Tag: Jose Aldo vs. Max Holloway

Coach Explains Why Jose Aldo Couldn’t Kick At UFC 212

Earlier this month (June 3, 2017), Jose Aldo surrendered his featherweight title in the main event of UFC 212 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, suffering a third round TKO loss to Max Holloway. Aldo had success in the first two rounds landing big shots, but after the bout many had wondered why the Brazilian strayed […]

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Earlier this month (June 3, 2017), Jose Aldo surrendered his featherweight title in the main event of UFC 212 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, suffering a third round TKO loss to Max Holloway.

Jason Silva for USA TODAY Sports

Aldo had success in the first two rounds landing big shots, but after the bout many had wondered why the Brazilian strayed away from using his patented leg kicks.

According to his longtime coach Andre Pederneiras, Aldo had suffered a leg injury in training that limited his attack:

“Every fight the athlete enters he has some kind of injury, and Aldo is no different, he has his,” Pederneiras told FOX Fight Club (Via MMFighting.com) Many people asked why he didn’t kick. Aldo has a leg injury, so he couldn’t throw kicks or run during his entire camp. That doesn’t take anything away from Max Holloway’s win, we don’t want to say that. We would go back between rounds and the crowd said ‘tell him to kick,’ but we, the cornermen, were the only aware of it. We avoided the kicks because of this injury. We were afraid it would strain his muscle. We could train his kicks a bit in the last week, but we didn’t force it too much. We believed that, the way he was going (in training), he would be able to win with his boxing. And that was happening.”

While Aldo is a vicious striker, Holloway is also well-versed on the feet, which is why many expected Aldo to possibly take the fight to the ground. Pederneiras admitted that Aldo worked specifically on his boxing and his wrestling during camp because of his injury, but he said that “Scarface” decided not to shoot in for takedowns after having success on the feet early on:

“He spent his entire camp working on his boxing and his takedown, his ground game,” Pederneiras said. “Since Aldo felt well standing in the first rounds, he decided not to go for takedowns, but (Holloway’s) punch landed and everything changed.”

The loss to Holloway marked the second TKO loss for Aldo in his last three bouts, and his fighting future is currently unclear, although he did say that he would be back in the aftermath of UFC 212.

Holloway, on the other hand, extended his winning streak to an incredible 11 straight with his UFC 212 victory. The 25-year-old Hawaiian champion now has some interesting options awaiting him, as top contenders Frankie Edgar and Cub Swanson have both been campaigning for title shots. Holloway has already beaten Swanson, as has Edgar, so the fight to make seems to be a clash between “Blessed” and “The Answer”.

Either way, the featherweight division seems to be in a good place moving forward with Holloway at the helm after being held up by Conor McGregor over the last few years.

What do you make of Pederneiras’ comments and who would you like to see Holloway take on next?

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Anderson Silva Sends Positive Message To ‘Brother” Jose Aldo

Anderson Silva is no stranger to falling from grace. The 42-year-old former longtime middleweight champion defended his 185-pound title a record-setting 10 consecutive times before being shockingly knocked out by Chris Weidman at UFC 162 in 2013. While many still consider him to be the greatest fighter of all-time, Silva has since gone just 1-3-1. […]

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Anderson Silva is no stranger to falling from grace.

The 42-year-old former longtime middleweight champion defended his 185-pound title a record-setting 10 consecutive times before being shockingly knocked out by Chris Weidman at UFC 162 in 2013. While many still consider him to be the greatest fighter of all-time, Silva has since gone just 1-3-1.

For this reason, Silva can relate to fellow Brazilian Jose Aldo, a man many consider to be the best featherweight to have ever graced the Octagon. Aldo, however, has suffered two stoppage losses in his last three bouts, losing his title via third round TKO to Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 212 this past weekend (June 3, 2017) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Silva took to his official Instagram account to offer his ‘brother’ some positive words:

