Jose Aldo is defending his featherweight championship this Saturday in Houston, Texas against Kenny Florian. Florian is in his second fight at featherweight, and will face a big step up in competition against the Brazilian knockout artist. This will be…
Jose Aldo is defending his featherweight championship this Saturday in Houston, Texas against Kenny Florian. Florian is in his second fight at featherweight, and will face a big step up in competition against the Brazilian knockout artist. This will be an entertaining fight, and has big implications for the loser.
Florian’s first fight at featherweight was against Diego Nunes, and KenFlo was able to grind out a decision. He looked good at 145, and proved that it’s a weight he can hang at.
Jose Aldo won the belt back at WEC 44, and hasn’t looked back. He’s catapulted himself up the pound-for-pound rankings, while destroying everyone put in front of him.
At UFC 136 this is on the card as the co-main event, but it could turn out to be the biggest fight of the night.
Filed under: UFC, NewsHOUSTON — With a lineup full of impactful fights, UFC 136 could end up as the card of the year. Of course, the athletes have to deliver on Saturday night, but on Friday, the 22 fighters made their bouts official, as everyone made…
HOUSTON — With a lineup full of impactful fights, UFC 136 could end up as the card of the year. Of course, the athletes have to deliver on Saturday night, but on Friday, the 22 fighters made their bouts official, as everyone made weight in the last obligation before stepping into the cage.
The energy around the event is palpable, with two titles being defended as well as the return of Chael Sonnen and Brian Stann‘s rising star. In fact, it’s hard to tell what the fans are most excited about.
Clearly though, the fight with the most lead-up is the last fight of the epic rivalry between Frank “the Answer” Edgar and Gray “the Bully” Maynard. Both champion and challenger comfortably made the lightweight title fight limit, checking in at 154.5 and 155, respectively.
“I’m ready to do it,” Edgar said. “It’s been too long thinking about this kid. I’m all about the anti-bully movement. Let’s do it.”
“All the pre-fight is done,” Maynard said. “Let’s have some fun. October 8, baby. Tomorrow, I’m going to get that title.”
The featherweight showdown is nearly as anticipated, with longtime crowd favorite Kenny Florian possibly getting his last chance to capture gold. Florian has failed to deliver on two previous tries, and he is considered the underdog against Jose Aldo again on Saturday.
“It’s going to be a great fight,” he said. “It’s the fight I wanted for a long time, the fight that brought me to 145. I’ve trained too hard and suffered too much to not go home with the title tomorrow night.”
Aldo, who went through an excruciating weight cut at his last fight in April, seemed practically joyous this time around, bouncing around and smiling. Both Aldo and Florian weighed 145.
“He’s an excellent athlete but I’m very well prepared,” Aldo said through an intepreter. “Whatever he presents, I’m going to be twice as good.”
In his return to action, Chael Sonnen received a mixed reaction from the crowd, which booed him as he walked to the stage, but cheered him after he checked in at 185.5. He shared a respectful handshake with surging Brian Stann, who made 186 pounds on his second try after ditching his underwear and weighing in behind a towel.
Preliminary Card Demian Maia (185) vs. Jorge Santiago (185) Anthony Pettis (154.5) vs. Jeremy Stephens (156) Joey Beltran (245) vs. Stipe Miocic (236)
Darren Elkins (145) vs. Tiequan Zhang (146)
Eric Schafer (185.5) vs. Aaron Simpson (186)
Steve Cantwell (186) vs. Mike Massenzio (185)
HOUSTON — With a lineup full of impactful fights, UFC 136 could end up as the card of the year. Of course, the athletes have to deliver on Saturday night, but on Friday, the 22 fighters made their bouts official, as everyone made weight in the last obligation before stepping into the cage.
The energy around the event is palpable, with two titles being defended as well as the return of Chael Sonnen and Brian Stann‘s rising star. In fact, it’s hard to tell what the fans are most excited about.
