is a very lanky 5'10", will have three inches of height and four inches of reach, and one of Florian's major strides as a lightweight was learning how to capitalize on his length in his striking, clinch game and on the ground. Diversity: In addition to the size disparity, Florian has tighter technique in more areas than Aldo's past adversaries. I would put Hominick on about the same level in striking, but I'd assess Florian's ground and clinch skills as slightly better and more technical, plus he's a much stronger wrestler. This along with his size advantage is monumental. Experience: Given my mild criticism of Aldo's tenure, Florian has tackled incredible competition throughout his career: Drew Fickett and Diego Sanchez in his third and fourth fights (who both were formidable welterweights), Thai Champion Kit Cope, veteran sharp-shooter Sam Stout, dominant wrestler Sean Sherk (who had thirty-six fights under his belt in Florian's ninth fight), a deceivingly dangerous grappler in Dokonjonosuke Mishima, and then virtually the entire who's who of the UFC's top lightweights. To summarize, Florian has a physical stature, skill-set and experience level that Aldo has yet to encounter and, like Aldo, Florian is a technical striker and BJJ practitioner with better wrestling in a longer frame. Now, the two major areas that cause me to hesitate are speed -- which is always lost or equalized when a fighter drops weight -- and Kenny's altogether underwhelming featherweight debut against Diego Nunes. Throw in his high mileage at age thirty-five, and the speed factor alone might completely annihilate my entire theory, resulting in Aldo -- the quickest featherweight in the biz -- running circles around Kenny. Speed and agility were integral to Florian's success at lightweight. If that doesn't translate well at featherweight, he's in big trouble. His frame works against him a little here as Nunes clips his long, lead leg with a low kick. Not only is Aldo faster than Nunes, but his low kicks are utterly devastating. Ask Faber. Nunes wisely keys on Kenny's strange absence of activity and brings the kick high. It's the sort of intense high kick that's effective even when blocked. Florian's footwork is painfully predictable here. In his three slow steps forward, Nunes reads the first two and times his kick to land right as Florian's feet are planted for the third. You can easily count the pattern of the timing with each step: one ... two ... and BAM.  Let's contrast that with the Florian of old. The differences are astoundingly obvious in this clip versus Guida. Here you can see an increased spring in his step, his knees are bent and he's crouched lower, his center of gravity and balance is impeccable and his left hand is cocked at his chin. Kenny bounces on his toes three times here in the span of a second, where, above, he sleepwalks forward with three steps, flat footed and hands down. This is why speed is so critical. Florian is entering a new world where everything plays in fast-forward, yet his own quickness seems to be stuck on pause. Also, these clips are from the first round against Nunes, so he should be fresh. He could be drained from the cut, but he's done for if it doesn't change. Coupled with his snail-like reactions, Florian gets punished to the left for making another cardinal mistake, which is backing straight up with no angles. Here Florian applies his savvy experience through what I think is another brutal tactic that's under-appreciated in MMA. Going half-butterfly, he creates space and controls Nunes' posture by clamping his head down with his left hand and walloping wicked elbows to his head and face. For a skilled ground practitioner with good defense, sweeps and submissions, this is how you assume control from your guard with strikes rather than BJJ. Where Florian's speed may suffer from the drop in weight, I think his wrestling abilities will flourish. He can get more leverage with his size in this weight class and threaten with takedowns from outside and in the clinch to complement his striking onslaught. From the top, Florian's stellar grappling background helps him lock in a dominant position where he can shower down punches and his trademark elbows. The Nunes fight showed equal parts of extreme concern and encouraging potential for what he can do vs. Aldo. Allow me to regain some ground if you think I'm dogging on Jose Aldo, because the guy is insanely talented. I've pointed out some areas where he's still unproven, but there are many where he's solidified himself as one of the greatest. His stance, form, footwork and head movement are among the best in the sport today. Check out how he upholds perfect balance after cleaving the uppercut by circling to the right while still pressing the attack with excellent hand position. Every time I babble about stance, head movement, reaction times and using angles, the animation to the right is the quintessential example of how to do it. Head movement is more than just high levels of activity (see: Clay Guida) where Aldo's shucking and jiving to the left could each be the starting motion toward unloading a combination. You can see that simply by committing to his head movement, he causes Hominick to freeze in his tracks for a moment as he prepares to defend. This sequence to the right is more of Hominick being Hominick rather than a major defensive flaw. Hominick cuts such a hard swivel after his left hook set-up that he plunges the body shot at 4 o'clock after coming at 12. It's also worth mentioning that this is a risky angle to cut, as it marches directly into Aldo's power hand and leaves his head entirely exposed for a counter. This is where Florian's reach and footwork could get him deeper in the pocket with more power on the end of his punches. Here's another: Florian established his jab well toward the end of his lightweight stint, especially against Gomi. In fact, the Florian that took apart Gomi is both the fighter and the strategy that I think can unhinge Aldo. Aldo is so grossly offensive at times that it seems a piston-like jab while darting in and then out of range could take him out of his game. The problems that Hominick caused would seem to be multiplied if "the old Kenny" shows up. Aldo takes a page out of Bas Rutten's book with the classic left hook to the body followed by a cracking low kick. This is what I love about Aldo's style. Notice how he sets up the body shot by faking with the right and then planting hard off his left foot to needle the shovel punch into the body. The danger with this combination is the left hook that Hominick grazes his exposed chin with. His initial strike connecting takes some steam off Hominick's counter, but there is that moment of vulnerability between Aldo's two strikes here. Aldo shows a little Anderson Silva flavor here by slipping punches while staying in the pocket with his feet planted. It's bad ass. You can't knock something that works, though I will add again my emphasis of how Florian's long reach might prohibit this as well as that his flat-footed stance would expose him to a double leg if Florian timed it correctly. Grappling-wise, we have two high level black belts with formidable ground-and-pound. Broken record alert, but Florian's spidery length might show through on the ground as well. A long-limbed grappler can snake his limbs farther around things, create more space, manipulation and leverage with his hips and has a wider range of travel for striking. With many things being equal in their grappling pedigrees, Florian's size and experience are the intangibles that stand out to me. I'm in a bit of a pickle as I'm hesitant to predict that Florian can finish him, and his sluggish performance against Nunes does not really indicate he'll have the energy for a five-round decision. If Florian performs even close to the way he did in his debut, I think Aldo will not only win, but trounce him by TKO. I failed to mention Florian's strong beard (one TKO loss), which is another proven aspect on paper. If he brings back the defensive characteristics and effervescent movement of old, his chin should carry him through in the fewer times Aldo can connect. If we see the same Florian we saw versus Nunes, Aldo will tag him frequently and his resilience to punches won't matter. Even if he's not knocked out, Aldo can score a stoppage via a blinding flurry just like Diego Sanchez did. I'm being a tad hypocritical in that I opened with questions about Aldo because he hasn't necessarily proved himself, yet I realize my prediction for Florian is based on his past performances, meaning he hasn't necessarily proved he can replicate them at featherweight. It will absolutely take some huge adjustments to deal with Aldo's speed and to implement the advantages of his frame at featherweight and, based on that alone, my pick is risky ... but I'll stick to my guns and guess Florian can pull it off. My Prediction: Kenny Florian by decision   All gifs via Zombie Prophet of IronForgesIron.com                   Poll Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian Jose Aldo Kenny Florian   23 votes | Results