Meu irmão. Você é muito maior de que qualquer batalha, a sua história nos da a plena certeza de que você é um grande herói, um grande campeão, sou e sempre serei seu fã meu irmão. O que você tem de mais precioso vai muito além. Lógico que estávamos todos torcendo por você e pela sua vitória, mais não se cobre e nem deixe ninguém cobrar de você irmão, pois você é fantástico no que faz e faz com amor e com seu coração, não esqueça de quem você é e o quanto você faz a diferença nesse esporte, você mudou a vida de muita gente, você é motivo de vitória e de superação pelo exemplo que se tornou, mantenha sempre a cabeça erguida DEUS está no controle sempre. Você é um grande campeão, ninguém pode tirar essa história de você, ninguém; batalha são ganhas e outras perdidas, mas a guerra nunca. Você é um gigante, não veio a este mundo por acaso você é Ze Aldo. Nosso Ze Aldo. Não esqueça irmão, DEUS te abençoe sempre guerreiro . “Isso é o que somos até o fim dos nossos dias, anos e aqueles como nós meu amigo, muito poucos.” . My brother. You are much bigger than any battle, your story gives us the full assurance that you are a great hero, a great champion, I am and I will always be your fan, brother. What you have most precious goes far beyond. Of course we were all rooting for you and for your victory, but do not cover yourself or let anyone charge you brother, because you are fantastic in what you do and do with love and with your heart, do not forget who you are and how much You make a difference in this sport, you have changed the lives of many people, you are cause for victory and overcoming by the example that has become, always keep your head up God is always in control. You are a great champion, no one can take this story from you, no one; Battle is won and other losses, but never war. You are a giant, did not come to this world by chance you are Ze Aldo. Our Ze Aldo. Do not forget brother, GOD bless you always warrior. “That is what we are to the end of our days, and those like us my friend, very few.”

A post shared by Anderson “The Spider” Silva (@spiderandersonsilva) on

Where do you think Aldo should go from here?

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Frankie Edgar Calls Out Max Holloway For Title Fight

Max Holloway became the undisputed UFC featherweight champion this past weekend (June 3, 2017) after knocking out Jose Aldo in the main event of UFC 212 from Rio de Janeiro. Now just days removed from his title winning performance, “Blessed” already has a few challengers chomping at the bit to face him, most notably Frankie […]

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Max Holloway became the undisputed UFC featherweight champion this past weekend (June 3, 2017) after knocking out Jose Aldo in the main event of UFC 212 from Rio de Janeiro. Now just days removed from his title winning performance, “Blessed” already has a few challengers chomping at the bit to face him, most notably Frankie Edgar and Cub Swanson.

Swanson, who was submitted by both Holloway and Edgar in 2014 and 2015, has compiled four consecutive victories and recently campaigned for a title shot that has eluded him throughout his career.

Edgar, however, has won back-to-back fights over Jeremy Stepehens and Yair Rodriguez after losing to Aldo for a second time last summer and feels as if the fight to make is him vs. Holloway:

“The cards fell in my favor, so here we go, let’s set up Holloway vs. Edgar,” Edgar said on a recent appearance on “The MMA Hour.”

Edgar admitted that nothing is official as of yet, although he feels as if there’s ‘no one that makes more sense’ than himself to be the next 145-pound title challenger:

“Not officially, you see everything is trending that way it seems like, but nothing official,” Edgar said. “There’s no one that makes more sense than me and no one that’s done what they’ve done like what I’ve done to get it.”

As far as Swanson, who’s currently ranked No. 4 in the division, goes, Edgar simply doesn’t see how he’s in contention for a title shot:

“I just don’t see how he’s in consideration,” Edgar said. “Since me and Cub fought, I’ve fought nothing but Top 10, Top 5 guys and I don’t think he’s fought anybody in the Top 10 … and he’s also lost to Max. So I don’t see how that’s even a thing to even compare to. Cub’s a great fighter, but this is how it goes and you have to put yourself on the line every time … and I do that.”

Who would you like to see Holloway make the first defense of his title against?

