UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo hasn’t been submitted in a fight since 2005.
In fact, he’s only been submitted once in his 26 professional bouts. Competing at lightweight, Aldo was caught with a rear-naked choke at Jungle Fight 5 15 months into his career and hasn’t been beaten since.
Well, John Kavanagh of Ireland’s Straight Blast Gym believes Conor McGregor could be the second man to tap the champ.
“I’ll put it like this: it wouldn’t shock me at all if Conor were to submit Aldo, especially as Aldo starts to tire,” Kavanagh wrote in a column for The 42. “Conor has a fantastic guillotine off his back and a really good triangle and armbar too, so there’ll be plenty of opportunities to submit Aldo when fatigue sets in and he starts to leave himself exposed.”
Kavanagh, a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under American Matt Thornton [Rigan Machado->Chris Haueter->Thorton], awarded McGregor his brown belt in September after he knocked out Dustin Poirier at UFC 178.
“That could be one that’s worth a few quid in the bookies,” said Kavanagh. “I’ve never seen Conor roll with a black belt and look out of place. Conor is a very high-level brown belt, not far off black-belt level at all, and at that level there’s not much difference between the two. Conor by submission, it could definitely happen.”
Kavanagh credits McGregor’s 2010 submission loss to Joseph Duffy for being the catalyst for his ‘obsession’ with grappling. McGregor claimed in January that he would be competing at this weekend’s IBJJF European No-GI Open in Rome, but doesn’t appear to be registered.
McGregor’s lone submission win came in 2012 when he caught Dave Hill in a rear-naked choke to become the Cage Warriors featherweight champion. Both of McGregor’s losses have come via submission, one by choke and the other a kneebar.
A black belt under Nova Uniao chief Andre Pederneiras, Aldo was considered a rising star in sport Jiu Jitsu in the early 2000’s. He even famously won a pair of matches against 4X black belt world champion Rubens ‘Cobrinha’ Charles at brown belt.
Saying Aldo’s style is ‘just not that hard to mimic’ and that he has ‘a long list of guys’ that could, Kavanagh believes Aldo will revert to his grappling base fairly soon into the fight.
“I expect the fight to go one of two ways: they’ll exchange shots and Aldo will go down in one round, or else Aldo will grapple his way into the second round – maybe even the third – but that will tire him because he’s not used to doing that. Then Conor will put him away.”
Aldo defends his title to McGregor July 11 at UFC 189 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
No Rampage. Bellator has won their preliminary injunction to keep Quinton Jackson from fighting at UFC 186. ‘We are pleased by the judge’s ruling and look forward to having Rampage fighting for Bellator again soon.’
‘Surprised.’ UFC releases a statement saying it was ‘surprised’ by judge’s decision to side with Bellator over Rampage Jackson. ‘UFC understands that Mr. Jackson is considering an emergency appeal, and UFC is also considering action to protect its rights and minimize damages regarding this matter.’
#aintworriedboutnothing. Quinton Jackson slams Bellator, saying he has more fans than they do. ‘Go to a small town where your company knows the judge, to get a judgement to piss off your costumers.’
Quick. After two years away from fighting Mike Swick will make his return against Alex Garcia at UFC 189.
Not done yet. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira makes his return against Stefan Struve at UFC 190.
MEDIA STEW
Mirko Cro Cop’s Croatian Comeback.
Michael Bisping selling a Rampage-less UFC 186.
Dana White talks hiring Jeff Novitzky, Aldo vs. McGregor and Ronda Rousey vs. Cris Cyborg.
Inside MMA’s viewer submissions.
Quick tour of American Top Team.
Free Fight: Luke Rockhold vs. Costas Philippou.
Long watches.
Chael Sonnen’s You’re Welcome – Georges St. Pierre & Tommy Toe Hold
…
UFC Fight Night: Mendes vs Lamas – Inside the Guard
…
…
TWEETS
Sympathy pains.