Posted in: nbsp, florian, kenny, aldo, nune

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We left off yesterday discussing the UFC 136 prelims, and today, we’re back with the main card. The main card features a highly anticipated rematch, along with the possibly the greatest match-up of good and evil in the UFC’s storied history. Let’s get started. Melvin Guillard vs. Joe Lauzon Guillard is one of the UFC’s most interesting success stories. After coming in at a really young age, and fighting a brash, and often undisciplined style, Guillard has scaled back, reassessed his priorities and turned himself into one of 155’s best prospects. No longer fighting with the same reckless abandon he showed in his early losses (the Rich Clementi one is one that sticks out in my mind,) Guillard has become one of the most technical and methodical strikers in his weight class. The continued discipline working with the likes of Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn have helped him win eight of his last nine and looks like a world beater. He stopped Evan Dunham like it was nothing, and rolled (no pun intended) through Shane Roller. Lauzon awaits, having alternated wins and losses in this last 5, though 2 of those wins were against fighters no longer in the UFC. When he’s on his game, he is absolutely dominant. When he isn’t, he really falters, with his fight against George Sotiropoulos being the perfect example. Lauzon demonstrated little discipline in that fight, and tired himself out until he was tapped out. Lauzon better have done a good cardio regimen coming into this, as Guillard will burst out of the gate as fast as he will. Look for this to be a short fight. Both fighters will be throwing heavy strikes in the opening moments, and should the fight go to the ground, I don’t think either man has what it takes to hold the other down for very long. It wouldn’t surprise me that this fight doesn’t leave the first round, with Guillard’s superior striking and ground defense being what I believe will be the turning point for the match. Prediction – Melvin Guillard def. Joe Lauzon via TKO On a side note, the next fight slots in where Dave Herman vs. Mike Russow was supposed to, however, Herman’s urine sample tested positive for marijuana. To be fair, I can almost believe Herman when he says he wasn’t smoking the stuff. The guy’s a goof (he wore a tuxedo t-shirt out on the town after his UFC 131 victory over John Olav Einemo) but he’s not stupid enough to throw the opportunity away, and he WAS in Vancouver where every third yuppie walks around with a joint out like it’s a cigarette. Canadian Olympian Ross Rebagliatti tested positive for marijuana after his gold medal, a feat eventually setting the research benchmark for the amount of time trace molecules of marijuana stay in one’s system. He said he hadn’t smoked it in years, but had been at a party a couple months before where others were smoking it. Research showed that he was telling the truth, and it stays in your system weeks and months longer than say, alcohol. Anyway, I’m no medical professional, and I’m hardly qualified enough to speak about MMA. Let’s stick to said qualifications. Leonard Garcia vs. Nam Phan It seems that Garcia’s in the business of his foes trying to avenge their losses, with Phan being the latest. Garcia fights a unique style, in that he pushes forward yelling like he’s a karate white belt, connecting on about 12% of his strikes and looking good enough to win. Garcianomics has been sound enough to beat many in the past, and after Chan Sung Jung avenged his loss, it’s Phan’s turn. Phan is arguably the more seasoned fighter, with fights in basically every major promotion you can think of besides Bellator. Garcia is what he is – A hard nosed, good natured fighter with the fortunate skill of turning a bag of garbage into an artwork. He’s got one of the ugliest fight styles out there, but it works for him, and it works more often than not. Phan is going to have to lay off the karate and challenge Garcia on the ground, where both specialize in BJJ, but Phan holds the speed edge. Otherwise, Garcia holds the size and reach edge on the feet. The thing about standing with Garcia is also that he never seems to tire. Stick Garcia out there with a sparring robot, and it would probably run out of batteries before Garcia’s panting. Hopefully the old adage is true. Phan’s a year older, a year wiser, and a beating at the hands of Mike Brown stronger. He should understand at this point what he’s fully getting into with Garcia. If it stays standing the whole time again, expect Garcia to take this one. If Phan is able to execute a ground attack, however, this fight should be his, along with a successful avenging of his previous loss. Garcia’s an exciting fighter to watch, however. He’ll be back again in no time. Prediction – Nam Phan def. Leonard Garcia via Submission Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann At last we’ve arrived at the battle of good and evil. Standing in one corner, the beloved All-American hero. Strong willed, strong jawed. A man who embodies the everyman spirit, and embodies the spirit of every man. In the other corner, an outspoken politician type with no respect given, and no respect needed in return. Sonnen and Stann is a masterpiece on paper, but a disaster in theory. I don’t see what either fighter has to gain from this fight. At a time when both men are on the cusp of a possible title shot, this match to me gets neither closer, and the loser of this fight’s stock will probably drop heavily. Everybody is waiting for Sonnen to take a right hook to the face and crumple, but will it happen? Sonnen is one of the most intelligent and crafty middleweights in the world. When his head was split open against Nate Marquardt, he found ways to take the fight and ensure it couldn’t be stopped by a doctor. When the world was expecting Anderson Silva to strike him into the ground, he smartly wrestled and bested “The Spider” at his own game until getting caught in the late minutes of the fight. While everybody was expecting him to start slagging on the ever popular Stann, he took the high road and kept trash talking others. Stann, in his usual fashion, has continued saying all the right thing coming into the fight. A humble guy who prefers not to jaw his opponents beforehand, the only trash talking he’s done in the last few months is against Jon Jones, of whom he only said anything to after the light heavyweight champ started making fun of the size of his chin. To be quite honest, I don’t want to spend much more time analyzing this fight because I think it’s been overhyped – it’s been overanalyzed, and it’s not going to go like everybody expects it to. Many people I’ve spoken with are looking for a decisive Stann highlight reel KO followed by a chariot ride into a title shot with Silva. For the sake of marketing, that seems to be the sexy pick as well. However, it’s my belief you’re going to see Sonnen wrestle and shut down Stann’s advances. There are few fighters out there that seem to just get better as they gain momentum – Sonnen’s one of them. He starts off as a very good fighter, and once he ends up with a bit of momentum on his side, he’s world class. This is the right marketing fight for Stann, but the wrong one in theory. Win or lose, Sonnen will probably get Vitor Belfort next. It wouldn’t surprise me that Stann gets the next title shot if he does. Prediction – Chael Sonnen def. Brian Stann via Unanimous Decision Let’s talk the double main event now. As usual, I’m filled with thoughts in title fights, so prepare for lengthy breakdowns. Featherweight Championship Match: Jose Aldo (c) vs. Kenny Florian This is Florian’s last stand. This will be his third title shot, and if he doesn’t do it here, I’m not sure he gets another shot unless the fight is so close, an immediate rematch is necessary. Florian’s one of MMA’s good guys – The only time he’s ever tried to play heel was in Vancouver for UFC 131 (when he showed up to the weigh ins a Bruins jersey in the middle of the Stanley Cup finals between Vancouver and Boston,) and even then, he was shaking hands, laughing and apologizing to fans at the local MMA expo over the next couple days. Aldo is MMA’s humble bad boy, coming from a poor upbringing and surviving a horrific burn accident (the reason for the scar on his face) to become a world champion. The battle lines between good and evil were a bit better drawn in the Stann/Sonnen fight, but a good vs. good battle? What to say? Florian is probably the emotional pick here. He’s been with the UFC for so long, and he’s been entertaining crowds in so many weight classes that you’ll likely never see him go. Once his fighting days are over, he’s got a good career in broadcasting ahead of him. His 145 debut against Diego Nunes only proved to show how dominant of a fighter he can be against the top competition in the division, but Aldo’s a cut above his Nova Uniao teammate. Prior to UFC 129, Aldo was the arguably the biggest enigmatic dynamo in the UFC. After Silva was shown to be human the summer before against Sonnen, Aldo was the new fast paced, flashy and untouchable MMA superman the world was to take note of. A heavy favorite going into the Mark Hominick fight in Toronto, he immortality was knocked down a peg by the Canadian. Hominick even took rounds from the Brazilian while growing a second head by way of a stunning hematoma, and looked for all the world that he could even stop the champion in the dying minutes of the fight. It was not to be that night, and Aldo retained the title, but he gave inspiration to those looking to fight the Brazilian going forward. Florian and Hominick share one common bond – A never ending sense of perseverance. Florian’s never say die attitude has taken him into some of the gutsiest wars since his UFC debut in 2005, and his praises (and disappointments) have been sang the world over. Nobody knows what’s going to happen if he doesn’t win on Saturday – Does he retire? Does he keep going? Does he drop to 135 and try to challenge Dominick Cruz? Does he come back up to 155 to finish his career? There are so many unanswered questions. Aldo, on the other hand, comes into this fight with a little less pressure. It’s his job to not lose the fight, while it’s Florian’s job to win. That is to say, however, that Aldo has never done anything less than be dominant. His is the face of the future of the UFC. At just 25, he is a torchbearer in waiting for the next decade, and this is a win that will continue to push him toward consideration of being able to carry a PPV himself. Aldo is one who embodies the new generation of MMA – A faster paced style of blended disciplines meant to confuse and overwhelm opponents. Rory MacDonald does this, Cruz does this, and Aldo does this. There’s no telling what Aldo’s going to do next, and he comes at you so fast, you have no time to react. Florian has a much more traditional and straight-laced style, and he says he’s going to be one coming out and pushing the pace on Aldo, which seems like a bit of an oxymoron doesn’t it? Florian unfortunately has a reputation of big game choking. I don’t think that’s fair, and I don’t know that it’s fair to say that a loss to Aldo would be continued choke. To me, that sort of cheapens Aldo’s capabilities rather than cheaping Florian’s. Isn’t it possible he just came up against a better fighter? “Ken-Flo” will forever remain one of my favorites, and no matter where he takes his career after this fight, I will happily continue watching. But I just don’t think he has what it takes to dethrone Aldo. Aldo is a division clearing champion. If Hominick and Urijah Faber couldn’t beat him, I’m not sure there are any in the weight class right now that can. You’re going to continue to see classy dominance from Aldo, and perhaps the only fight that might challenge him at this point might be a catchweight with Cruz, or a match with Frank Edgar if he loses and moves down. Prediction: Jose Aldo def. Kenny Florian via Submission Lightweight Championship Match: Frank Edgar (c) vs. Gray Maynard Poor Edgar. His last 4 fights have all involved the Lightweight title, and he’s probably been the underdog going into each and every one, despite holding the title in 3 of them. “The Answer” is the UFC’s version of Rodney Dangerfield – Someone who just doesn’t get respect. His skills are overlooked, his positive attitude is overlooked, and his capabilities just might be too. But with all due respect, it’s only because his last four matches have been against BJ Penn and Maynard, who gave him his only career blemish to date. Then there’s Maynard, who holds every possible mark on his fight record except a loss. At 10-0-1-1, Maynard has taken the UFC by storm, and he lives up to his nickname. “The Bully,” as he’s so affectionately called, exhibits his wrestling in a complete shut down style, one he’s exhibited perfectly against everybody so far. In fact, the only fighter that’s really had much of an answer (no pun intended,) in defeating him is Edgar. Hopefully the trailers leading up to this fight have excited you enough to want to see this a third time. It’s been so many months it seems since these two drew the last time out. That night, Edgar staged one of the most astounding comebacks in UFC history, one that was good enough to him to win. The only trouble was, Maynard was good enough to win that night too — but neither man did. This third time out in the trilogy may be the final time we see these two lock heads, as the winner of Ben Henderson/Clay Guida will probably get the next shot, while the loser of this fight will probably lock up with the loser of the aforementioned. Both men are capable of mixing it up any which way. I would give the ground and the power edge to Maynard, while I’d give the finesse and overall striking edge to Edgar. Maynard must understand well that another draw won’t do the trick, and there won’t be a third chance. He has to win here because the next title shot isn’t his. Likewise, Edgar has to come in understanding what his consequences are. He’s had probably the toughest first and second defense road in lightweight championship history, and he can’t rest on his laurels for one second this fight, because Maynard is capable of willing the fight in his favor by all means possible. So much has changed in the last 10 months while these two waited to fight again. Guida and Henderson have both made a case for a title shot, Anthony Pettis has to build back up to his, and Donald Cerrone has been clearing everybody else out of title contention. This is Maynard’s time to shine. With all due respect to Edgar, Maynard is the better mechanical fighter. His methodical, T-1000-like style just works. At a time where the flashy speed demons are dominating the lower weight classes of MMA, Maynard is the strong, tactical force waiting with his fly swatter. Don’t discount Edgar, but I think Maynard’s going to come out with a stronger wrestling game than before. Edgar will have enough to push the pace to the very end, but I think Maynard’s going to walk away with the decision here, if it goes that far. Prediction – Gray Maynard def. Frank Edgar via Unanimous Decision That’s UFC 136 as it looks from my vantage point. The show goes live this Saturday night from Houston Texas. Happy Thanksgiving Canada! Enjoy the fights, and see you cageside! PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, fight, garcia, maynard, aldo

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HOUSTON, October 8 – Jose Aldo wasn’t spectacular Saturday night at Toyota Center. Not by a longshot. But in the UFC 136 co-main event, the UFC featherweight champion showed that he could still find a way to win under any circumstance, retaining his crown for the second time with a workmanlike five round unanimous decision over Kenny Florian.Scores were 49-46 across the board for Aldo, who improves to 20-1; Florian, who was challenging for a UFC title (two at lightweight) for the third time, falls to 16-6.Florian fired off leg kicks to start the championship bout, with Aldo firing off flurries that came sporadically but evident intensity. 1:45 into the fight, Florian got Aldo to the mat for a moment, but the Brazilian shot up immediately, only to get pinned to the fence by the challenger, who was intent on getting the takedown. A couple more scrambles resulted in Aldo’s knee hitting the deck, but Florian stayed relentless. With 1:35 remaining, Aldo broke loose, but his attack was again smothered by Florian, who kept the champ idle for the rest of the round.It was a war of nerves between the two in the first half of round two, with Florian slightly busier than Aldo, but the champion landed a couple flush leg kicks that got the crowd back into things. In the final 1:30, Aldo scored with a few more pinpoint accurate shots, forcing Florian to up his workrate in order to close things up, but to no avail.A hard left uppercut put Aldo on the board in round three, and he appeared to be opening up his striking game more with 10 minutes already in the bank. Florian, bloodied on the side of his nose, started to stake more punishment from the champion, and a takedown attempt that left Aldo in the top position didn’t help matters. Florian’s defense on the mat was stellar, as he avoided any serious trouble before standing up, but he wasn’t able to do any scoring of his own before the end of the stanza.Told by his corner that “this is it”, Florian tried to busy his attack to begin round four, but Aldo trudged forward, showing little fear of the challenger, and in response, he continued to potshot when he could before getting bulled into the fence. After a spell of relative inactivity, the two separated, Florian searching for takedowns, but Aldo not biting.With five minutes remaining, Florian’s plan of attack was to again get the bout to the mat, but he was still coming up empty. A slip to the mat by the challenger allowed Aldo to get in some potshots and almost get his leg caught, but Aldo soon settled into his opponent’s guard and briefly took the mount position before the two rose, and a stalemate against the fence forced a restart from referee Dan Miragliotta. The two went right back to the fence, jockeying for position before breaking, with Aldo scoring with the last flurry just before the bell, something fight fans would have liked to have seen more of throughout the five rounder.

Posted in: ufc, round, florian, fence, aldo

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"Faced with incredible odds, Jose Aldo has risen to become UFC Featherweight Champion of the world. He says that would have been impossible had it not been for an incredible team of trainers who have kept his eyes on the prize. Today, Aldo serves as a role model to millions of Brazilian youth." Go behind-the-scenes with "Scarface" in the video above as he trains to defend his 145-pound world title against two-time lightweight contender Kenny Florian in the UFC 136 co main event this weekend. Aldo talks about in-depth overcoming adversity throughout his life growing up in Brazil to reach the pinnacle of mixed martial arts (MMA), which is where he'll attempt to remain after locking horns with "Ken Flo." Will he? For the latest news and notes on the featherweight fight between Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian click here.

Posted in: jose, jose aldo, aldo, mma ),, role model

Read the full article at MMA Mania

A lot of people believe that Chad Mendes should be the fighter facing Jose Aldo at UFC 136 in Houston on Saturday night.

