Jose Aldo isn’t done yet and his first-round TKO win over Jeremy Stephens proves it.
The co-main event of UFC Calgary featured a featherweight clash between Aldo and Stephens. The former featherweight king and “Lil Heathen” collided inside the Scotia Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. This was Aldo’s first non-title bout in the UFC.
Stephens went high with a kick early but it was blocked. Both men seemed to respect each other’s skills in the standup. Stephens connected with a knee to the body. Stephens went to the leg kicks, but Aldo soon returned fire.
Aldo landed an uppercut. Stephens landed a punch and an uppercut. A cut formed under the right eye of Stephens. Aldo fired off a leg kick. A straight right hand landed for Aldo. He dropped Stephens with a huge body shot. Also rained down punches and the fight was stopped.
Final Result: Jose Aldo def. Jeremy Stephens via TKO (strikes) – R1, 4:19
The stage is set for tomorrow’s packed (Sat., July 28, 2018) UFC on FOX 30 from the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
The card features a crucial lightweight showdown between No. 3 Eddie Alvarez and No. 4 Dustin Poirier while legendary former featherweight king Jose Aldo meets surging vet Jeremy Stephens in the co-main event.
All of the fighters made weight at today’s official early weigh-ins, so all that’s left is for the fighters to square off at the ceremonial weigh-ins before the action gets heated up in Calgary tomorrow night.
Watch the video streaming live at 8 p.m. EST below:
Jeremy Stephens feels for the recent health struggles of UFC featherweight champ Max Holloway.
“The Blessed One” was forced out of his scheduled UFC 226 co-headliner slot against Brian Ortega due to concussion-like symptoms. The described symptoms Holloway suffered during fight week really scared a lot of mixed martial arts (MMA) fans.
While Holloway and Ortega’s futures in the division remain unclear, the 145-pound division roles on. Tomorrow night (Sat. July 28, 2018) Jeremy Stephens and Jose Aldo will co-headline the UFC on FOX 30 card from Calgary.
Stephens spoke to MMA Junkie about Holloway’s health scare and mentioned he actually has a solid friendship with the Hawaiian champ. Stephens flew Holloway out to work with him as he prepared for his fight with Anthony Pettis back in 2011.
“Lil Heathen” said he cares about Holloway and feels for the 145-pound champ’s health concerns:
“I actually flew the kid out a long time ago when I was fighting (Anthony) Pettis, and I have a relationship with that guy,” Stephens said.
“I ended up fighting him, and it was just weird all in a sense. I actually care about the kid, I like the kid. If he was to stop fighting today I could look back and go, ‘Man, he’s probably happy.’ Look at his win streak. He’s talented. He went and got the belt.
“Health-wise, I feel for him. I definitely think about that stuff because this is a very violent sport. That type of injury – everyone is just calling out what they think happened. No one really knows, but they know it ain’t good. That’s not cool.”
While Stephens may care for Holloway’s health, that doesn’t change his intentions to capture the 145-pound gold belt that rests comfortably around the Hawaiian’s waist. Stephens said that if he and Holloway ever shared the Octagon again he’s coming to kill:
“If we go to fight again, I’m going to cut off everything and go to my alter-ego and go kill him,” Stephens said.
The creation of interim titles continues to be a topic in mixed martial arts these days.
Many have never been a fan of the interim title. But there was a time, not too long ago, when the fighter holding that title was all but guaranteed a shot at the real title. Such is not the case any longer.
Interim welterweight champion Colby Covington didn’t just get passed over in favor of Darren Till, but all signs point to the cocky Amercian being stripped of his interim strap as well. Leading fighters, coaches, and fans alike to continue to question the validity of the fake belts.
Eddie Alvarez has captured championships in every promotion he has competed in during his Hall of Fame career. He’s also been vocal about his feeling on the interim title picture and reiterated his stance about the fake belts during media day for UFC on FOX 30 (via MMA Fighting), where he will fight Dustin Poirier in the main event.
“They’re meaningless,” Alvarez said. “They’re used as a point of leverage for the promotion. They mean absolutely nothing, it’s proven. The media should talk about it a little more, it’s proven that an interim title means zilch. They give ‘em to a fighter, they take it from them. It’s a way for the promotion to leverage, that’s it. They mean nothing. And for a fighter to put any value behind it is foolish.”
Several other fighters competing on this weekend’s (July 28, 2018) main card including Poirier were also on hand during media day to voice their concerns on the interim title debate as well.
“I want to fight for the real belt, not the interim title,” said Poirier when asked his opinion on the make-believe title. “I want to beat Eddie and fight for the real belt. I believe interim titles are necessary when a champ is out for a long period of time, but giving them out like they have been, I think that’s kind of crazy. If a champ has to take a long layoff then I think that’s the only time interim titles should be introduced to the division.”
Poirier added, “I’m not trying to be second best, I want the real thing.”
Out of the eight fighters competing on the main card this weekend only two-time featherweight champ Jose Aldo knows what it feels like to hold an interim title.
Speaking to the media in Portuguese via a translator Aldo said, “It is extremely frustrating that you don’t really have the control of where you are going or what path you have to take to get where you want to be, but I guess it’s a little bit more about what you do outside of the cage on top of what you do in there. So the sporting side of things isn’t necessarily going to get you to where you want to be.”