@Rampage4real hey sorry to hear this man , I’d be lying if I told you I’m surprised , where u do the trail , Jersy ????
— Edward Alvarez (@Ealvarezfight) April 7, 2015
@Rampage4real @NakedGambling Everyone loses in these things , the lawyers are the Winners $$$$$
— Edward Alvarez (@Ealvarezfight) April 7, 2015
So many takers.
Hey @ufc looks like u guys need some help for #UFC186…I can make 170lbs by then, any takers??? #OpenCall #TheOnceAndFutureKing
— Benson Henderson (@BensonHenderson) April 7, 2015
@BensonHenderson it will be a big cut for me, but I’ll give it a shot. Lol
— Chas Skelly (@ChasSkelly) April 7, 2015
@BensonHenderson @ufc I would be down for that. It would be an honour to fight a former UFC champ.
— Cathal Pendred (@PendredMMA) April 7, 2015
@GamebredFighter @ufc @danawhite @lorenzofertitta 170lbs??? A lil short for 155 for me… pic.twitter.com/DvnoPWjiNv
— Benson Henderson (@BensonHenderson) April 7, 2015
@PendredMMA @ufc done…
— Benson Henderson (@BensonHenderson) April 7, 2015
@PendredMMA @ufc winna winna chicken dinna @danawhite pic.twitter.com/6JxbhiALgh
— Benson Henderson (@BensonHenderson) April 7, 2015
170 sounds good to me #UFC186 @BensonHenderson @ufc @danawhite @lorenzofertitta
— Jorge Masvidal UFC (@GamebredFighter) April 7, 2015
If @ufc needs me for double duty, I will step up to fight @BensonHenderson after I beat Alexis earlier on #ufc186 #canadiansavestheday 🙂
— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) April 7, 2015
.@bensonhenderson I’m broke and can’t seem to get a fight and you are looking for an opponent. I’m game! 170lb #intergenderchampionships
— sarah moras (@sarahcheesecake) April 7, 2015
Welcome back.
I’m officially back! 😉 #UFC189 @AKAThailand http://t.co/e5lttxI0dd Follow my whole camp at: http://t.co/cE7gxbOYmt pic.twitter.com/x3pQi7bfTj
— Mike Quick Swick (@officialswick) April 7, 2015
To a lesser extent.
@ufc @danawhite I’ll fight @maldonadomma at 205. I’m in shape and ready
— Chris Camozzi (@ChrisCamozzi) April 7, 2015
Everyone is volunteering to fight Maldonado. He’s like MMA’s power ball at the moment #UFC
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) April 8, 2015
Sounds good.
Like I said all you’ll find is hard work and @Budweiser pic.twitter.com/zFLEAT8XQq
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) April 8, 2015
Get well soon.
Out of surgery. Already able to walk around lightly. #IrishDragon #2.0 #whosnext
— Paul Felder (@felderpaul) April 7, 2015
Yea?
Put the belt back on the BaddestMan! Book the flight @BellatorMMA @ScottCoker Warren VS Galvao 3! Redemption! pic.twitter.com/kaMd1JxTNB
— Joe Warren (@JoeWarrenMMA) April 7, 2015
Georges St-Pierre has some homework for you.
Samuel Paquin, who is one of my gymnastics student coaches, challenged me to a killer exercise today. I invite everyone to try it if they can: 2 X 360 + 10 rep scissor kicks. Good luck!!!
Posted by Georges St-Pierre on Tuesday, April 7, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (April 7 2015)
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Stefan Struve at UFC 190
Alex Garcia vs. Mike Swick at UFC 189
cancelled Ryan Ford vs. Yushin Okami at World Series of Fighting 21
Yancy Medeiros vs. Dustin Poirier at UFC Fight Night: Cormier vs. Bader
Mirsad Bektic vs. Renato Carneiro at UFC Fight Night: Alves vs. Condit
Alan Patrick vs. Mairbek Taisumov at UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs. Teixeira
Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.