Tag: UFC 169

The Unsupportable Opinion: With a Victory at UFC 169, Jose Aldo Should Earn the Next Lightweight Title Shot


(Or at least a weekend trip for two to lovely Bahia.)

By Adam Martin

Two judges screwed up the UFC’s plans this past weekend, but it may ultimately be for the best.

When Sal D’Amato and Brian Puccillo decided that Benson Henderson did enough to earn a split decision victory over Josh Thomson in the main event of UFC on FOX 10, the lightweight division had a wrench thrown into it. Had he received the judges’ decision, Thomson was already confirmed by UFC president Dana White as the next title challenger for currently-injured UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis.

“Showtime” has stated that he wants to return in July and his timeline would have matched up well with Thomson’s. Not only that, but Thomson had been scheduled to fight Pettis back at UFC on FOX 9 before the titleholder pulled out with an injury. Many thought Thomson got that fight with Pettis more due to timing than anything else, but had he defeated the former champion this past weekend, Thomson would have truly earned his title shot.

But then Henderson had his hand raised. As soon as that happened, the UFC lightweight division had to be rejigged because Henderson has already lost to Pettis twice and isn’t anywhere close to getting a trilogy fight with him. The other top contender, TJ Grant, has been out since last summer with post-concussion symptoms and isn’t even training yet, so he’s out of the picture. Nate Diaz, who has been vocal on Twitter about wanting a title shot, isn’t getting one anytime soon because c’mon. Former Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez is still out there, but it’s hard to say he deserves a title shot just because he defeated Diego Sanchez at UFC 166, even if his resume is amongst the absolute finest in the division. There’s also guys like Rafael Dos Anjos, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Donald Cerrone and Jim Miller, but none of them are deserving of a crack at the crown right now.

Cue Jose Aldo.


(Or at least a weekend trip for two to lovely Bahia.)

By Adam Martin

Two judges screwed up the UFC’s plans this past weekend, but it may ultimately be for the best.

When Sal D’Amato and Brian Puccillo decided that Benson Henderson did enough to earn a split decision victory over Josh Thomson in the main event of UFC on FOX 10, the lightweight division had a wrench thrown into it. Had he received the judges’ decision, Thomson was already confirmed by UFC president Dana White as the next title challenger for currently-injured UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis.

“Showtime” has stated that he wants to return in July and his timeline would have matched up well with Thomson’s. Not only that, but Thomson had been scheduled to fight Pettis back at UFC on FOX 9 before the titleholder pulled out with an injury. Many thought Thomson got that fight with Pettis more due to timing than anything else, but had he defeated the former champion this past weekend, Thomson would have truly earned his title shot.

But then Henderson had his hand raised. As soon as that happened, the UFC lightweight division had to be rejigged because Henderson has already lost to Pettis twice and isn’t anywhere close to getting a trilogy fight with him. The other top contender, TJ Grant, has been out since last summer with post-concussion symptoms and isn’t even training yet, so he’s out of the picture. Nate Diaz, who has been vocal on Twitter about wanting a title shot, isn’t getting one anytime soon because c’mon. Former Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez is still out there, but it’s hard to say he deserves a title shot just because he defeated Diego Sanchez at UFC 166, even if his resume is amongst the absolute finest in the division. There’s also guys like Rafael Dos Anjos, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Donald Cerrone and Jim Miller, but none of them are deserving of a crack at the crown right now.

Cue Jose Aldo.

This weekend at UFC 169, Aldo puts his UFC featherweight title on the line for the sixth time in the Octagon when he takes on Ricardo Lamas in the event’s co-headliner. Should Aldo win, he would be on a 17-fight win streak which would include six defenses of the UFC featherweight championship as well as two defences of the old WEC featherweight title. He’s beaten everyone the UFC and WEC has thrown at him, including former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar, Urijah Faber, Chad Mendes, Kenny Florian, and TUF 12 winner Jonathan Brookins. That’s a resume that ranks amongst the very best in the entire sport, especially when it comes to the lighter-weight divisions. If Aldo beats Lamas this weekend at UFC 169, there is literally no one left for him to fight in the UFC featherweight division.

And that’s why, with a win at UFC 169, Aldo should move up to lightweight and be the next challenger for Pettis.

Pettis and Aldo match up extremely well with one another. They are each the best strikers in their respective divisions, and both are amongst the most exciting finishers in the sport. Don’t forget they were supposed to fight last summer at UFC 163 for Aldo’s featherweight title before Pettis pulled out with an injury (an unfortunate theme with him). That fight was highly anticipated by hardcore fans, no doubt, but it was strange that Pettis would be moving down to 145, a division he had never fought at before, when he was considered by many to be the best lightweight in the world.

So, in a way, it may be a blessing in disguise that the fight never took place, because now that Pettis is a champion at lightweight and Aldo still has his belt at 145, the UFC can promote a true superfight between two active champs, something that hasn’t happened since UFC 94.