One suggested the remedy to the interim title situation would be to open up additional weight classes, a sentiment echoed by “The Canadian Gangster” Olivier Aubin-Mercier.
“I think it’s time to have a 165 and a 175 category right now,” said Aubin-Mercier ahead of his upcoming bout with Alexander Hernandez. “It would do a lot of good for the UFC. First, it would get rid of a lot of fake champions — it’s not because they’re not good, it’s because they’re not real, it’s not the real champion.”
For all the negativity swirling around the interim title debate heading into UFC FOX 30, there was one fighter on hand during media day that couldn’t care less. Providing the fake title brings in real championship paychecks.
“Interim titles, I think you get paid the same as you would the regular title, so any chance I get to make that type of money, bring it on,” said Jeremy Stephens, who fights Aldo on Saturday. “I’ll accept the challenge.”
The interim title debate rages on. Let us know what you think.
The UFC returns to FOX this weekend (July 28, 2018) with one of the best main card offerings since signing their TV deal with the network back in 2011.
The Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada will host this weekend’s event that will feature three former UFC champions on the main card. Former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez will rematch “The Diamond” Dustin Poirier in the evening’s main event.
Former longtime featherweight king Jose Aldo will take on surging veteran Jeremy Stephens in the co-main event. Former strawweight champ Joanna J?drzejczyk will fight Tecia Torres, while Olivier Aubin-Mercier will meet Alexander Hernandez in a pivotal lightweight showdown.
Let us take a deeper look at the four-fight main card:
MMA Junkie / USA Today Sports
Eddie Alvarez vs. Dustin Poirier
If we learned anything from the first time these two collided back at UFC 211, it is that neither of these guys has an ounce of quit in them.
At 34 years old, Alvarez may not be the fighter that was once considered the best lightweight outside of the UFC. That being said, “The Underground King” has had something of a career resurgence as of late and looks to continue his path back to the lightweight title against Poirier.
“The Diamond,” however, has different ideas. The 29-year-old Poirier is riding a three-fight win streak and looks to make it four straight against the former champ at UFC FOX 30. The Lafayette, Louisiana, native has turned a lot of heads in his rise to the top of the lightweight division and looks to continue his ascent to the title against Alvarez.
This one should be a war like their first match-up was, with tons of damage being landed on both sides. In the end, I think Poirier rides his recent momentum to a hard-fought victory.
Prediction: Dustin Poirier def. Eddie Alvarez via split decision
Jose Aldo vs Jeremy Stephens
Jose Aldo is the questioned GOAT of the featherweight division. The Brazilian held the UFC title for over four years, a feat that is almost unheard of in MMA.
Be that as it may, Aldo has been in some wars during his tenure as champ, and although he is only 31 years old, his body has accumulated far more wear and tear than his age would lead you to believe.
Stephens, on the other hand, is 32 years old and has experienced a second-half resurgence of his career that few fighters ever see. “Lil Heathen” will look to make it four straight wins against Aldo and in so doing setting himself up for a title shot in the near future.
This is another fight that could be a striking war. Stephens appears to have a lot more confidence and momentum at this point in his career, and we just don’t know what Aldo has left after three knockout losses in his last four fights.
Prediction: Jeremy Stephens def. Jose Aldo via round one KO
Joanna J?drzejczyk vs. Tecia Torres
Thought to be by far the best strawweight fighter in the world during her decorated run as champion, Jedrzejczyk is on a quest to redeem herself and win back the 115-pound strap.
If J?drzejczyk is to get a third match-up with current division champion Rose Namajunas she must first get past a “Tiny Tornado”. Torres enters UFC FOX 30 on a one-fight skid. However, she believes that an impressive victory over J?drzejczyk will put her right back in title contention.
Be that as it may, this should be Jedrzejczyk’s fight to lose. She owns a decided advantage over Torres on the feet – and over most of the women dcompeting in the strawweight division – so expect her to outwork Torres on her way to a clear-cut decision win.
Prediction: Joanna J?drzejczyk def. Tecia Torres via unanimous decision
Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports
Alexander Hernandez vs. Olivier Aubin-Mercier
Hernandez made quick work Beneil Dariush in his debut at UFC 222, finishing the veteran in just 42 seconds. “The Great” boasts a 9-1 record, and he is riding a seven-fight win streak. At just 25 years old the future looks bright for this Texas native.
Olivier Aubin-Mercier is tasked with derailing the young fighter’s hype train at UFC FOX 30. “The Quebec Kid” has won seven of his last eight fights and a win over Hernandez could cement his place in the top 10 of the lightweight division.
This one is a bit of a classic striker vs. grappler match-up, with Aubin-Mercier obviously attempting to clinch and get the fight to the ground while Hernandez will be looking to strike and score the KO. I think the massively powerful “Great” will be able to impose his gameplan more effectively.
Prediction: Alexander Hernandez def. Olivier Aubin-Mercier via round one TKO
Jeremy Stephens has a lot on his mind these days but worrying about Jose Aldo retiring from mixed martial arts isn’t one of them. In the lead up to their featherweight clash on Saturday night, Aldo has spoken openly about his career coming to an …
Jeremy Stephens has a lot on his mind these days but worrying about Jose Aldo retiring from mixed martial arts isn’t one of them. In the lead up to their featherweight clash on Saturday night, Aldo has spoken openly about his career coming to an end with the conclusion of his current deal with the […]