Posted in: saturday night, jose aldo, aldo, chad mendes, chad

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

UFC 136 is almost here, ladies and gentlemen, and we’ve got ourselves a hoedown.   The promotion has pulled out all the stops for its Oct. 8 trip to Houston, Texas, packing a bevy of contenders in various weight classes to complement two title fights.   And that means there's money to be made for the gamblers among us. First you have to win, of course, and you should never bet what you can't afford to lose, but since I've recently started putting money down on the sport I love, I thought it might be prudent to share some wagering tips before major UFC and MMA events, pointing out the most profitable scraps. And which bouts to avoid. Included in the UFC 136 betting guide are all the odds for tomorrow night's show, but first check out my three important rules every bettor should follow right here. Now then, let's get to it. Undercard Tiequan Zhang (-145) vs. Darren Elkins (+115) Steve Cantwell (-160) vs. Mike Massenzio (+130) Aaron Simpson (-400) vs. Eric Schafer (+300) Stipe Miocic (-285) vs. Joey Beltran (+225) Anthony Pettis (-325) vs. Jeremy Stephens (+240) Demian Maia (-300) vs. Jorge Santiago (+230)   Thoughts: In my humble opinion, your best chance for making a reasonable sum from this undercard is to bet on Elkins and then parlay him with one of the large favorites later in the card. I’m a fan of Zhang and dearly wish to see him succeed in the UFC, but while his 100% finishing rate in victory is impressive, it also means he doesn’t have experience in deep waters. The only time he has gone past two rounds was against Danny Downes in a fight where he dominated the first round before gassing badly and losing a unanimous decision.   And that was at 155.   Elkins has not looked great in any of his 3 UFC fights, but he proved against Omigawa that his gas tank is sufficient to take him three rounds. Zhang has not, and submitting Jason Reinhardt in one minute doesn’t really answer any questions about how he’ll fare at 145.   Beltran might also be a good bet due to Miocic’s inexperience and apparent lack of head movement, but I haven’t seen any of Miocic’s fights in their entirety, so I’m not risking any of my own money.   Main Card Nam Phan (-225) vs. Leonard Garcia (+175) Melvin Guillard (-500) vs. Joe Lauzon (+350) Chael Sonnen (-275) vs. Brian Stann (+215) Jose Aldo (-500) vs. Kenny Florian (+350) Frankie Edgar (-140) vs. Gray Maynard (+110)   Thoughts: These fights are a lot more intriguing than the skewed lines would have you think. Let’s dissect this lovely main card.   Nam Phan beat Leonard Garcia the first time they fought. I don’t think there is a rational human being who would seriously argue against this. What that fight further confirmed, however, is that beating Leonard Garcia is no guarantee that you will actually win the fight. Plus, the man is a nightmare to finish; Brown only submitted him after rocking his world and using his wrestling advantage, while Jung utilized a technique that caught Leonard unawares.   Nam doesn’t have the wrestling or submissions game to replicate those results, nor does he have the power to finish Leonard on his feet.   Nostradumbass is calling a Garcia knockout. Garcia, for all the talk of his power, has a grand total of three knockouts to his name. Even an opponent who stood directly in front of him and fought the exact fight Leonard wanted, Chan Sung Jung, only went down once. Garcia has been given every opportunity to prove he’s a legitimate power puncher, but the only finishes since the Takaya and Pulver fights were at his expense. Still, while I fully expect Phan to beat the tar out of him for three rounds, there’s no telling how they’ll score any fight involving Leonard "The Judge Whisperer" Garcia. I’m not touching this one.   I’m a major Guillard doubter, I’ll admit it. His Dunham and Roller stoppages were impressive, yes, but his previous two efforts were close, controversial affairs. I will argue all night that Jeremy Stephens was robbed in that fight.   I still think he’ll beat Lauzon, though. I just don’t think it’s as likely as these odds are making it out to be.   Joe Lauzon in the first round of a fight is an absolute monster. He’s got heavy hands, solid striking, and one of the most aggressive submissions games I’ve ever seen. Guillard has great striking, but his chin isn’t rock-steady; while getting rocked by Stephens happens to everyone with a functioning brain, getting dropped by Joe Stevenson isn’t something that should happen to anyone. It wouldn’t surprise me at all to see Lauzon berserk his way into top position on the ground and latch on an armbar.   It would, however, surprise me immensely if that happened after the first five minutes. Guillard, on the other hand, is dangerous for all fifteen. I’m predicting a Guillard stoppage victory in the second round, but at +350, Lauzon is definitely a live dog. Don’t make him the focus of a parlay or put too much on him, but ten or twenty on Lauzon wouldn’t be a bad idea.   Love him or hate him, Chael Sonnen is a handful for anyone at middleweight. I’m a huge fan of Stann for his service to his country, his sense of humor, and his respectfulness, but this isn’t a good matchup for him. He does his best work on the feet, and while he’s demonstrated good takedown defense against Jorge Santiago, Sonnen is a completely different monster. Further, Chael’s chin is iron, and he showed against Silva that even if he gets rocked, his instinct is to get the takedown, not back straight up with his hands down.   What makes this intriguing, however, is that Brian Stann holds a victory via triangle choke. Sonnen’s first triangle loss was eight years ago and he seems to have made little, if any, progress towards getting out of it.   We all know what’s going to happen: Brian is going to flick out some jabs, throw a right, get taken down by Chael, and get punched in the face for five minutes at a time. Stann does, however, possess the capability to finish Sonnen off his back, and after the layoff Chael’s had, might be worth a small bet.   I’ve heard the arguments: "Kenny is bigger than Jose." "Kenny has fought better guys than Jose has." "Blah blah Hellbows blah."   What I still haven’t heard, however, is the answer to a simple question: "What does Kenny Florian do to defeat Jose Aldo?" Does he take him down? Try to cut him off his back? Strike with him?   Frankly, any and all possible gameplans I can think of for Kenny end in painful failure. Not only is Aldo in another universe in striking compared to anyone I can think of below 170, nobody in the UFC or WEC has had any luck getting him down besides Hominick, and Aldo was drained going into the fight.   Plus, even though everyone says Aldo looked bad against Hominick, he still won four rounds without question and dropped Hominick twice. There was absolutely no question he’d won the fight afterwards.   Aldo is faster than Kenny. Aldo hits harder than Kenny. Aldo has more experience at 145 than Kenny. I’m not insulting Kenny; I just don’t see how he wins barring a miracle cut stoppage.   I feel kind of proud of myself; I placed an Aldo/Edgar bet when Aldo was at -285, but sensible people have apparently invaded Bodog and Aldo really isn’t worth much anymore. Still, if you’re putting money on an underdog somewhere, including Aldo would help.   WEC represent.   As a huge Frankie Edgar fan, I scored his UFC 125 match with Maynard 47-47, giving Maynard a 10-8 first round and a 10-9 third. Yes, Edgar has had two fights with Maynard and has yet to beat him, but a few things I learned from watching Frankie in action lead me to pick him.   One: Frankie Edgar improves exponentially in rematches. He went from scraping by Penn to dominating him for five rounds, and then went from being smothered by Gray to winning three of five rounds against him. Once the man figures you out, he wins.   Two: Frankie matched Gray’s wrestling. Nobody else in the UFC has ever done so. Gray couldn’t hold him down even when he did get the takedown, and his round-stealer at the end of the third was met with a very tight guillotine. Maynard went 0-9 in takedowns in rounds four and five.   Three: Frankie took everything Gray had and still made it to the bell. Gray hit him as hard as he possibly could, then had twenty minutes to do it again. He couldn’t put Frankie away, and now that Frankie knows he can take Gray’s best, I foresee him taking this third bout.   At -140, he’s worth a straight bet.   My Current Bets: Parlay: Frankie Edgar and Jose Aldo-$84 to win $102.68 Parlay: Darren Elkins and Demian Maia-$30 to win $57.23 Single Bet: Joe Lauzon-$20 to win $70   I’ll be seeing this card live, so expect a full write-up in the coming weeks.   Remember: never bet more than you can lose, bet with your head, and don’t let betting get in the way of your enjoying MMA. We’ve got an excellent weekend of fights ahead of us, so have fun.   Enjoy the show.

Posted in: fight, vs, &rsquo, nbsp, aldo

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Jose Aldo Jr.’s popularity has surged in Brazil. A win over Kenny Florian could do the same for him in North America.

Posted in: florian, brazil, kenny florian, aldo, aldo ups

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Filed under: UFC, NewsHOUSTON -- With a lineup full of impactful fights, UFC 136 could end up as the card of the year. Of course, the athletes have to deliver on Saturday night, but on Friday, the 22 fighters made their bouts official, as everyone made weight in the last obligation before stepping into the cage. The energy around the event is palpable, with two titles being defended as well as the return of Chael Sonnen and Brian Stann's rising star. In fact, it's hard to tell what the fans are most excited about. Clearly though, the fight with the most lead-up is the last fight of the epic rivalry between Frank "the Answer" Edgar and Gray "the Bully" Maynard. Both champion and challenger comfortably made the lightweight title fight limit, checking in at 154.5 and 155, respectively. "I'm ready to do it," Edgar said. "It's been too long thinking about this kid. I'm all about the anti-bully movement. Let's do it." "All the pre-fight is done," Maynard said. "Let's have some fun. October 8, baby. Tomorrow, I'm going to get that title." The featherweight showdown is nearly as anticipated, with longtime crowd favorite Kenny Florian possibly getting his last chance to capture gold. Florian has failed to deliver on two previous tries, and he is considered the underdog against Jose Aldo again on Saturday. "It's going to be a great fight," he said. "It's the fight I wanted for a long time, the fight that brought me to 145. I've trained too hard and suffered too much to not go home with the title tomorrow night." Aldo, who went through an excruciating weight cut at his last fight in April, seemed practically joyous this time around, bouncing around and smiling. Both Aldo and Florian weighed 145. "He's an excellent athlete but I'm very well prepared," Aldo said through an intepreter. "Whatever he presents, I'm going to be twice as good." In his return to action, Chael Sonnen received a mixed reaction from the crowd, which booed him as he walked to the stage, but cheered him after he checked in at 185.5. He shared a respectful handshake with surging Brian Stann, who made 186 pounds on his second try after ditching his underwear and weighing in behind a towel. Main Card Frank Edgar (154.5) vs. Gray Maynard (155) Jose Aldo (145) vs. Kenny Florian (145) Chael Sonnen (185.5) vs. Brian Stann (186) Leonard Garcia (145) vs. Nam Phan (145) Melvin Guillard (155.5) vs. Joe Lauzon (155.5) Preliminary Card Demian Maia (185) vs. Jorge Santiago (185) Anthony Pettis (154.5) vs. Jeremy Stephens (156) Joey Beltran (245) vs. Stipe Miocic (236) Darren Elkins (145) vs. Tiequan Zhang (146) Eric Schafer (185.5) vs. Aaron Simpson (186) Steve Cantwell (186) vs. Mike Massenzio (185) Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, vs, brian stann, chael sonnen, aldo

