Tag: Chad Mendes

UFC 142 Predictions

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 welter…

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Jose Aldo will battle Chad Mendes in the main event of UFC 142 on Saturday night.Will 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.


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

 

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Video: Countdown to UFC 142

(Video courtesy of Sapo/IFI)

If you missed the premiere of the UFC 142 countdown show yesterday, not to worry brohams. We got you covered.

In perhaps the most interesting segment on the show, we get to know undefeated Team Alpha Male featherweight Chad Mendes, who is set to challenge Jose Aldo on Saturday. “Money” has a decent shot at taking the belt from Aldo. Mendes’ doppelganger Urijah Faber has nothing but good things to say about his teammate and points out that he can roll with anybody and submit BJJ black belts and that “no one can match his wrestling.”


(Video courtesy of Sapo/IFI)

If you missed the premiere of the UFC 142 countdown show yesterday, not to worry brohams. We got you covered.

In perhaps the most interesting segment on the show, we get to know undefeated Team Alpha Male featherweight Chad Mendes, who is set to challenge Jose Aldo on Saturday. “Money” has a decent shot at taking the belt from Aldo. Mendes’ doppelganger Urijah Faber has nothing but good things to say about his teammate and points out that he can roll with anybody and submit BJJ black belts and that “no one can match his wrestling.”


(Video courtesy of Sapo/IFI)

Runner up for quote of the show goes to Mendes in reference to Aldo’s crushing leg-kick backed defeat of Faber back in 2010.

“Urijah’s like a brother to me. If I ever see my brother get beat up, I want to kick the crap out of that guy that did it.”

People are already calling this one, “The featherweight Anderson Silva versus the featherweight Chael Sonnen.” When did Mendes lose by triangle?


(Video courtesy of Sapo/IFI)

It’s also cool to see GSP training with Vitor Belfort, who Anthony Johnson guarantees he’s going to beat to become a legend. “Rumble” says he’s planning a longterm stay in the division, so a win is a good way to announce it.

We get to see a more personal side of Johnson as well. We can always see who the UFC is trying to push by howe much play they get on the show. Hearing AJ explain that he was cutting 61 pounds to fight at 170 because of his bad diet and partying habits was crazy.

Quote of the show goes to Johnson.

“I’m not intimidated by nobody but my grandmother.”

We believe it. She seems like she’s given him a few whoopings in his day.

Chad Mendes Confident He’ll Beat Jose Aldo at UFC 142

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…

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Chad 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.”

 

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‘UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes’ Extended Video Preview

(Video via YouTube.com/UFC)

Just five months after their last visit to the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the UFC returns with another card headlined by native heroes. In UFC 142‘s main event, featherweight champion Jose Aldo — who has now won ten straight fights in the WEC/UFC — looks to make another belt defense against undefeated Team Alpha Male wrestling specialist Chad “Money” Mendes, who will be hoping to put Aldo on his back as much as possible and score some revenge for Urijah Faber’s leg.

In the co-main event, middleweight contender Vitor Belfort returns from his latest injury layoff to welcome Anthony Johnson to the middleweight division, in a matchup that contains too much explosive athleticism for its own damn good.

All 11 fights on the “Aldo vs. Mendes” card feature at least one Brazilian, with Rousimar Palhares, Edson Barboza, and Gabriel Gonzaga making return appearances. The full UFC 142 lineup is after the jump…


(Video via YouTube.com/UFC)

Just five months after their last visit to the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the UFC returns with another card headlined by native heroes. In UFC 142‘s main event, featherweight champion Jose Aldo — who has now won ten straight fights in the WEC/UFC — looks to make another belt defense against undefeated Team Alpha Male wrestling specialist Chad “Money” Mendes, who will be hoping to put Aldo on his back as much as possible and score some revenge for Urijah Faber’s leg.

In the co-main event, middleweight contender Vitor Belfort returns from his latest injury layoff to welcome Anthony Johnson to the middleweight division, in a matchup that contains too much explosive athleticism for its own damn good.