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Jose Aldo Releases Statement On Fighting Future

Longtime former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo’s future in the notoriously brutal competition of MMA was thrown into upheaval when surging 25-year-old interim champ Max Holloway stopped him with a relentless third-round onslaught in the main event of last Saturday’s UFC 212 from the Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The loss, which ranks as Aldo’s […]

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Longtime former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo’s future in the notoriously brutal competition of MMA was thrown into upheaval when surging 25-year-old interim champ Max Holloway stopped him with a relentless third-round onslaught in the main event of last Saturday’s UFC 212 from the Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The loss, which ranks as Aldo’s second knockout defeat in his last three fights, was a shocking one both for his legions of Brazilian faithful and the all-time legend himself, as he had only regained the interim belt from Frankie Edgar at UFC 200 last year, which eventually became the official belt when the UFC stripped Conor McGregor for not defending the title he won by knocking out “Junior” at UFC 194 in late 2015.

Many predicted a decision win for Aldo in what was supposed to be business as usual for the man who still feel is the best 145-pound of all-time, but it was anything but once Holloway found his footing towards the end of the second frame after Aldo won the majority of the opening two rounds. Aldo is only 30 years old, but the images of him bloodied and dejected prompted many fight fans, perhaps very prematurely, to call for Aldo’s retirement from fighting.

That’s going to be far from the case, however, as Aldo released a statement on his official Instagram account declaring that he would rise up from the loss and fight yet again:

In the translation of his post via MMA Fighting, Aldo thanked his trainers and fans for their hard work and support, adding that he would get up from loss and be back:

“Be content to act, and leave the talking to others” – Baltasar Gracian

I only have to thank my ‘dad’ Andre Pederneiras, the best team in the world, Nova Uniao, because if it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be the people’s champion, and (thank) all my trainers, who did a super well done job and got me ready, and all my fans who are always with me, here’s my love and my thank you. I’m speechless with all the love I’ve received until today, and every word you send to me. Thank you.

The rest, fuck it, because I’ll come back, because we go down so we can get back up!! That’s it!! We’ll be back!!

After a tumultuous couple of years facing a new crop of featherweight challengers – namely McGregor and Holloway – that forced Aldo out of his comfort zone with their longer frames and finish-focused striking, the former champ could look to reinvent himself at lightweight as he’s teased for so many years. The less taxing weight cut could certainly hep him perform more up to his talents as he gets older, but he would obviously have a size disadvantage.

He could also attempt to win back the UFC featherweight title yet again, something that wouldn’t be a surprise to see him attempt after he reigned over 145 pounds for so long. But, as many have also suggested, he may have to get back to his onetime bread-and-butter strategy of utilizing his feared leg kicks.

Where should Aldo go from here?

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Coach: Jose Aldo Didn’t Use All His Weapons At UFC 212

Attempting to defend his UFC featherweight title, Jose Aldo took on surging contender Max Holloway in the main event of this past weekend’s (June 3, 2017) UFC 212 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Aldo started off strong, possibly winning the first two rounds, but he then ended up on the wrong end of a brutal […]

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Attempting to defend his UFC featherweight title, Jose Aldo took on surging contender Max Holloway in the main event of this past weekend’s (June 3, 2017) UFC 212 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Aldo started off strong, possibly winning the first two rounds, but he then ended up on the wrong end of a brutal combination from Holloway in the third round that sent him crashing to the canvas. “Blessed” followed up with a flurry of strikes, forcing the referee to step in and stop the fight.

Aldo’s longtime head coach Andre Pederneiras said that he was content with the stoppage despite the fact that Aldo felt as if it was early:

“He thought Big John stopped it early, but I don’t have the same opinion,” Pederneiras told Combate. “I’m sure that, when he watches the video, he will change his mind. I saw no way how he would recover in the fourth round after so many punches to the head. It would be hard Holloway not to hunt him after that.”

After watching the fight unfold, many had wondered why Aldo didn’t throw more of his patented leg kicks. Speaking on that topic, Pederneiras admits that “Scarface” didn’t use all of his weapons:

“Holloway started to feel more confident in the end of the second round,” Pederneiras said. “He was more confident, but Aldo was fine. I said it was 2-0, that he should breathe, and I gave him the instruction about the left hand that was low. It was clear that Holloway’s game was over his low left hand.

“I think Aldo didn’t do some things that we trained, like takedowns, for an example. And when you don’t use all your weapons, it gets complicated. Many people asked why he didn’t kicked, but, considering Holloway’s stance in the fight, there was the risk of Aldo throwing a kick and falling back down.”