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There's a lot to talk about this weekend what with Jon Jones, and Rashad Evans continuing to paint the MMA world an unending canvas of boo-hoos, and unrelenting drama. Machida's chances, and Rashad's mistakes, etc. In other words, there's a lot to talk about other than UFC 136: a truly fantastic card in its own right. Derek and I decided to break the card down by answering four essential questions. If you're a betting man you'd be wise to ignore both of us. Come to think of it, if you're a wise man, you'd be wise to ignore us altogether. No matter what happens with the winner of Edgar/Maynard, will the champ still been seen as an underdog to the laundry list of challengers awaiting them, like Henderson, Melendez, and Guillard? Derek: I think Frankie will, even though he shouldn't be. This is probably going to be Frankie's fourth consecutive title fight - and third straight title defense - where he enters the bout as the underdog on the betting lines. That has to be some kind of record, as most combat sports fans tend to, oh I don't know, put their money on a guy that's won a belt and then defended it twice. So if Gray doesn't put the finishing touches on a 2-0-1 record against The Answer, I think the answer (see what I did there???) is yes, but not if he does. Maynard's goofy bully strength was recently featured on Sports Science (or Good Idea Executed Poorly, which is how I read the screen every time it comes on), he's a gigantic lightweight, he has a quality wrestling game and - almost forgot - he's undefeated in professional competition. If Maynard wins (and I believe he will), he's the presumptive favorite against any lightweight on Earth. Also, how weird is it that you mentioned Benson Henderson? Who would've anticipated THAT following the Pettis fight? David: Wait, you mean the WEC lightweights were worth a damn? I think Melendez matches up better against Edgar than he does Maynard. I think with Edgar, the problem is he looks all too human, even when he's dominating. Plus fan favorites tend to get revisionist narratives: "oh BJ wasn't really interested in the rematch, and was thinking of surfing druing the 4th round", and so forth. So Edgar never takes as much credit as he should. There's some validity to the criticism in the sense that Frankie's a very vulnerable champion. But that to me, is what makes him so special. Let's assume Melendez gets a title shot first, and that Pettis and Guillard both win this weekend. Who do you like in a Pettis-Guillard fight? Derek: There aren't a lot of human beings that I don't like Melvin Guillard to beat up. Ever since blowing it against Nate Diaz (and by blowing it, I mean dropping him with the first punch of the night before eventually sprinting head first into a guillotine), Guillard has shown a staggering amount of evolution for a fighter with his lengthy resume. Joining up with Greg Jackson has done wonders for The Not-So-Young Assassin's take down defense, scrambling and overall gameplanning. The only reason Pettis is even in this discussion is the poor decision made by the UFC to attempt to set up a WEC/UFC unification belt after Pettis wall-kicked Henderson at the final WEC event. UFC 125's main event draw put an end to that idea, but it was bad in a number of ways, and the one that sticks with us today is that we expect way, way too much from a fighter that is still, by all means, a prospect. By the transitive properties of MMA math, do I think Clay Guida would beat Melvin? No - but I think he'd fare better than Anthony. David: Despite all that, I think Guillard still has a lot of questions. I picked Roller to beat him, so that makes my opinion suspect, and my credibility shot, but I think part of that logic was sound: how will Melvin deal with someone who won't automatically wilt to his speed and power? The Tibau and Stephens fights aren't that far removed. He gets wasted by Maynard, and Edgar. But he cracks Melendez in my opinion. Also, that was a terrible answer to my question. You should have said something like this:  [Derek Suboticki]Pettis is good, but I like Guillard in that fight. I mean, yea Pettis is more technical, and can submit Melvin with the quickness if the fight goes to the ground because Melvin still has the habit of getting anxious once on his back, but I pick Melvin because I always pick Melvin[/Derek Suboticki] Pettis beats Guillard if they win this weekend and get matched up. He knows what he's doing on the feet, and is slick on the ground. Guillard has yet to deal with that high level combination of traits. Am I an idiot to think Florian stands a chance? That his performance against Nunes was just Kenny shaking the drop-in-weight cobwebs, and that Aldo has an inflated resume? Derek: Kind of, no and I guess. Let me explain. If you ask me if thinking Kenny Florian will ever hold a UFC title is smart, I can't really say yes, so it can't be a particularly wise position to take. This is Kenny's fourth weight class in the UFC (which is amazing, especially at his age) and, unless he plans on doing some at-home amputating, this is the last stop for him on the weight cutting train. Diego Nunes is a very, very good fighter that beat Florian in the first round by many accounts, but I've been shocked at how people have ranked him since that victory. I didn't know you could drop down to a weight class for the first time, beat the #8 ranked fighter in said weight class, and promptly find yourself ranked 4th (this is why I have Florian 8th at featherweight on my ballot for the USAT/SBN Rankings). I think it's stupid to draw too much from that one fight. As far as Aldo's resume, yeah, it's easy to see Urijah Faber and Manvel Gamburyan and yawn, but the bottom line is that Aldo is facing everyone worthy and winning every time. This division needs time to coalesce, and Aldo's reign during that coalescing shouldn't be held suspect because of subsequent events: he hasn't ducked anyone and is consistently fighting his most dangerous foe (not named Chad Mendes). David: Where's the Derek that whines about me being a panty wasted, wishy washy undecided? Jose Aldo is one of the most exciting fighters on the planet in my opinion, but I'm going out on the hyperbole limb, and I'm gonna say Florian wins this one. I like his chances in a five round fight. I think he'll be comfortable once and for all at FW, I think he won't try to push Aldo up against the fence for four rounds, and he'll get Aldo on his back with regularity once it gets to the third round. Florians wins, and perhaps even controversially so. I agree Aldo's list of opponents shouldn't be held against him, but that's all the more reason to to think his resume won't prepare him for a Florian on top of his game (assuming he truly isn't just a big choker). Snowden says Sonnen will win, much to the delight of the division and for fans. Would you rather see Silva rematch Sonnen or do you think Stann is an interesting potential challenger? Derek: Gah... that name... anyway, I like Brian Stann. The general inanity of the Internet MMA forum comment section was laid bare when this match was announced, as the whole world magically switched from respecting Stann's war record and loathing Chael's lies and felonies to dancing on Stann's grave and cackling at his demise. In MMA, we're all against the smooth talking Republican real estate crook that uses xenophobic language to bash Brazil... until, of course, he's matched up with A REAL LIFE GODDAMN WAR HERO. THEN, we'll root for him. Snowden is just rooting for the largest/biggest money fight available, as he is wont to do. How can Stann be anything but an interesting potential challenger? If he beats Sonnen - and he probably won't, but if he does - it will be because he landed his power before being embarrassingly decisioned. Stann's fight with Anderson would then be Lebenesque - a race against time, space and reality itself to put one on Anderson Silva's chin before he is destroyed. There's no bad outcome that can come of that. David: While I agree MMA fans are weirdos, and accomplices to one of the most vile criminals in the sport in finding Sonnen's schtick "cute", I agree with Snowden that a Sonnen rematch is huge, and would be far more interesting. White hat/black hat fights sell like nobody's business, and while Silva himself is no saint, he's a newborn baby holding the cure for cancer compared to Chael. Plus, we know Sonnen will bring the fight to him, and that stylistically, he's the perfect foil. Compare that to Stann, who will get picked apart unless Silva hits his Antonio Tarver years. However, I do think Stann has a chance against Sonnen. His submission defense has improved over the years, but he still makes fundamental mistakes. Stann is not a submission wizard by any stretch, but you don't have to be to lock one on Chael. Guys like Okami and Marquardt, who are good grapplers, are not necessarily good grapplers from their back. Given Chael's record against Jeremy Horn, I've gotta think Stann's triangle victory over Massenzio is enough to make me a believer in his chances.

Posted in: fight, guillard, stann, aldo, derek

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Jose Aldo is far from your average 25-year old for reasons stretching beyond simply his unquestionable talent or way in which he implements it. Born into abject poverty in Brazil, Aldo has since risen to become one of the “must see” fighters in MMA with an overall record of 19-1 and a UFC championship to boot. However, rather than bask in his accomplishments or fall into the trappings of fame/fortune, Aldo has remained an extremely humble individual who maintains a modest existence and is more likely to be found in front of his television playing Pro Evolution Soccer than enjoying nightlife or buying fancy toys. Aldo recently discussed how he has used his ascension from the favelas of his home country to serve as motivation for others who hail from similar circumstances, as well as how the challenges he’s faced in his life helped prepare him for his professional path. “The trip to Haiti made me really appreciate life, and it reminded me of everything I’ve achieved and everything I will conquer,” Aldo explained on the UFC website when asked about a trip he made earlier this year to the impoverished region still reeling from a devastating earthquake . “Of course I can’t compare my situation in the beginning with their situation – but we made sure we showed them that a few of us came from the same difficulties and broke down some barriers. Obstacles are put in front of us to be taken down. I was happy to give them a message, to put a smile on their faces. I visited schools and orphanages and every positive message we passed to them, the reaction we received was in the same proportion.” “They didn’t have water, can you believe it,” Aldo continued on the Haitians’ hardships. “When I saw that, of course I gave what water I had, but I also had an old film of the difficulties I had at the beginning of my life and told them that with willpower and some help you can shine.” When talk turned to his own struggles, including the difficulty in remaining champion after initially winning the belt as well as putting the title on the line against someone like Kenny Florian who he faces in co-headlining action Saturday night at UFC 136. Florian Doesn’t Care Where People Rank Aldo – He’s Still Beating Him “I always heard this, and I agree 100% with it”, said Aldo on it being harder to hold on to the gold than to contend for it. “But since the beginning I was tested and this is part of my life. I just want more (challenges).” On the subject of Florian, Aldo showed due respect and didn’t offer up a prediction of what fans should expect other than for an exciting contest between the two well-rounded competitors. “He said that he can impose his age and experience on me inside the UFC. He fought well at 145 as well as at 155, so he didn’t feel the difference. But this is the moment of truth. I’ll try to make a very explosive fight and we’ll see what happens.” Fans can tune in to see Aldo take to the Octagon on the PPV portion of UFC 136 starting at 9:00 PM EST. The show also features Brian Stann taking on Chael Sonnen for a shot at the UFC middleweight strap, as well as a main event match-up with 155-pound champion Frank Edgar putting his title on the line against undefeated rival Gray Maynard. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, life, aldo, ,” aldo, course i

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Tomorrow night (Oct. 8) at UFC 136 in Houston, Texas, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo will try to continue to build his reputation as one of the pound-for-pound greatest fighters in the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA). His opponent, Kenny Florian, will be looking to prove that he belongs in the 145-pound division and that he deserves to still be fighting the "cream-of-the-crop."  Yesterday, we showed you the detailed CompuStrike analysis for "Edgar vs. Maynard III." We know how you Maniacs love your statistics and, well, we felt like you've been extra good so far this month. For your reward, here's a second helping of MMA-Math as we take a look at the numbers behind "Aldo vs. Florian." You're welcome. Both Aldo and Florian have world-class ground games. One would think that the numbers would show that both fighters spend the majority of their fights on the canvas. One would be wrong. According to the statistics (based on nine UFC fights for Aldo and 12 for Florian), both athletes prefer to stand. Here's the data to back that up: Jose Aldo Total Fight Time - Standing: 101:03 | Ground: 80:25Kenny Florian Total Fight Time - Standing: 78:49 | Ground: 53:00 So we know their preference is generally to keep things standing up, but who holds the advantage if the fight stays on the feet? Though both are dangerous strikers, Aldo would appear to be a vastly more accurate striker. Let's take a look: Aldo: 57%Florian: 48% They say every fighter has a "puncher's chance," but in a fight, one fighter always has an edge. The numbers show Aldo holding a slim advantage in this aspect: Arm strike accuracy:Aldo: 19 of 53 -- 36%Florian: 16 of 47 -- 34% In the "kicks" department, it isn't close. Though Florian is relatively accurate, there's no comparison to the precision of the current champion. Aldo: 14 of 17 -- 82%Florian: 7 of 14 -- 50%  "Ground-and-pound" is a weapon that can be effectively used to stop a match. Here's a look at which fighter has the more accurate striking when things go south. Aldo: 24 of 30 -- 80%Florian: 28 of 45 -- 62% Aldo holds a dramatic lead in this category as well. Last, but certainly not least, who is more effective with the takedown attempts? Aldo: 7 of 10 -- 70%Florian: 15 of 30 -- 50% Though skewed a bit, due to a disparity in attempts, Aldo is clearly more effective when he shoots in to take his opponents down. On paper, Aldo appears to be strongly favored. But they don't fight on paper, they take care of business in the Octagon. What do you think, Maniacs? Are you surprised by any of the data? Thinking twice about any wagers?

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Filed under: UFCWith UFC 136 just a day away, oddsmakers have made their picks and more or less dared you to disagree with them. You going to stand for that? I didn't think so. Let's poke around and see where they might be wrong, this time with a little special help on the parlay from one of my MMA Fighting colleagues. Frankie Edgar (-140) vs. Gray Maynard (+125) At last, a title defense where Edgar is the favorite, however slight. The last time these two met, the champ was a +115 dog. I know, because I went back and looked at my own betting odds picks for UFC 125, which means I am now sufficiently humbled. Let's just say I didn't exactly knock that one out of the park, though I did pick Edgar when many thought he'd simply get held down for five rounds. Now that he's proven not only his mutant healing abilities between rounds, but also his wrestling prowess, I'm not surprised that oddsmakers are giving him the slight edge. Still, the line is so close that you aren't going to profit all that much from taking the underdog flyer on Maynard. For those of you struggling to understand what +110 means, imagine yourself putting down $100 on Maynard and then making $110 if he wins. Also imagine yourself being very, very sad if he doesn't. Then at least you'll understand what you're letting yourself in for if he can't shove Edgar around for five rounds to become the new champ. My pick: Edgar. He's proven he can stay off his back against Maynard. If he can only stay out of the way of those power punches, he'll be in business. Jose Aldo (-450) vs. Kenny Florian (+300) Florian is the kind of guy you want to root for, and by 'you' I mean me. He's a diligent worker, a borderline obsessive student of the game, and a real thinking man's fighter. One thing he's not, at least so far, is championship material. Oddsmakers don't seem to think that will change against Aldo, and I have to admit that I agree. Florian isn't going to stand there and out-strike Aldo. Not without getting his legs turned to hamburger. He'll have to put him down, but can he reliably do that, especially in the early rounds? I'm not so sure, at least not unless Aldo suffers through another brutal weight cut like the one he had before the Hominick fight. Florian's best chance might come in the later rounds, but only if he can make it that long. Even then, he'll probably be so behind on the scorecards that he'll absolutely need to start finishing fights at 145 pounds. Easier said than done against the champ. My pick: Aldo. Honestly, it's not even worth a parlay pick at these odds, but neither is Florian worth the underdog risk. Chael Sonnen (-260) vs. Brian Stann (+200) If you know me, you know I have to have at least one big/somewhat reckless underdog pick per event. If I don't, I go crazy and try to bait strangers at the gas station into giving me 3-1 odds on whether I can jump over a moving car (turns out I can't; lesson learned). This time around, I had to take a hard look at Stann, who needs only to keep from getting out-wrestled in order to have a very good chance in this one. Normally, I wouldn't like his chances to do even that, but Sonnen has been off for a very, very long time. Much of that time was spent trying to convince the California State Athletic Commission that he doesn't mean what he says, except for when he does, and distractions like that are rarely helpful. Cage rust affects different fighters in different ways, but if I had to bet (and it's kind of the purpose of this whole feature) I'd wager that Sonnen will be not quite as sharp as usual, and it'll cost him. My pick: Stann. I wouldn't bet the house, or even the condo, but I will throw some small action on the real American hero this time around. Joe Lauzon (+300) vs. Melvin Guillard (-450) Back when he was an immature, though talented fighter who would beat himself more often than not when given a chance, Guillard was still a scary opponent. Now that he's got his act together, dude is positively terrifying. Lauzon's best chance is to get it to the mat and submit him, but the last time Guillard tapped out was in 2009, when he was foolish enough to shoot a takedown on Nate Diaz and get himself guillotined in the process. He's a much smarter fighter than that now, so Lauzon better have a plan B. Matter of fact, he better have plans C-N, too, because I don't see him shooting a double-leg and putting/keeping Guillard down long enough to submit him. My pick: Guillard. Again, it's not even juicy as a parlay addition, but what are you going to do? Leonard Garcia (+175) vs. Nam Phan (-225) Quick question: do we have different judges for the rematch? If so, then you have to give Phan the edge. If it's the same people who think haymakers, whether they connect or not, are enough to win a fight, then take your chances with Garcia. Garcia's problem isn't just that he likes to brawl -- it's that he doesn't like to do anything else, such as defend his face. He's a great guy -- one of the nicest and most down-to-earth in this business, really -- and when he finds a willing dance partner, his style is fun to watch. It's also predictable, and when opponents can keep from getting sucked into it he runs into problems. My pick: Phan. This one might be more suitable as parlay material, but then you never know what those wacky judges will do. Quick picks: - Mike Massenzio (+125) over Steve Cantwell (-145). Massenzio will try to out-wrestle Cantwell, and Cantwell is susceptible to that. With these odds, Massenzio's worth a small risk. - Anthony Pettis (-285) over Jeremy Stephens (+225). You won't get rich off of it, but this one is money in the bank. The 'For Entertainment Purposes Only' Parlay: Just because he's a wild riverboat gambler with dollar signs in his eyes, and because I respect that sort of self-destructive impluse, I'll let my colleague Matt Erickson call it this time. Take it away, Matt. "A 4-leg parlay of 'dogs on Saturday that pays $473 on a $10 bet: Maynard +125 Stann +200 Santiago +225 Elkins +120 I've already spent my winnings. That's how sure of that mofo I am." You heard the man. And if it doesn't work out, you can let him know about it on Twitter: @MattErickson23 Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: time, round, chance, aldo, parlay