All 11 fights on the “Aldo vs. Mendes” card feature at least one Brazilian, with Rousimar Palhares, Edson Barboza, and Gabriel Gonzaga making return appearances. The full UFC 142 lineup is after the jump…

MAIN CARD (PPV)
Jose Aldovs. Chad Mendes (for FW title)
Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson (MW)
Rousimar Palhares vs. Mike Massenzio (MW)
Erick Silva vs. Carlo Prater (WW)
Edson Barboza vs. Terry Etim (LW)

PRELIMINARY CARD (FX)
Thiago Tavares vs. Sam Stout (LW)
Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Edinaldo Oliveira (HW)
Yuri Alcantara vs. Michihiro Omigawa (FW)
Ricardo Funch vs. Mike Pyle (WW)
Fabio Maldonado vs. Caio Magalhaes (LHW)
Felipe Arantes vs. Antonio Carvalho (FW)

Photo of the Day: Jose Aldo Brings in Gray Maynard to Train for Chad Mendes


(Photo courtesy of Combate.TV)

It looks like Gray Maynard will be eating Brazilian kicks and punches for Christmas in the delicacy’s native land.

The former number one UFC lightweight contender will be in Rio de Janeiro for the next few weeks to help UFC featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo prepare for his January 14 UFC 142 bout with Chad Mendes. Aldo invited “The Bully” to Brazil as his style is very similar to Mendes’. Gray arrived on Wednesday and will stick around until after the event in three weeks.


(Photo courtesy of Combate.TV)

It looks like Gray Maynard will be eating Brazilian kicks and punches for Christmas in the delicacy’s native land.

The former number one UFC lightweight contender will be in Rio de Janeiro for the next few weeks to help UFC featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo prepare for his January 14 UFC 142 bout with Chad Mendes. Aldo invited “The Bully” to Brazil as his style is very similar to Mendes’. Gray arrived on Wednesday and will stick around until after the event in three weeks.

Maynard has become a Ronin of sorts since breaking away from Xtreme Couture following his loss to Frankie Edgar at UFC 136 in October, training at several gyms including American Kickboxing Academy where he is rumored to be settling at full time. Maynard maintains, however that he is still testing the training waters and hasn’t decided where he’ll set up shop for his next camp.

Until then, he’ll have to endure the third world country of Brazil where they have no Internet or buses.

Booking Roundup: Brookins vs. Yahya, Simpson vs. Markes at UFC on FUEL

(This is where we’d normally make some sort of Geico Caveman reference, but those jokes, like the commercials, have been played out to the point of eye-gouging redundancy. So, uh…beauty and the beast?)  Though they may not get your engine revving, a couple of sure-to-be-undercard bouts have been booked for the UFC’s debut on FUEL TV, […]


(This is where we’d normally make some sort of Geico Caveman reference, but those jokes, like the commercials, have been played out to the point of eye-gouging redundancy. So, uh…beauty and the beast?) 

Though they may not get your engine revving, a couple of sure-to-be-undercard bouts have been booked for the UFC’s debut on FUEL TV, the first of which being a featherweight match-up between grappling wizards Jonathan Brookins and Rani Yahya. After lateral dropping his way through season 12 of The Ultimate Fighter, Brookins recently saw a four fight win streak snapped at the hands of featherweight contender Eric Koch in a three rounder reminiscent of Couture vs. Vera that saw Brookins unable to get Koch to the mat.

Yahya, on the other hand, is likely fighting for his future in the UFC. Just 1-3 in his past four, with the lone win coming against a struggling (and last minute replacement) Mike Brown, we last saw Yahya on the losing end of a unanimous decision to Jose Aldo‘s next challenger, Chad Mendes. Prior to the Brown win, Yahya was outclassed by Takeya Mizugaki in another decision at WEC 48 and TKO’ed by future flyweight champ Joseph Benavidez at WEC 45.

Elsewhere on the card, Aaron Simpson will be looking to improve on the three fight win streak he has quietly built up over the year when he faces Ronny Markes in the Brazilian’s sophomore octagon bout. “A Train” rebounded from the only losing streak of his career (a two-fighter to Chris Leben and Mark Munoz) with three straight unanimous decisions over Mario Miranda, Brad Tavares, and Eric Schafer at UFN 24, UFC 132, and UFC 136, respectively.

Fresh off his own unanimous decision victory over Karlos Vemola in his UFC debut at UFC Live 5, Markes will be looking to derail *snicker* the veteran Simpson, which would be no new task for Markes. In his last fight before being signed by the UFC, Markes outpointed former WEC middleweight champion Paulo Filho at an IFC event in April. A win over Filho may not be what it used to, but work with me on this one.

Headlined by a welterweight bout between Jake Ellenberger and Diego Sanchez, UFC on Fuel TV is set for February 15th from the Century Link Center in Omaha, Nebraska.

You know the deal, who takes these, and how?

-Danga