After suffering his second stoppage loss in his last three fights, Aldo’s future is currently unclear. Pederneiras didn’t have a clear answer as to what’s next for the now former champion, but he doesn’t feel as if we’ve seen the end of Aldo either:

“You have to put your head in the pillow and relax, because the athlete can’t make any decisions after a loss like this. Nothing good ever comes out,” Pederneiras said. “He will play foot volley and relax. We’ll talk later. He’ll go on a vacation and relax. Actually, Aldo has a really good head. There was the (Conor) McGregor loss and right after he had the title fight with Frankie (Edgar), he went there and delivered. When he has his head well, he’ll come back to win.

“Max had a great achievement for the division, defeating an athlete who’s there for a long time, UFC champion, and I believe his next fight will be against Frankie Edgar. If Frankie wins, Aldo is back in a title fight, especially because he already beat him twice.”

What do you make of Pederneiras’ assessment of Aldo’s performance?

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Joe Rogan Says Conor McGregor Is The Greatest 145-Pounder Ever

Following several years of Jose Aldo being the consensus best featherweight in MMA – even after Conor McGregor knocked him out – a shocking change of the guard took place at last night’s UFC 212 from Rio de Janeiro when 25-year-old Max Holloway survived an early storm from Aldo to batter and brutalize the illustrious […]

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Following several years of Jose Aldo being the consensus best featherweight in MMA – even after Conor McGregor knocked him out – a shocking change of the guard took place at last night’s UFC 212 from Rio de Janeiro when 25-year-old Max Holloway survived an early storm from Aldo to batter and brutalize the illustrious champion on his way to a merciful third-round stoppage.

The bloody stoppage in Aldo’s hometown most certainly dealt a blow to his status as the widely accepted featherweight G.O.A.T., although many still believe that two losses don’t take away his accomplishments at 145 pounds.

However, not everyone agrees with that.

Speaking up on his “Joe Rogan Experience” podcast during UFC 212, octagon commentator Joe Rogan insisted McGregor was indeed the best featherweight of all time because he knocked out the man who most consider to be the best:

“I’ve got to say Conor is the greatest 145-pounder of all time cause he knocked out Aldo, who was clearly the greatest. But in terms of who’s got more victories, of course it’s Aldo. The problem is, we’re not doing MMA math here; you’re having two guys actually fight each other. So if you said who is the greatest of all time? Well, it would have to be Aldo because he beat all these guys; no, no no, because the two of them fought and Conor merked him. So you’ve to give it to him. Otherwise there’s no other metric. There’s no other metric other than a knockout.”

Harsh reality as it may be, Rogan at least has a strong argument for making the case that McGregor, who is currently the lightweight champion but pursuing a long-rumored boxing super fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr., is the best 145-pound MMA competitor of all time, even if he never competes in the division again.

Holloway’s destruction of Aldo last night may certainly sway some opinions because it removed another substantial piece of the invincible aura Aldo once boasted as champ.

Rogan still acknowledged there would be a backlash to his words, noting that Aldo’s body of work was the more impressive one and there would always be a shadow of doubt over McGregor’s featherweight tenure because he fought for the title once, won it, and left the division:

“People will fight against it; ‘No, because Aldo was the champion for so many years’. You’re one hundred percent right. His body of work is much more impressive and there’s always going to be an asterisk next to Conor because that was just this one time he fought for the title at 145, KO’d Aldo and was like, ‘ya’ll be cool. I’m out of here.’”

Rogan summed up his stance by reaffirming his belief that McGregor was the best ever because of his KO win over Aldo, the one single aspect of his UFC run that makes him overtake the long run at the top of Aldo:

“He’s the best ever. You have to say he’s the best ever even if he never fights featherweight again. Why? Because he KO’d the best ever. The reality is Aldo’s the best ever but Conor KO’d him. You couldn’t say without the Aldo fight that Conor was the best ever. Because if you look at all the different people that both of them fought, you’re like wow it’s really close, it’s really interesting, Aldo has more fights. But once they actually fight, that’s it. That’s all that matters. It’s not MMA math. So you’ve got to give it to him.”

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