The crowd at the HSBC Arena in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil will be decidedly pro Jose “Scarface” Aldo when the featherweight champion defends his title against the “Korean Zombie,” Chan-Sung Jung at UFC 163.
Aldo is one of Brazil’s greatest fighters, but Jung presents a formidable challenge. Previously, Aldo was set to battle Anthony “Showtime” Pettis, but a knee injury forced Pettis out, and Jung stepped up for a shot at the gold.
This bout will headline the card in Rio, but as usual, there’s a plethora of pugilists on tap to do battle in the Octagon. Here’s the fight card with TV/online coverage information and predictions for each fight.
Fights marked with an asterisk feature a more detailed analysis below.
Facebook prelims begin at 6 p.m ET, FX prelims start at 8 p.m and the main card commences at 10 p.m ET.
Records per Sherdog.com
Jose Maria “No Chance” Tome Will Win a Flyweight Slugfest With John “Hands of Stone” Lineker
For all the MMA fans that don’t have a taste for flyweights like reigning champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, this pairing may be more to your liking.
Lineker and Tome like to scrap toe-to-toe, and this could be one of the most explosive flyweight battles in UFC history. The history is short, but this fight should make its mark nonetheless.
Tome’s impressive MMA record also includes 15 wins by KO, and this one should be the 16th. No Chance never takes a step backward and applies pressure from all angles. He’s just as likely to launch a leaping knee as he is to fire punches.
Lineker does punch well, but he can be worn down when the fight goes to the ground. Though neither man will likely stay on the mat, the fighter that has the most energy when the battle resumes in the stand-up will have the edge.
That should be Tome. Take a look at No Chance’s highlight reel if you’re unfamiliar with his talents:
He has the skills to finish on the ground, but in his UFC debut and in front of his countrymen, he’ll want to make a statement. This one has so much potential, it could grab KO of the Night and Fight of the Night honors.
We may look back and say this is the fight that ultimately put over the flyweight division with the masses.
Thailes Leites Will Win Battle of Contrasting Styles
Tom “Kong” Watson wants to overpower his opponent with strikes. He uses hard right hands and lumberjack-like leg kicks to soften his foes, but Leites knows his strengths and plays to them well.
The first chance he gets to take Watson to the ground, he’ll take it. It is doubtful Watson will be able to defend the talented grapplers attempts to take this fight to the mat.
If he can, this entire prediction will be wrong because there is no way Leites can strike with Watson. Here’s Kong demolishing Murilo “Ninja” Rua.
Watson’s takedown defense hasn’t been tested on the level it will be tested on Saturday night.
Leites is relentless once he gains an advantageous position on the ground. The video below is an example of this concept. Though common opponents don’t tell the entire story, take a look at how Leites finished Jesse Taylor, a fighter Watson had dropped a unanimous decision to four months prior:
This will come down to who can control the identity of the fight. I’m betting its Leites will win by submission.
Phil Davis Will Prevail in a Potentially Boring Scrap With the Dragon
Phil “Mr. Wonderful” Davis is capable of the spectacular finish via submission, but when his fights don’t end that way, they are usually snoozers. Likewise, Lyoto “the Dragon” Machida is capable of spectacular finishes via strikes, but when he’s wary of the skill of his opponent, he can be almost too cautious.
Machida respected Dan Henderson’s power so much, he made his fight with Danimal almost unwatchable, even though he dominated.
This could be a great clash of styles as well, but instead, I expect it to be a safe fight. Machida is far from an amateur on the ground, but he can’t handle Davis’ strength and technique as a wrestler. If Machida can keep the fight standing, he has a chance to win, and we have a chance to see a good fight.
Too bad Mr. Wonderful is going to plant and ride the Dragon for three rounds en route to a unanimous decision victory.
Scarface is too Athletic for the Korean Zombie
It’s hard not to like Jung. He’s all action, skilled and can take a punch. The problem for Jung with the matchup between he and Aldo is speed.
Aldo changes levels, fires vicious leg kicks and dynamic attacks at a pace that Jung won’t be able to keep up with. To his credit, the Korean Zombie’s ability to counter and transition moves is elite, but he hasn’t faced a fighter as fast as Aldo.
When you mix in the fact that Scarface’s strikes also pack a wallop, the champion has the edge.
Look for Jung to be stunned once or twice, but his magnificent chin will keep him upright. He’ll likely have a few solid moments, but over five rounds, Aldo will land more leg kicks and powerful strikes to earn a decision.
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