In 2014, the UFC has very few stars. And by stars, I meant guys/girls who move the needle. Their No. 1 moneyman, former UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre, recently announced an indefinite hiatus from the sport and gave up his title. He’s now at odds with the promotion over their mediocre drug testing. Anderson Silva, the No. 2 guy, had his leg snapped in half on Chris Weidman’s kneecap at UFC 168 and figures to be out most of the year despite White insisting that he will return before the calendar year is over. Former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar, who hasn’t competed since 2011, seems content to do professional wrestling and isn’t likely to return anytime soon.

The only big stars the UFC has right now are UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey, and former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort. Former UFC light/welterweight champion BJ Penn will return to the Octagon this summer 10 pounds lighter and figures to draw as well. It’s also possible that Nick Diaz could mount a comeback, and that’s a guy who always moves the needle. But other than that, there really aren’t any elite draws.

The UFC doesn’t just need a star, though. They need a superstar. And that’s exactly what the winner of the Pettis vs. Aldo fight would be – a bonafide superstar that the UFC could market as one of the very best athletes on the planet, especially if their fight is exciting and especially if it ends in a devastating finish. So the UFC has to strike while the iron is hot, and they have to figure out a way to make this match.

This is what I propose: For the UFC’s annual 4th of July weekend event in Las Vegas, Aldo should fight Pettis in the main event for the UFC lightweight title. Aldo will still be the UFC featherweight champion (barring a Ricardo Lamas upset), but if he defeats Pettis he must relinquish the belt and move up to 155 permanently. Should he lose, however, Aldo moves back to 145 and is still the champion.

Since there is a very real possibility that Aldo beats Pettis, an interim title would be created for the 145-pound division. The UFC featherweight division can’t just sit around and wait to see what happens with Aldo. The division has to move on, and so the right thing to do is to schedule an interim title fight between Chad Mendes and Cub Swanson, two fighters who already lost to Aldo but who are very much deserving of a featherweight title shot at the moment. The fight would also be a rematch of their WEC bout that Mendes won via decision, which adds another interesting wrinkle.

Should Aldo defeat Pettis and become the UFC lightweight champion, the winner of the Mendes vs. Swanson fight would be promoted to undisputed UFC featherweight champion. But if Aldo loses to Pettis, Aldo would come back and fight the Mendes vs. Swanson winner to unify the 145-pound belts. Either way, the UFC wins, Aldo wins, and the top contenders at 145 aren’t just sitting around waiting for Aldo. I’m not normally a fan of interim titles, but in this situation it is warranted.

The UFC said that 2013 was going to be the year of the superfight, but the only big match between cross-divisional rivals that we got to see was Aldo vs. Edgar. We never got to see GSP vs. Silva, and Jones never moved up to fight Velasquez. But in 2014, the UFC can stick to their promise from last year and put together a true superfight between the UFC lightweight champion and the UFC featherweight champion.

It all depends on Aldo winning this weekend, of course, but if he does there is absolutely no reason the UFC shouldn’t put this fight together. They can’t blow it. They need a superstar. And that’s why they need Aldo and Pettis to fight, so a new superstar can be created.

Interview: UFC 169?s Al Iaquinta Discusses His Journey From Wrestling to MMA, Training With the Serra-Longo Crew, And ‘The Ultimate Fighter’


(Iaquinta lands on Piotr Hallman during their bout at UFC Fight Night 30 in October. / Photo via Getty)

By Shawn W. Smith

Armed with a thick Long Island accent and a 5-1-1 pro record, Al Iaquinta joined the cast of the first live Ultimate Fighter in 2012. He stormed through the competition, defeating Jon Tuck, Myles Jury, Andy Ogle and Vinc Pichel en route to the finals, where he fell short to Michael Chiesa.

What many thought would be a difficult matchup for him in his next UFC appearance turned out to be his coming out party, as Iaquinta decisively beat on Ryan Couture for three rounds at UFC 164. A follow-up win over Piotr Hallman established him as one of the many lightweight prospects to watch heading into 2014. His wrestling base with heavy hands is not unlike his Serra-Longo teammate Chris Weidman, who Iaquinta looks up to for inspiration in the gym.

At UFC 169, for the third time in six months, Iaquinta will take to the cage. This time he will take on the debuting Kevin Lee. A submission expert by trade, Lee presents some interesting challenge to Iaquinta, whose two professional losses both came by submission.

CagePotato caught up with Iaquinta ahead of his bout at UFC 169 this Saturday to get his thoughts on Lee, The Ultimate Fighter experience, and much more.

CAGEPOTATO.COM: How was your training camp for this fight?

AL IAQUINTA: Training’s been going good, same as usual. I’m here with Ray Longo and Matt Serra and the team, just getting ready. I’m ready to go. I’m chomping at the bit to get in there.

Does the terrible weather we’ve had in the Northeast make things difficult? At 20 degrees below zero, it must be challenging to get up and into the gym.

Yeah, definitely. It makes things a little difficult, but I kind of like it, going through training camp in the snow. It reminds me of wrestling season. If you go out for a run you’re all bundled up and getting through the elements. It kind of makes me feel like I’m in a Rocky movie. I’m thinking of all the things I’m doing to get ready for this fight and if he’s not doing that, it’s a big disadvantage.