Clearly though, the fight with the most lead-up is the last fight of the epic rivalry between Frank “the Answer” Edgar and Gray “the Bully” Maynard. Both champion and challenger comfortably made the lightweight title fight limit, checking in at 154.5 and 155, respectively.
“I’m ready to do it,” Edgar said. “It’s been too long thinking about this kid. I’m all about the anti-bully movement. Let’s do it.”
“All the pre-fight is done,” Maynard said. “Let’s have some fun. October 8, baby. Tomorrow, I’m going to get that title.”
The featherweight showdown is nearly as anticipated, with longtime crowd favorite Kenny Florian possibly getting his last chance to capture gold. Florian has failed to deliver on two previous tries, and he is considered the underdog against Jose Aldo again on Saturday.
“It’s going to be a great fight,” he said. “It’s the fight I wanted for a long time, the fight that brought me to 145. I’ve trained too hard and suffered too much to not go home with the title tomorrow night.”
Aldo, who went through an excruciating weight cut at his last fight in April, seemed practically joyous this time around, bouncing around and smiling. Both Aldo and Florian weighed 145.
“He’s an excellent athlete but I’m very well prepared,” Aldo said through an intepreter. “Whatever he presents, I’m going to be twice as good.”
In his return to action, Chael Sonnen received a mixed reaction from the crowd, which booed him as he walked to the stage, but cheered him after he checked in at 185.5. He shared a respectful handshake with surging Brian Stann, who made 186 pounds on his second try after ditching his underwear and weighing in behind a towel.
Preliminary Card Demian Maia (185) vs. Jorge Santiago (185) Anthony Pettis (154.5) vs. Jeremy Stephens (156) Joey Beltran (245) vs. Stipe Miocic (236)
Darren Elkins (145) vs. Tiequan Zhang (146)
Eric Schafer (185.5) vs. Aaron Simpson (186)
Steve Cantwell (186) vs. Mike Massenzio (185)
HOUSTON — With a lineup full of impactful fights, UFC 136 could end up as the card of the year. Of course, the athletes have to deliver on Saturday night, but on Friday, the 22 fighters made their bouts official, as everyone made weight in the last obligation before stepping into the cage.
The energy around the event is palpable, with two titles being defended as well as the return of Chael Sonnen and Brian Stann‘s rising star. In fact, it’s hard to tell what the fans are most excited about.
Clearly though, the fight with the most lead-up is the last fight of the epic rivalry between Frank “the Answer” Edgar and Gray “the Bully” Maynard. Both champion and challenger comfortably made the lightweight title fight limit, checking in at 154.5 and 155, respectively.
“I’m ready to do it,” Edgar said. “It’s been too long thinking about this kid. I’m all about the anti-bully movement. Let’s do it.”
“All the pre-fight is done,” Maynard said. “Let’s have some fun. October 8, baby. Tomorrow, I’m going to get that title.”
The featherweight showdown is nearly as anticipated, with longtime crowd favorite Kenny Florian possibly getting his last chance to capture gold. Florian has failed to deliver on two previous tries, and he is considered the underdog against Jose Aldo again on Saturday.
“It’s going to be a great fight,” he said. “It’s the fight I wanted for a long time, the fight that brought me to 145. I’ve trained too hard and suffered too much to not go home with the title tomorrow night.”
Aldo, who went through an excruciating weight cut at his last fight in April, seemed practically joyous this time around, bouncing around and smiling. Both Aldo and Florian weighed 145.
“He’s an excellent athlete but I’m very well prepared,” Aldo said through an intepreter. “Whatever he presents, I’m going to be twice as good.”
In his return to action, Chael Sonnen received a mixed reaction from the crowd, which booed him as he walked to the stage, but cheered him after he checked in at 185.5. He shared a respectful handshake with surging Brian Stann, who made 186 pounds on his second try after ditching his underwear and weighing in behind a towel.