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It is quite amazing to think that the MMA world first familiarized with Kenny Florian when he was a chubby middleweight contestant on the first ever season of The Ultimate Fighter. Since then, Florian dropped to the much more suited lightweight division, where he immediately became one of the best and most consistent fighters in his weight class. Unfortunately for “Ken-Flo”, part of his consistency hasn’t exactly been positive, as he has continuously fallen short in the most important bouts of his career. Now, after two unsuccessful attempts to capture the lightweight crown, Florian has once again changed weight classes, this time dropping to the featherweight division, where he enjoyed a successful — but underwhelming — debut against Diego Nunes. The win earned Florian a shot at the featherweight title this Saturday at UFC 136. Standing between him and the fulfillment of his dream is one of the greatest fighters on the planet, UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo. Featherweight title match: Jose Aldo (c) vs. Kenny Florian To formulate any idea as to how this fight will unfold, one has to assume that both Aldo and Florian will enjoy smoother weight cuts this time around. At UFC 129 against Mark Hominick, Aldo looked completely drained in the final stages of the fight. Similarly, Florian was not his usual dynamic self against Nunes. Provided Aldo is not on antibiotics this time around, Florian will need the performance of his life. The backbone of Florian’s offense is his footwork, as Kenny is always light on his feet and rarely makes himself a still target. In many ways, it is Florian’s defense that determines just how well he performs in a fight. Against Clay Guida and Takanori Gomi, Florian was as sharp as he’s ever looked. He jabbed, slipped punches, and countered to great effect. Conversely, against B.J. Penn and Nunes, Florian was looking very sluggish. He got tagged repeatedly, particularly with counter-punches, and got uncharacteristically sloppy as the fights progressed. Florian can ill-afford to let that happen against someone like Aldo, as the Brazilian doesn’t let fighters off the hook. During his tenure under Mark Dellagrotte, Florian was heavily reliant on his muay Thai, and the foundation of his striking was based on his kicks. The move to the Tristar gym in Montreal saw a transformation in Florian’s striking, as he became more confident with his hands and started using his jab to dictate fights. For this bout, he needs to mix the two approaches together. It will be vital for Kenny to stay on the outside and use his reach, as Aldo is simply devastating on the inside. Florian needs to double up on his jab, throw the left hook behind it, and immediately circle out. Moreover, he needs to throw plenty of quick snapping kicks to the legs and body in order to prevent Aldo from landing any counters. Should Aldo close the distance, Florian would be wise to clinch up and try to muscle him against the fence, where his knees to the body and especially, short elbows could produce significant damage. However, Kenny needs to be very wary of Aldo’s quick knees to the body in close-quarters, which he almost throws like jabs. Aldo is a master at gauging distance. Like Anderson Silva, he likes to dissect his opponent and determine his method of attack. He possesses one of the most diverse striking arsenals in the sport. It seems like Aldo decides on the spot whether to use leg kicks as his primary method of attack or his boxing. The Urijah Faber fight saw Aldo completely destroy Faber’s legs, whereas his bout with Manny Gamburyan saw Aldo rely on his counter-punching ability; a stark contrast to his title-winning performance against Mike Brown, where Aldo was aggressive from the get-go, and completely blitzed the now-former champion on his way to a second round stoppage. Such different approaches make Aldo an incredibly difficult opponent to prepare for, as there is very little indication as to what to expect from the featherweight champion. This sort of fighting maturity is unusual at Aldo’s age, but that is what makes him such a special talent. It is unlikely that Aldo will find overwhelming success with his trademark leg kicks, as Florian’s continuous movement will make it hard for Aldo to take his legs away from him. However, Aldo’s speed advantage will make him a menace every time he moves forward with combinations. Florian’s lack of one-punch power means Aldo can afford to be a bit aggressive when he gets within range. Aldo tends to start his combination with a classic 1-2, and he finishes with either an uppercut, a left hook to the body, or a leg kick. Another bread-and-butter of Aldo is to set up a counter right uppercut after faking a lead left hook, and it is that particular punch that Florian needs to be on the lookout for above all else. When Florian gets hit, his defense tends to start breaking down. He becomes less confident, especially with his head movement, and he gets hit more frequently as a result. Once that happens, Florian usually resorts to fruitless single leg takedown attempts against the fence. Typically, they only tire him out and are a sign of desperation. This was glaring in Florian’s losing effort to Penn, as once “The Prodigy” landed a solid right hand followed by a knee, Florian aborted his game plan — despite the pleas of his corner men — and simply stalled by pushing his opponent against the cage. Should Florian succeed in taking the champion to the ground however, his chances improve considerably, as Kenny possesses a phenomenal top game. He is excellent at throwing elbows from the top. softening his opponent with ground-and-pound, and has some terrific mount and back control. Florian’s rear-naked choke is undoubtedly his best weapon, and if he gets the Brazilian’s back, a title change could be in order. However, Aldo has some great takedown defense. While many will point out that Hominick took him down, it was in fact a sloppy guillotine attempt by Aldo that saw him get stuck on his back for the entire last round of their bout back in April. Moreover, Florian does not possess an explosive shot from the outside, and therefore will find it extremely hard to close the distance and drive through Aldo with a single leg. It is extremely difficult to envision a way for Florian to consistently get the better of his foe. Aldo is simply on another level, and his speed, power and accuracy will put another dent in Kenny’s title aspirations. Official Prediction: Jose Aldo to defeat Kenny Florian by TKO in Round 3 PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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Filed under: UFCHOUSTON -- Frankie Edgar has spent the last year of his fighting life focusing on just one man: Gray Maynard. Being forced to return his attention to the same task over and over hasn't driven him crazy, but even the mild-mannered lightweight champion has had just about enough. "I'm sick of talking about how sick I am of talking about him," Edgar said on Thursday, a wry smile on his face. After Saturday, win or lose, he finally gets to move on. But the fact is, a win over Maynard is important for Edgar's growing legacy. It was a surprise when he won the championship over BJ Penn in April 2010, but whatever doubters remained were silenced when he romped past Penn in a rematch a few months later. But Maynard (10-0-1) has been the one thorn in his side, a powerful puncher with a wrestling pedigree and a willingness to grind out opponents. The pair have fought twice before, with Maynard winning a decision in April 2008, and the duo scrapping to a thrilling draw on January 1. Maynard's success in the respective fights came via different means. In the first bout, Edgar (13-1-1) out-landed him on the feet barely, but Maynard controlled the fight with his wrestling, scoring on eight of 10 takedown tries, according to Compustrike. In the second fight though, Maynard's best moments came standing, rocking Edgar in the first round and nearly finishing. But his success ended there. Edgar effectively shut down his wrestling. After the 10-8 first round, Maynard managed only 1 of 11 takedown tries. Here's what we know about Edgar: he can fight forever. He's shown it over and over. In the last fight with Maynard, for instance, he threw and landed more strikes in round five than any other round of the fight. Because of that endless stamina, he's usually going to throw greater volume than his opponent. In Edgar-Maynard II, he threw 53 more strikes than Maynard despite spotting him a 41-strike advantage in round one. In close rounds with little discernible damage differential, volume wins rounds. Compounding Maynard's problem, Edgar is historically more accurate than him, 42 percent to 34 percent, according to FightMetric research. If Edgar throws more volume and lands more, this fight will end up looking like Edgar-Penn II. Maynard's best way to slow Edgar down is to take him down. When he's fresh, he seems to transition better into his takedowns. As he fatigues though, he loses effectiveness. So pacing will be important to Maynard here. If he takes Edgar down, it would be advantageous for him keep Edgar there for a while. Grind him out. Fighting Edgar in open space will always be difficult due to his speed and footwork. I wouldn't be surprised to see Maynard win the first round or two this time around, but I expect Edgar to stay away from Maynard's heavy artillery. As the fight goes on, Edgar's quickness, movement and accuracy will begin to take over. It will be another close one, but this time, Edgar takes the decision, and the trilogy concludes with both men 1-1-1 against each other. Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian The last time we saw Jose Aldo fight, he looked vulnerable for the first time in a long time, flat on his back for most of round five against Mark Hominick, relying on his early lead and holding on until the final bell for a decision win. Aldo (19-1) says now that his weight cut went awry due to added muscle, and he was also impacted by a fight-week infection that was not divulged prior to the fight. During fight week in Toronto back then, he looked gaunt and depleted. Seeing him around this week, he looks healthy and energetic. His offensive gifts are well known to most fans. He has a brilliant game which mixes power and speed. He flicks out chopping kicks with ease. He has black belt jiu-jitsu and wrestles like he's been doing it his entire life. If there are holes in his game, they aren't very obvious. That's the puzzle Kenny Florian (15-5) is trying to solve. Florian might not be as naturally physically gifted as Aldo (their power, for one, is not comparable), but he's willed himself into a complete fighter. But here's the real problem for Florian: nearly all the things at which he's good, Aldo is better. That's clear from a look at the stats. Aldo lands more strikes per minute than Florian, is more accurate overall, has better striking defense and has landed takedowns at a higher percentage. And when it comes to takedown defense, statistically at least, Aldo has no peer among active UFC fighters. He's stuffed 93 percent of attempts against him, a number that would rank him No. 1 if he had the required five UFC fights to qualify for the leaderboard (eight of his nine fights under the Zuffa banner were in the WEC). I think Florian is smart enough to know he can't fight Aldo in space for five rounds. He will try to either take Aldo down or grind him against the cage to take away some of his explosiveness. But in a 25-minute fight, that's going to be a difficult proposition. I don't think Florian will get blown out by any means; he's too solid a fighter to leave massive openings. But I do think Aldo's attack will find its mark over time. Aldo at his best is a matchup nightmare for any featherweight, and judging from the smile he's been carting around Houston, he's brought his A-game. Aldo via fourth-round TKO. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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MMAFrenzy’s coverage of UFC 136 continues with our preview of UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo versus Kenny Florian. The fight will be the first of two championship fights on the fightcard. With the second being the main event between UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar rematching Gray Maynard. Jose Aldo versus Kenny Florian Keys for the champion- Jose Aldo is one of the more complete fighters in MMA but like all fighters, his health is a key. Aldo appears much healthier for this fight than in his last bout with Hominick, where Aldo nearly passed out in a presser before the fight and apparently dealing with ongoing neck problems. Unfortunately for Florian, those issues appear to be resolved. Aldo arguably possesses the most devastating leg kicks this side of K-1 and he pairs that with vicious knockout power in his hands. In Florian’s fight with Diego Nunes, Florian was dropped multiple times by the strikes of Nunes. Nunes, last KO was in 2007, 12 of Aldo’s 19 wins were by KO or TKO. This does not bode well for Florian. While Florian has never been knocked out, Aldo has the power to do it. One thing to watch in this bout is whether Aldo decides to take this fight to the ground. Florian has spent a lot of time training his wrestling but so far, that has only shown through in his offensive wrestling and not his defense. With that said, Florian has often done the most damage with his elbows while in guard. So it may make more sense to keep this fight standing for as long as possible and only going to the takedown if Aldo finds himself in trouble. Keys for Florian- Florian has tied Joe Riggs, and technically BJ Penn, for the most weight classes fought in. Of those weight classes, this is the second he will challenge for a title in. Florian has constantly worked to change his game and evolve to meet the needs of the game. Florian has always had strong BJJ and Muay Thai however. He will need that here. While Florian has developed an offensive wrestling game, Aldo has only been taken down twice since 2008, once by Mark Hominick and once by Jonathan Brookins. Florian’s best opportunity is to weather what will be a brutal storm for the first few rounds. If Florian can do that, he can hopefully time Aldo’s kicks and look for a takedown. The only thing is that even on the ground Aldo is a handful. Florian just has to take what he can get against an opponent who is slightly better at the things Florian does best. UFC President Dana White once said that Florian “chokes in big fights” and to be quite honest I think that is unfair and if I were Florian’s opponents in those fights that he “choked” in I would take offense more so than Florian should. If anything, Florian has suffered a fate similar to that of Rich Franklin and Forrest Griffin, where the fighters he has fought in those big situations are simply better athletically or skill wise. Florian is a very good fighter, like Griffin and Franklin, but in order to beat a great fighter he will have to have everything possible go right this Saturday. For complete coverage of UFC 136, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.

