At UFC 142, Jose Aldo will defend his featherweight title against Chad Mendes. At first glance, the bout is another classic “striker vs. grappler” matchup, but if we take a closer look, there’s a lot more coming into play.
Aldo looked indestructible during his WEC run, demolishing anyone and everyone put in front of him. His aura of invincibility has disappeared somewhat following two lackluster performances in the UFC.
Mendes meanwhile has gone undefeated throughout his career, defeating a number of tough opponents like Erik Koch, Cub Swanson, and Rani Yahya, among others.
The battle for the featherweight title promises to be an interesting one as Mendes will look to impose his will on Aldo, but will need to find some success with his striking as well.