UFC 156 features arguably the first superfight in UFC history, pitting former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar against featherweight title holder Jose Aldo in the main event.
The bout marks the first time that Edgar, always an undersized 155-pounder, will fight at a lighter weight class.
MMA Interviews spoke with other professional fighters to see who they think will walk out of Las Vegas with the featherweight strap.
Fighters ranging from flyweight contender Ian McCall to UFC Hall of Famers Randy Couture and Tito Ortiz all gave their two cents on the heavily-anticipated fight.
“I mean, Benson Henderson kicked Edgar really hard, ya know, and Aldo’s way better at kicking than Benson Henderson, let’s be honest. I think that Edgar is so used to having the speed advantage, where it’s not going to happen…(Aldo) and Anderson (Silva) have the best timing on the planet,” McCall said.
UFC heavyweight Pat Barry also picked Jose Aldo to beat “The Answer,” though interestingly, he believes that Erik Koch could beat “Scarface.”
One would have to presume that he made that prediction before Koch suffered a brutal technical knockout at the hands of Ricardo Lamas at UFC on FOX 6 last weekend.
UFC lightweight Anthony Njokuani gave a pretty straightforward pick for Aldo, while Couture praised Edgar’s move down to featherweight before picking him to pull off another big upset.
“I think that that’s a very, very smart move by Frankie and I think he’s going to give Aldo all he needs. He can beat Aldo,” Couture stated.
Reuben Duran, a UFC bantamweight, picked Edgar by a decision before Tito Ortiz said that Aldo will win in decisive fashion.
“Yea, I think Jose Aldo will pull off another him. His striking, his ability to defend the takedown … his knees are amazing. He always does something special, he’s an amazing fighter and a special athlete for sure,” Ortiz proclaimed.
Finally, former UFC interim heavyweight champion Shane Carwin gave props to Edgar and Aldo before saying that the New Jersey native’s wrestling would be the difference in the matchup.
“Aldo is an extremely talented fighter and Edgar’s a grinder, he’s a wrestler who can take it into deep waters. I go with Edgar,” Carwin said.
Aldo enters the fight on the strength of 14 consecutive wins, including six title defenses between the WEC and UFC, while Edgar enters the 145-pound division after two straight losses to Benson Henderson.
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