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Twelve consecutive opponents have tried and failed to solve the violent riddle that is UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo.

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Kenny Florian has been training to win a UFC title for the better part of his MMA career. Saturday night, Florian gets his third shot at accomplishing that dream when he meets Jose Aldo for the UFC featherweight crown at UFC 136. “Ken Flo” has lost twice in his quest to claim the UFC lightweight title, falling to Sean Sherk and B.J. Penn. Those defeats, along with a loss to Gray Maynard in a #1 contender match, have allowed some to say Florian doesn’t have what it takes to win the big one. Those statements don’t bother Florian though – they only fuel him. “I’d be lying if I said winning the UFC world championship hasn’t been a dream of mine for many years,” said Florian, in his blog for ESPN’s website. “That is a dream that every fighter in this sport has had at some stage and I am no different. I’ve worked so hard to get where I am right now and the title is there for the taking this Saturday night. I’m sure it will be an amazing feeling when the time finally arrives.” In Aldo, Florian knows that he will be facing a man that is highly ranked in the pound-for-pound class and is only getting better as he progresses in age and skill level. “Based on what I’ve seen, and based on who he has beaten, Aldo definitely deserves his pound-for-pound tag,” Florian said. “They say (he) is one of the top three pound-for-pound fighters in the world, but, with days to go until we touch gloves and fight, I’m not listening to anything the so-called experts are saying. All that stuff means absolutely nothing to me right now and it will mean even less when we both step into the Octagon on Saturday at UFC 136.” Florian (15-5) has been splitting his time in preparation for Aldo (19-1) at both his own Florian Martial Arts Center in Massachusetts with his brother, Keith, and the Tristar Gym in Montreal with Firas Zahabi. The 35-year-old is 12-4 in his UFC career with past wins over Roger Huerta, Joe Stevenson, Joe Lauzon, and Clay Guida. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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The UFC featherweight title is on the line this Saturday night (October 8, 2011) in the co-main event of UFC 136 as champion Jose Aldo takes on previous two-time lightweight title challenger Kenny Florian. Aldo is one of the most dangerous fighters in the entire world and his top five placement on the pound for pound rankings proves that. He's consistently brought home "Knockout of the Night" and "Fight of the Night" awards in his sting with Zuffa and he's hoping to add to that collection while retaining his title. For Kenny Florian, this may be his last shot at becoming a champion. He's 35 years old, which is practically Randy Couture-esque for a lighter weight class. He's been labeled a choker by Dana White in the past for repeatedly coming up short when it was all on the line. He's hoping to finally break through and win the big one. Will Aldo showcase his tremendous skill and defend the title with style? Can Florian finally rise to the challenge of a big fight and fix his reputation? Who will be the UFC featherweight champion after this fight is all said and done? Jose Aldo Record: 19-1 overall, 1-0 in the UFC Key Wins: Urijah Faber (WEC 48), Mike Brown (WEC 44), Mark Hominick (UFC 129) Key Losses: none How he got here: After making waves in Brazil, Aldo migrated to the WEC and immediately began wrecking the place. He tore through his first four WEC bouts with deadly striking and decided to cap it off by earning a title shot with an unbelievable eight second knockout of Cub Swanson at WEC 41. Believe it or not, the time of the knockout was the least impressive part of it. Aldo flew through the air and connected on poor Cub's chin with not one but two flying knees at once and finished the stunned Swanson off with quick ground and pound. The Brazilian made the most of his opportunity and manhandled then-champion Mike Brown, finishing the turtling titleholder with ground and pound from behind. His victory set up a WEC super-fight with the incredibly popolar former champion Urijah Faber at WEC 48. "Scarface" would work a different gameplan for that fight, massacring Faber's legs with sharp kicks until they turned into linguine and "The California Kid's" corner needed to carry him to his stool in between rounds. The champ retained his title one final time, viciously knocking out Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season five finalist Manny Gamburyan early in the second round. After the UFC/WEC merger, Aldo was handed the UFC featherweight title and got an opportunity to defend it against Mark Hominick this past April. The Brazilian controlled much of the first four rounds, but an illness and a really rough weight cut caught up to him in the final frame where Hominick took over and put a beating on him. Hominick couldn't finish though and lost the decision. Now, Aldo will defend his belt one more time against two-time title challenger Kenny Florian and he's hoping he can look better this next time around. How he gets it done: Jose Aldo has a very diverse set of skills. He's got heavy hands and some of the nastiest leg kicks you will ever see. His background as a soccer player may be a factor in that.  Look for Aldo to try to keep this fight standing and really go to work with his kicks. He does a terrific job of closing off combinations with a leg kick. If he can connect a few times, it's going to slow Florian down and make him an easier target. If Florian begins to lose some of his lateral quickness, the champion could swoop in with a flying knee or some other devastating frontal attack. Aldo also mixed in some takedowns with his striking in his last fight so that's not out of the realm of possibility. Kenny Florian has a pretty strong ground game, but if Aldo can put him on his back, he's got some pretty lethal ground and pound. He won his title originally by grounding and pounding Mike Brown, a strong wrestler and he recently knocked Manny Gamburyan out cold with ground and pound after hurting him with an uppercut.  Aldo is such a terrific athlete that you could literally expect anything from him in this fight. At just 25 years old, he can definitely still be learning new tricks. Kenny Florian Record: 15-5 overall, 12-4 in the UFC Key Wins: Clay Guida (UFC 107), Diego Nunes (UFC 131), Joe Lauzon (UFC Fight Night 13) Key Losses: B.J. Penn (UFC 101), Gray Maynard (UFC 118), Sean Sherk (UFC 64) How he got here: Kenny Florian earned an invite to the UFC after Dana White watched him lose an incredibly spirited split decision to Drew Fickett. He got his start in the UFC as a cast member of the first ever season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) as a middleweight. Despite his size disadvantage, the Bostonian made it all the way to the finals before losing to Diego Sanchez in the show's finale. Florian would then drop to welterweight where he scored consecutive second round stoppages. Not satisfied, "Ken-Flo" would cut even lower to lightweight where he would earn a title shot against Sean Sherk at UFC 64. Florian gashed Sherk with his razer-sharp elbows but he couldn't withstand the "Muscle Shark's" tremendous wrestling and core strength, losing a unanimous decision. After stringing together five straight victories, he would again earn a shot at the title but would put on a perplexing show against the-champion B.J. Penn. Florian tried to work a clinch gameplan that left many confused before losing in the fourth round via rear naked choke to "The Prodigy." Florian would work his way back to the top again but dropped a unanimous decision in a number one contender match to Gray Maynard. While recuperating from an injury, he decided to try a cut to featherweight, his fourth weight class in the UFC. In his 145 pound debut, Florian got hurt a couple times against scrappy Brazilian Diego Nunes, but his all-around game was enough to give him a decision victory and earn him yet another shot at a UFC title.  How he gets it done: Kenny Florian has a strong area of well-rounded skills. He's put the time in to become a solid striker with excellent Muay Thai and his Brazilian jiu-jitsu game is very aggressive. If he ever has an opponent hurt, his killer instinct takes over and the fight is finished soon after.  What Florian needs to do against Aldo is get inside, whether it's putting him on his back with takedowns or getting up close in the stand-up. He can't stay on the outside and eat kicks or throw punches that Aldo easily avoids with his stellar subtle head movement.  If he can get inside standing, "Ken-Flo" needs to get to work immediately with short attacks of knees and elbows. He's got the sharpest elbows in the business and they've won him numerous fights in the past with doctor stoppages. We've never really seen Jose Aldo bleed before, but if anyone can do it, it's Kenny Florian.  The Tristar fighter needs to really push the pace in this fight. He's been overly cautious in big fights in the past but he needs to get over that mental block and get in Jose Aldo's face from start to finish, similar to what Demetrious Johnson was able to do to Dominick Cruz in the stand-up portion of his title fight last week. If he can do that and not be put on his back, he might have a chance.  Fight "X-Factor:" There are two X-Factors for this bout. The first is Kenny Florian's change of gameplan in big title fights. He's a finishing machine in most of his bouts, but he steps off the gas pedal for his title fights or for important matches in his career. He needs to realize that what got him here is his aggression and killer instinct, who cares if there's tape of it. If he can put that behind him, perhaps he has a chance. A passive "Ken-Flo" will be an unconscious "Ken-Flo." The other factor is the weight cut, and that's for both fighters. Kenny Florian was a pretty good sized lightweight and he had to be extremely disciplined to drop down to 145 pounds. It may have cost him some of his ability to take a punch as Diego Nunes dropped him at least twice at UFC 131, something no one had really done to him before in a UFC fight. Jose Aldo had some serious issues making weight for UFC 129 and he's still a young fighter and getting bigger. As he gets older, it's going to be increasingly more difficult to make featherweight. At some point, cutting all that weight is going to be counterproductive and it will benefit his opponents. Perhaps this is that time. Bottom Line: The major thing about this fight is, when both men are at the top of their game, they are straight up killers. Kenny Florian has had only 25 percent of his UFC fights go to a decision. Aldo is in a similar boat with 25 percent of his career fights going to a decision as well. These guys are finishers, they're aggressive and they usually bring it every time out. There's some potential for some serious fireworks with this match-up and especially if Florian's chin has begun to chip, Aldo could score that brutal knockout he needs to put him over with the UFC faithful. Aldo won "Fight of the Night" in his UFC debut despite not being even close to himself. If he's fully healthy, this should be a lot of fun.  Who will come out on top at UFC 136? Tell us your predictions in the comments below! Poll Who will be the UFC featherweight champion once this co-main event for UFC 136 is officially concluded? Jose Aldo Kenny Florian   4 votes | Results

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HOUSTON - For a guy hoping to defend his 145-pound championship, UFC 136 co-headliner Jose Aldo finds himself answering a lot of questions about 155 pounds. Will the champ eventually move to the heavier weight class? Would he want to hold both belts? Will tough weight cuts force a move to lightweight? Aldo politely answers each question, but his focus remains solely on Saturday's featherweight title challenger, Kenny Florian.