Preliminary Card Demian Maia (185) vs. Jorge Santiago (185) Anthony Pettis (154.5) vs. Jeremy Stephens (156) Joey Beltran (245) vs. Stipe Miocic (236)
Darren Elkins (145) vs. Tiequan Zhang (146)
Eric Schafer (185.5) vs. Aaron Simpson (186)
Steve Cantwell (186) vs. Mike Massenzio (185)
Kenny Florian gets his shot at featherweight king and pound-for-pound star Jose Aldo tomorrow night at UFC 136 in Houston. The champ is a large favorite going into the fight and the question is, can Florian pull off the upset? There is one major advant…
Kenny Florian gets his shot at featherweight king and pound-for-pound star Jose Aldo tomorrow night at UFC 136 in Houston. The champ is a large favorite going into the fight and the question is, can Florian pull off the upset?
There is one major advantage I see for Florian in this one and that is his coaching, camp and ability to game plan to victory. Aldo is the superior fighter in skill alone, but Florian has a very solid MMA machine behind him, and that help and experience is his key to victory.
If Florian can stick to, and execute, the game plan his team sets out for him, he most certainly can pull off the upset tomorrow night. We have seen Florian work a strategy in all his big fights but not always to success.
I see him trying to smother Aldo to the cage and the ground in order to nullify the power which Aldo possesses. Florian won his featherweight debut in this fashion as well.
After standing with Diego Nunes early and not getting the upper hand, he shifted to the jab, take downs and grappling control to pour it on and take the fight. If he couldn’t get the upper hand standing with Nunes, he certainly won’t with Aldo so look for Florian to wrestle.
I think Aldo will push him off and try to keep distance all night. He will use his strikes and power to win, but don’t be completely surprised if Florian “GSPs” his way to the upset.
If Aldo wins by employing his strategy, we are in for a very fun fight to watch. If Florian can impose his will, it will be a disappointing fight for the fans to watch but a satisfying upset for Florian.
Dwight Wakabayashi is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA and (also a Correspondent for MMACanada.net)
All 22 fighters at UFC 136 will step onto the scale at the UFC 136 weigh-ins Friday afternoon, and we’ll carry the live video right here at MMAFighting.com.
UFC 136 features two title fights, with lightweights Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard needing to weigh in at the 155-pound limit, and featherweights Jose Aldo and Kenny Florian needing to make 145 pounds.
The UFC 136 weigh-in begins at 5 PM ET and the video is below.
All 22 fighters at UFC 136 will step onto the scale at the UFC 136 weigh-ins Friday afternoon, and we’ll carry the live video right here at MMAFighting.com.
UFC 136 features two title fights, with lightweights Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard needing to weigh in at the 155-pound limit, and featherweights Jose Aldo and Kenny Florian needing to make 145 pounds.
The UFC 136 weigh-in begins at 5 PM ET and the video is below.
Jose Aldo grew up playing soccer, but transitioned to MMA when his love of brawling with rival teams began to overcome his love of scoring goals. His UFC 136 opponent Kenny Florian took his passion for soccer all the way to a position on the Boston College varsity team. Tomorrow night, they’ll be trying to kick each other, in a real sport. As this is a championship fight, their soccer-juggling showdown should have really gone five rounds. But I have a feeling it would have been an even bigger blowout if Aldo didn’t grab the fence in the third. A sign of things to come? [Ed. note: No.]
Jose Aldo grew up playing soccer, but transitioned to MMA when his love of brawling with rival teams began to overcome his love of scoring goals. His UFC 136 opponent Kenny Florian took his passion for soccer all the way to a position on the Boston College varsity team. Tomorrow night, they’ll be trying to kick each other, in a real sport. As this is a championship fight, their soccer-juggling showdown should have really gone five rounds. But I have a feeling it would have been an even bigger blowout if Aldo didn’t grab the fence in the third. A sign of things to come? [Ed. note: No.]
HOUSTON — With a lineup full of impactful fights, 
All 22 fighters at