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Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosHOUSTON -- MMA Fighting spoke to Kenny Florian on Thursday about his UFC 136 fight against Jose Aldo, how his soccer skills stack up to Aldo's, why he dropped down to 145, his weight cut, fighting Aldo and more.  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Filed under: UFC, NewsHOUSTON -- For Kenny Florian, the third time better be the charm. The respected UFC veteran has twice before fought for a UFC title, but come up short each time. Saturday might be the 35-year-old's last chance at a major championship. For Florian, the opportunity comes just one fight into the move to the UFC's featherweight division. In his 145-pound debut, Florian earned a decision over Diego Nunes, but it wasn't a vintage performance, leading many to wonder if he can bring the goods to beat the great Jose Aldo. Florian says that moving down was a good decision at a bad time. At the moment he decided to try his hand at featherweight, he was coming off a knee injury that had him sidelined, and he weighed around 180 pounds, his heaviest weight in years. Getting those 35 pounds off to make the featherweight limit proved to be what he termed the "toughest thing I've ever done in my life, for sure." With only four months between that fight and this weekend's UFC 136, Florian monitored his weight much closer, getting no higher than 168 pounds. On Thursday, one day before weigh-ins, he told MMA Fighting he was at 154. So the weight issue is no issue. That makes Saturday all about performance. In Aldo, Florian faces a well-rounded opponent with fast hands, excellent power and underrated grappling. Except for the fact that Aldo is liberal with his use of kicks, he's fairly similar to the man that Florian last faced for the title, BJ Penn. The Penn loss proved to be a turning point for Florian. Prior to that, he spent most of his time training with his coaching staff and a series of partners, many of whom had never fought professionally. Soon after, he began to supplement the training at his own Boston area gym with trip to Montreal to train with Firas Zahabi. That opened up a new world of training partners, from UFC welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre to wunderkind Rory MacDonald. Under the "iron sharpens iron" philosophy, Florian believes that improved preparation will have him at his best for Aldo. "I just think I'm doing it at the right time, where I have all the things I should have had all along during my career," he said." I have the best coaches, the best training partners. I think I found a good groove, a good way to train." Yet Florian will have to find a way to put that hard work into action on Saturday. After his UFC 118 loss to Gray Maynard, a No. 1 contenders fight that precipitated his drop to featherweight, UFC president Dana White characterized Florian's performance in less than flattering terms. In fact, he threw out a phrase that most fighters would consider offensive. "I think Kenny is just one of those guys who chokes in big fights," White said then. Not surprisingly, Florian strongly disagrees, citing his wins Roger Huerta and Joe Stevenson prior to earning his title shot against Penn, along with wins over Clay Guida and Takanori Gomi. But White yields a big megaphone. When he says something, it usually sticks. So Florian won't just be fighting for a belt, he'll be fighting to try and change that perception of him. "For the fans, and for the all the haters, the people who do say I choke in the big fights, it would be validation as well, but more than anything else, I want to go in there and beat a great opponent in Aldo," he said. If he can't do it, his future will be murky. Three championship losses in two divisions may limit his options. Does he try to rebound at 145? Move back up to lightweight? Is retirement a possibility? White, at least, is on record as saying it could be Florian's last title fight. So Florian has to make it count. MMA will always be in his life in some way, shape or form, but UFC 136 may be his last chance to pan for gold. "It's a dream of mine since I committed to be a professional fighter," he said. "That's what everyone wants and what they should want. I'd still be the same fighter, still be the same guy. It would be some validation, really for everyone else, I guess. I know I'm a good fighter. I've done all the work. I've prepared hard. That's the most important thing." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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A few years back, not so long ago, UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo had a very different routine than he does now, leading up to his UFC 136 title bout against two-time lightweight challenger Kenny Florian. And we’re not just talking about Aldo's days without interviews and appearances as WEC champion and then UFC kingpin in the 145-pound division. The issue here is his roots, the poor start, and how he struggled to be wherehe is today. And even though Aldo is grounded when it comes to the changes of the last two years, he never had the opportunity to witness the extreme circumstances of other people suffering with some of the same issues he did. But in January, Aldo visited the earthquake devastated nation of Haiti, and it was a very new experience for the champ. Joining with other sportsmen from Brazil as part of the Haitian Journey of Sports for Peace, an initiative to re-socialize the survivors of that catastrophic event, Aldo was now in the position to help people with the same life history as his own. "What I saw man… the country was in total misery," he said. "The trip to Haiti made me really appreciate life, and it reminded me of everything I've achieved everything and everything I will conquer. Of course I can't compare my situation in the beginning withtheir situation - but we made sure we showed them that a few of us came from the same difficulties and broke down some barriers. Obstacles are put in front of us to be takendown. I was happy to give them a message, to put a smile on their faces. I visited schools and orphanages and every positive message we passed to them, the reaction we received was in the same proportion." Injured and sidelined from his first title defense against Josh Grispi at UFC 125 in January, Aldo used more than his good mood and smile to let the Haitian people know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. "They didn't have water, can you believe it?" he asked. "When I saw that, of course I gave what water I had, but I also had an old film of the difficulties I had at the beginning of my life and told them that with willpower and some help you can shine." A model of humility and perseverance outside the cage who still possesses the textbook ability to defeat opponents inside it, that's the life of Jose Aldo. We’ve already seen his brutal and quick performances, and most recently he was tested deep into the fifth round of his first title defense against Mark Hominick at UFC 129. In that bout, the champ stayedunderneath the challenger for nearly five minutes of the last round, eating punch after punch, but he still came out of the bout as the featherweight belt holder. Asked about his lack of cardio late in the bout, Aldo said during a recent media teleconference that his difficulty cutting weight was the issue. "The process is about the same every time. But before that fight we were working a lot on gaining muscle mass and it might have taken a little bit longer to get the weight off." After five rounds of war, Aldo agreed with the old adage that it's harder to keep the title than to win it."I always heard this, and I agree 100% with it," he says. "But since the beginning I was tested and this is part of my life. I just want more of them [challenges] coming." Aware of the hard test he would face against Hominick, he prepared in Holland with kickboxers, sharpening his already lethal fists and kicks with one of the best in the business in Andy Souwer. For the man standing on the opposite side of the cage on Saturday night –Florian - he added some... swimming? "Yes," he smiles. "The only alteration this time was that I started swimming. I am focused on what I can do well in training and I emulate it in the fight. I need to be well-prepared, that's it." It’s not a lack of respect from the champ to a fighter with the caliber of Florian. But the reason he’s not issuing specific details this time is because in his last camp, the media had full access to practically every single movement of Aldo leading up to his battle against Hominick. So Aldo's mentor, UFC vet Andre Pederneiras, stated that he'd establish some limits for accessing the champ - making it a little harder to those who wanted to peek at part of the detailed preparations for the bout against a veteran such as Florian. And this time, Aldo knows what he needs to do in order to keep his belt and start his legacy in the Octagon, and it’s the unique and intimidating pressure he brings to this fight that makes him dangerous. "He said that he can impose his age and experience on me inside the UFC," said Aldo, who has fought in his home country of Brazil, as well as Japan, England, Canada and the USA. "He fought well at 145 as well as at 155, so he didn't feel the difference. But this is the moment of truth. I'll try to make a very explosive fight and we’ll see what happens."

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"I think I can ask him serious questions in all ranges of combat. I'm not going to be intimidated by his title or his reputation, as I've seen it all before. I've watched him fight, I've studied him and I know exactly what he can and can't do. I know he's a tremendous fighter with great qualities, so nothing will surprise me on Saturday night. I am prepared for it all. I've been there before, I've been in big fights, and I don't feel Aldo has fought anybody like me before. I don't think he has been put up against anybody as strong and well-rounded as I am." If you listen to the promotional pieces marketed by UFC, you would hear claims that Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo is a top three pound-for-pound fighter, nigh unbeatable. On top of being the 145-pound king, "Scarface" has yet to lose since becoming a Zuffa employee and now that he's been moved up to the UFC, he's getting the star treatment. Kenny Florian, who will challenge for his title at UFC 136 on Oct. 8 in Houston, sees and hears all of this but it's nothing he hasn't seen or heard before. "Ken Flo," despite the considerable obstacle ahead of him, writes in his ESPN blog that he won't be intimidated by the accomplishments of his opponent. He's watched the tape and done his homework. Aldo, however, has yet to fight anyone of Florian's statue. How much will that affect the outcome come Saturday night, if at all? Anyone think "Junior" lays an egg and Florian finally realizes his dream of winning a major mixed martial arts title?

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When it comes to the question of whether or not UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo’s feet are more educated than those of top contender Kenny Florian most people would likely side with the Brazilian. However, Florian’s kicks have won him a number of contests in the past and even displayed those talents on a Division 1 level. Confused? Don’t be, as the answer to the riddle lies within both fighters’ backgrounds as accomplished soccer players. Before Aldo and Florian settle their score in one of two title-fights on Saturday night at UFC 136, the two 145ers will square off in a friendly contest involving their soccer skills at a set of open workouts related to the event. Florian Thinks He Does Everything Well The competition will involve using only their feet and heads to keep a soccer ball from touching the Octagon’s canvas, called “juggling” or “kick up” in many instances. Rather than let Cecil Peoples weigh in on the matter, two players from the MLS’ Houston Dynamo will be on hand to judge. Fans can catch the actual bout between Aldo and Florian during the PPV portion of the card starting at 9:00 PM EST. “Ken Flo” will be fighting at 145-pounds for the second time in his career after making two previous runs at the UFC’s lightweight title, while Aldo is unbeaten in his last twelve fights with wins over Mike Brown, Urijah Faber, and most recently Mark Hominick. Tweet

Posted in: ufc, saturday night, florian, aldo, “ kick

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Two best friends walk into an apartment, eyes weary, hair ruffled, both beat by a hard day's work. While sitting on their scruffy couch with their feet on the coffee table chugging down a twelve-pack watching the tube, the discussion turns to the agenda for the weekend. Naturally, both men, who fit nicely into the 18-34 male demographic, are mixed martial arts' fans. One being of the casual nature, the other being a hardcore fan who has sought out even the most obscure mixed martial arts action from around the world. As you can imagine, these types of scenarios are familiar to many of us. They breed questions like "Who the hell is Fedor Emelianenko, man?" and "Jose Aldo? Never heard of him". The response normally involves burrowing through Google to find footage. In Jose Aldo's case, his eight second destruction of Cub Swanson normally elicits the desired response and the immediate hook for those casual fans who are fortunate enough to have a hardcore fan giving them an introduction. Some fans may go through these exact motions as we lead into UFC 136 this weekend, converting passing fans into awe-inspired believers of Aldo's greatness. Others have turned their friends on to Aldo's style in the past. Unfortunately, there aren't enough of us to preach the gospel. Jose Aldo is one of the few talents that fans feel can make the breakthrough to a casual fanbase that doesn't seem at all interested right now. The infancy of the new divisions is the standard excuse for the disinterest, but there is also the idea that the UFC hasn't done enough to promote the fighters. Whatever the case may be, the talent in those divisions must take advantage of the opportunities thrown their way. UFC 136 is one of those opportunities. History suggests that Aldo is already in the midst of an uphill battle to capitalize on his main card status however. The headlining bout, a lightweight title showdown between champion Frankie Edgar and challenger Gray Maynard, is the top billed fight on the card. Their second encounter at UFC 125 was a spectacular back-and-forth battle of wills, but the event only fetched an estimated 300,000 buys. A disappointment, yes, but not surprising with a supporting cast of Chris Leben, Brian Stann, Brandon Vera, and Thiago Silva. UFC 136 will feature a better mix with two title bouts and a supporting middleweight bout between Chael Sonnen and Brian Stann. While the promotion for Sonnen has been subdued, the grandeur thrust upon Maynard and Edgar in the aftermath of their showdown at UFC 125 should boost interest among fans for their third encounter. Jose Aldo's inclusion should add some eyes as well, although that isn't a certainty. Actions speak louder than words, and fortunately for Jose Aldo -- the UFC gave him the audience at UFC 129, a card headlined by Georges St. Pierre vs. Jake Shields. The event was a guaranteed pay-per-view success, and Aldo vs. Hominick was placed in the co-main event slot for the evening. It wasn't exactly a coming out party for Jose however. Pumping up Aldo as a world beater and getting a convincing unanimous decision win shouldn't be an issue, but I'm willing to bet some casual fans saw it as another fight proving these smaller fighters can't finish. Later, we found out that a pre-fight illness exacerbated the weight cutting process, weakening the champion and visibly affecting him as the fight dragged on. The fight didn't take place under optimal physical conditions for Aldo, but from a business standpoint -- he was in prime position to gain fans. We have no idea if Aldo "connected" with a large number of casual fans with that performance. What we do know is that other featherweights and bantamweights haven't been pulling in large audiences. Dominick Cruz, the UFC's current bantamweight champion, put on a helluva performance against Demetrious Johnson at UFC on Versus 6 this past Saturday in front of an average of 789,000 viewers. Placement on Versus guaranteed the card wouldn't produce huge numbers, but there was some optimism that the numbers would rise because it was a title showdown. That wasn't the case, and the lead-up to the event revealed a lot of pessimism toward the potential for Cruz to appeal to fans. It isn't certain whether Aldo will suffer the same fate based on his performance against Hominick. Aldo has a history of destroying his opposition however. He's being put in a position to attract fans because he has a fan friendly style, thus making this weekend's card important in determining whether he's one of the lone fighters in the newest weight classes to have a quantifiable effect on fan interest that has, in its short history, been small. It isn't clear yet whether he does, although trends in other weight classes, i.e. the ability to finish, suggest that he should peak interest if he can put together a string of impressive wins. This weekend's card is another prime chance for Aldo to blow away the foolish assumptions that fighters in these weight classes are boring, unskilled, or can't finish. March was the last time a featherweight or bantamweight finished a fight in a main card match-up, but I'm banking that Aldo makes a breakthrough on Saturday night in Houston.

Posted in: ufc, fan, card, jose aldo, aldo

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Reigning Feather Champion Jose Aldo, who will put his title on the line against Kenny Florian this Saturday night, sharpens his stand-up alongside Nova Uniao teammate Marlon Sandro. This training session was Aldo's last before departing for Texas, where he'll square off with Florian in the UFC 136 co-main event.

Posted in: saturday night, jose aldo, kenny florian, aldo, training session

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UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo did a short interview for a Youtube video that was released by the UFC, talking about his UFC 136 title defense against Kenny Florian this weekend in Houston. It's basically a highlight reel mixed in with clips of Aldo discussing the fight and where he feels he holds advantages over Florian. He believes that he's quicker and more explosive than Florian, and that Kenny isn't as strong at featherweight. Here's the video: Aldo also discussed a possible move to 155 with the Brazilian publication Esporte (translation by Tom Mendes): "The body keeps suffering with the constant gain and loss of weight that the athletes endure. For now I’m not sure (about moving up in weight). As long as I am able to lose it, I’ll remain (in my current weight class). But when I feel harmed by it, I will go up." After watching that video of Aldo suffering to make weight at UFC 129, it makes you wonder how long he can continue to make the cut to 145. More SBN coverage of UFC 136

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“I think, generally, he hasn’t faced a guy who’s as well-rounded and experienced as I am. I’m going to bring well-rounded skills, experience and just see where the mystique lies. That’s it… He’s pretty unique and a very fast, explosive guy. His dangerous weapons are his legs and excellent footwork. He’s very, very fast and, I think, dangerous on the ground. He’s definitely a unique opponent, and I had to prepare differently for him for sure… I’ve trained my ass off for this fight, and I’m looking forward to going out there and competing hard.” — Kenny Florian on a UFC 136 conference call via MMA Fighting talking about his title fight against Jose Aldo this Saturday at UFC 136 I won’t go as far as to say Kenny Florian “chokes in big fights” like Dana White did after he lost to Gray Maynard, but Florian definitely hasn’t performed to his potential when there’s a title on the line. He’s going to have to bring his A game this weekend though if he stands any chance of beating Jose Aldo. Even then, I’m not sure he can do it, but I’d at least like to see Florian leave it all in the cage this time. If he loses this title fight, who knows if he’ll ever get another one again. Image via Dave Mandel for Sherdog

Posted in: fight, title fight, florian, jose aldo, aldo

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Jose Aldo defends his UFC featherweight title against Kenny Florian this Saturday, Oct. 8 at UFC 136.

Posted in: ufc, jose, jose aldo, kenny florian, aldo

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UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo says he has the size, skill and strength to dispatch Kenny Florian on Saturday night.

Posted in: ufc, saturday night, jose, kenny, aldo

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Filed under: UFC, NewsJose Aldo has had little trouble with any opponent the last three years, but Kenny Florian thinks he might have a solution for the UFC featherweight champ. Florian, fighting for just the second time at 145 pounds after a long stretch at lightweight - and stints at welterweight and middleweight before that - challenges Aldo on Saturday for the featherweight title at UFC 136 in Houston. But through a career filled with many ups, and a few downs that include a pair of losses in UFC lightweight title fights, Florian believes it's his longevity that will give him the edge against the Brazilian, who is widely regarded as one of the top three or four pound-for-pound fighters in the sport. "I think, generally, he hasn't faced a guy who's as well-rounded and experienced as I am," Florian (15-5, 12-4 UFC) said Friday during a media call for UFC 136. "I'm going to bring well-rounded skills, experience and just see where the mystique lies. That's it." The Aldo mystique has been in full force since he stormed the WEC with five straight knockout wins, including an 8-second KO of Cub Swanson with a flying knee. The standup prowess seemed to fly in the face of the generality that Aldo, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who trains with the famed Black House team, should be devastating on the ground. But his perfect WEC start earned him a shot at Mike Brown's featherweight belt, and once he got that shot, he continued his tear, dispatching Brown in the second. Urijah Faber took him to his first decision in nearly three years, but was never real a threat - Aldo outstruck Faber 138-27, according to FightMetric, and stuffed all nine of his takedown attempts. After knocking out Manny Gamburyan to defend his WEC belt a second time, Aldo became the UFC featherweight champion and was given his stiffest test as champion from Mark Hominick in April. Hominick dominated Aldo in the fifth round, outstriking the clearly gassed champ 62-3. Florian who survived a close fight against Diego Nunes in June in his featherweight debut to get his shot at Aldo. And while he didn't say getting into the later rounds with Aldo gives him an advantage, Aldo's fifth round against Hominick might give him hope that the Brazilian is beatable - especially if Florian can weather the early storm. "He's pretty unique and a very fast, explosive guy," Florian said. "His dangerous weapons are his legs and excellent footwork. He's very, very fast and, I think, dangerous on the ground. He's definitely a unique opponent, and I had to prepare differently for him for sure." Florian's title fight experience comes from a unanimous decision loss to Sean Sherk at UFC 64 for the then-vacant lightweight belt, then a submission loss to BJ Penn in the fourth round at UFC 101 when he got another crack after a six-fight winning streak. After losing to Gray Maynard in a top contenders fight at UFC 118, giving Maynard a shot at Frankie Edgar, Florian dropped to featherweight. He competed on the first season of "The Ultimate Fighter" as a middleweight, quickly dropped back to welterweight after the show, then moved down to his long-time lightweight home. But through all the weight classes, Florian said one thing has been the same - constant improvement. "I think every fight is always going to be different," Florian said. "You're always going to have a different mindset based on your training camp, based on your opponent. I've always learned from each previous camp, win or lose. I've made a lot of mistakes and I've tightened some of those mistakes. My goal is to try and make each training camp better and better each time, and to try and increase my work load capacity and improve my skills, and I think I've done that every training camp. "I've trained my ass off for this fight, and I'm looking forward to going out there and competing hard." Florian and Aldo fight in the co-main event of UFC 136 at the Toyota Center in Houston. The main event is the lightweight title rematch between champion Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard. Also on the card is a middleweight contenders fight between former title challenger Chael Sonnen and Brian Stann. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, florian, featherweight, aldo

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Posted in: division, jose, jose aldo, aldo, featherweight division

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Perhaps the question was inevitable

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There will be a time when the UFC featherweight champ's kidneys say, "No way, Jose." A recent video documenting Jose Aldo's weight-cut for UFC 129 is proof positive. The 25-year-old is misery incarnate as he attempts to shed the final ounces for the 145-pound limit. At one point, he refuses to get back into a bathtub containing a chemical that aids the process but creates a burning sensation on his skin.

Posted in: ufc, jose, jose aldo, aldo, featherweight division

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If the weight cut is this tough on Jose Aldo, I can’t imagine how brutal it is for Kenny Florian to make 145.

Posted in: jose, weight, jose aldo, kenny florian, aldo

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The UFC's Youtube page released a chilling video of UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo's brutal weight cut before his UFC 129 bout with Mark Hominick. This truly gives you some insight into how the process works (at least for Aldo) and how much of a nightmare it can be.

Posted in: ufc, mark hominick, aldo, youtube page, process works

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Jose Aldo must be feeling the strangest sense of déjà vu. And for good reason, since the Brazilian has been in almost this exact position once before. He was supposed to defend his featherweight title for the first time inside the Octagon as the co-main event draw to Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard's rematch at UFC 125. Fate intervened in the form of a neck injury and he was removed from the card until he was well enough to fight. Now he finds himself once again set to defend his 145-pound championship in the co-main event of a Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard bout. Barring a last-minute injury, all indications are he will step inside the Octagon next Saturday (Oct. 8, 2011) opposite Kenny Florian in the "Lone Star State." But before "Scarface" makes his second defense in the UFC -- and fourth overall -- at UFC 136: "Edgar vs. Maynard III," we'll take a look back at his Octagon debut. His fight against Mark Hominick at UFC 129 had over 55,000 people in Toronto and millions of others worldwide buzzing with excitement. Each fighter left nearly everything in the cage that night. For 25-minutes, mixed martial arts (MMA) fans were captivated by everything that made them fall in love with the sport in the first place conveniently packaged in a single fight. It was an instant classic. Let's dive in. The fight served as the precursor to the welterweight showdown between Georges St. Pierre and Jake Shields. The Canadian crowd was rabid for "Rush" but the main event was lackluster at best. In a perfect world, the 145-pound title bout would have closed the show and highlighted a night of great action. Let's waste no time getting down to business! The fight opens up with Hominick taking the center of the cage while Aldo opens up with lightning quick leg kicks. One quickly becomes two and then within seconds, four leg kicks have memories of Aldo's fight with Urijah Faber flooding back. A takedown from the champ gets the Canadian on his back where he threatens with an armbar. Aldo is able to get free but "The Machine" has sent a message loud and clear: the champ won't get to rest on his laurels when the fight hits the mat. "Scarface" spends most of the remainder of the opening round dropping elbow after elbow onto his opponent's forehead like a tiny, tan Mark Coleman. With less than a minute remaining, you can already see a small mouse forming on Hominick's head, an almost ominous sign of what is to come. Almost as if the previous five minutes didn't even happen, the challenger presses the action instantly in the second. He begins putting together combinations that attack the body, giving no indication that the damage absorbed by his leg is affecting him at all. Midway through the round, the Brazilian secures another takedown and gives a repeat performance of his first round ground and pound seminar. Fists and elbows find their mark while Hominick does everything he can to close the distance between him and his opponent. With a minute remaining, the two are stood back but Aldo dives into a takedown and lands in side mount. No significant offense is landed as a result but it's an exclamation point on a round that was likely scored for the champion. The third round masquerades as a boxing match for most of the five minute period save for two failed takedown attempts on the champion's part. It's during this stanza that Hominick looks his best as his speed nearly rivals that of Aldo's but the Canadian trumps his opponent in the technique department. For most of the round, "The Machine" seems to be holding his own until a combination from the Brazilian catches Hominick and wobbles him. He stumbles to the mat and "Scarface" momentarily goes all-out, seeking the kill shot. When it becomes apparent that Hominick wouldn't be put to pasture so easily, Aldo relents and allows the round to close out. The championship rounds begin and each fighters wears the scars -- as well as unseen mental fatigue -- of a tough fought 15 minutes. Aldo begins attacking the legs again, going back to the opening round strategy that worked well for him. As the kicks start to stack up, Hominick visibly begins to limp which allows Aldo to open up with his hands halfway through the round. Hominick is dropped and "Scarface" follows him down. He immediately throws an elbow and the challenger's forehead instantly begins to swell up. By the time the referee calls time to have a doctor check on the hematoma, it's grown to the size of a baseball. Joe Rogan is sure that the fight will be called off with less than one minute remaining in the round. Much to everyone's surprise -- and the live crowd's utter delight -- "The Machine" continues on to fight into the fifth and final round. The Brazilian takes early control of the last round and lands a stiff uppercut that puts Hominick in survival mode. "The Machine" secures a takedown and begins landing ground and pound as a cut on his cheek drips blood onto his opponent and the canvas. The hometown crowd roars in approval with every strike that lands from their hero and as the seconds tick away, the feeling that Hominick might pull off the upset begins to creep inside of those watching. Aldo simply has nothing to offer in terms of defense and is basically a sitting duck for his newly-energized opponent. Head, head, body attacks "The Machine" as we enter the last minute. The crowd is now deafening, almost willing their fellow Canadian on. But the champion proves too resilient, too tough to give up and the final horn sounds off. After 25-minutes, the 145-pound title stayed around the waist of Jose Aldo. In addition to the giant hematoma on his forehead, Hominick -- along with his Brazilian opponent -- takes home a check for $129,000 dollars for his part in the evening's Fight of the Night. This was no mere fight. This was as close to warfare as the UFC will ever get. Both men left a portion of their careers inside the Octagon that night, sacrificed in order to earn the right to be called a champion. They are forever changed, never to look at themselves or how they have chosen to spend their lives the same way again. The Canadian isn't set to return to the Octagon until December. A win could put him right back in the number one contender's slot.  Who would be there to meet him? An old foe ready for a sequel to their amazing bout? Or a long-time UFC veteran, destiny fulfilled by finally becoming a champion? We'll find out in nine days.

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