When you have these constant camps in succession, three in the past six months, does it make it difficult to improve your skills?


(Iaquinta lands on Piotr Hallman during their bout at UFC Fight Night 30 in October. / Photo via Getty)

By Shawn W. Smith

Armed with a thick Long Island accent and a 5-1-1 pro record, Al Iaquinta joined the cast of the first live Ultimate Fighter in 2012. He stormed through the competition, defeating Jon Tuck, Myles Jury, Andy Ogle and Vinc Pichel en route to the finals, where he fell short to Michael Chiesa.

What many thought would be a difficult matchup for him in his next UFC appearance turned out to be his coming out party, as Iaquinta decisively beat on Ryan Couture for three rounds at UFC 164. A follow-up win over Piotr Hallman established him as one of the many lightweight prospects to watch heading into 2014. His wrestling base with heavy hands is not unlike his Serra-Longo teammate Chris Weidman, who Iaquinta looks up to for inspiration in the gym.

At UFC 169, for the third time in six months, Iaquinta will take to the cage. This time he will take on the debuting Kevin Lee. A submission expert by trade, Lee presents some interesting challenge to Iaquinta, whose two professional losses both came by submission.

CagePotato caught up with Iaquinta ahead of his bout at UFC 169 this Saturday to get his thoughts on Lee, The Ultimate Fighter experience, and much more.

CAGEPOTATO.COM: How was your training camp for this fight?

AL IAQUINTA: Training’s been going good, same as usual. I’m here with Ray Longo and Matt Serra and the team, just getting ready. I’m ready to go. I’m chomping at the bit to get in there.

Does the terrible weather we’ve had in the Northeast make things difficult? At 20 degrees below zero, it must be challenging to get up and into the gym.

Yeah, definitely. It makes things a little difficult, but I kind of like it, going through training camp in the snow. It reminds me of wrestling season. If you go out for a run you’re all bundled up and getting through the elements. It kind of makes me feel like I’m in a Rocky movie. I’m thinking of all the things I’m doing to get ready for this fight and if he’s not doing that, it’s a big disadvantage.

When you have these constant camps in succession, three in the past six months, does it make it difficult to improve your skills?

I’m always training, always in the gym. I’m always in great shape, I just pick it up a little bit when I have a fight and the weeks leading up to the fight. It’s not like I’m out of shape and then going into a hard six-to-eight week training camp. I’m just turning it up a notch when I get that call for the fight.

Is this a kind of pace you’d like to keep up?

Sure, I don’t see why not. I was out for a while when I had a couple of injuries and my knee surgery. This is what I want to do. That’s how you get to the top quicker — staying as active as you can, staying healthy, and staying in the public eye, getting people behind you who want to see you fight and compete.

How did your years wrestling at Nassau Community College help you become the fighter you are?

It was definitely a grueling season. I cut a lot of weight. I know that I can make 155 no problem. I worry more about becoming a better fighter than focusing on the weight cut. I definitely picked up some great skills and great connections at Nassau. Nassau Community College has a bunch of guys in the UFC now and in the past. It’s one of the better junior colleges around and a great place to finish off your wrestling career, or progress your wrestling career if you’re looking towards MMA.

What weight did you wrestle at?

I wrestled at 141.

Wow. I guess I should ask if there’s any chance we’ll ever see you go down to featherweight?

I’m going to say as of right now, no. You never know. Right now I’m enjoying fighting at 155. I’ve grown into the weight class and I’m a pretty good size lightweight. I think I’ve got it down to a science, making the weight and feeling good, being mentally ready to fight and all that.

You’re one of many wrestlers who have really fallen in love with the boxing game. You’ve got heavy hands and you’re usually keeping it on the feet as opposed to using your wrestling. Why do you think so many wrestlers fall in love with boxing?

You know, it’s just something I picked up. I always enjoyed doing it. Even when I was a little kid, I always wanted to be a boxer. I enjoyed watching boxing and just never got into it. I never really knew how to go about starting to box.  I wrestled in school and I found myself boxing in the mornings just to help keep my weight down. That’s how I really got into it. I really enjoy the science behind it. I discovered how it’s not just two guys going in there and just slugging it out. Me and my friends bought gloves and we’d go 30 seconds at a clip and we’d be exhausted. I really learned how to pace myself and use the right technique behind the boxing science. You’re always evolving and learning, always learning new things. Even the best boxer in the world is still picking up new tips in their training.

Your last fight was overseas against Piotr Hallmann. What was that experience like fighting in the United Kingdom?

It was a great experience. I really enjoyed traveling. I got to see Manchester, part of another country I may have never gotten to see if not for that fight. To top it off, I got the victory. It was a great trip all around.

Is there anywhere else you’d like to fight?

I think it’d be really cool if they did a show in Hawaii someday, I’d love to go out to Hawaii. Really anywhere I haven’t been. Anywhere tropical or near the water, I’m always down to take one of those fights for sure.

On the flip side of that, your next fight is in Newark — not too far from your home, certainly nowhere exotic. This will be the closest you’ve had to a hometown advantage since your Ring of Combat days. How does the crowd play into the fight for you?

It should motivate me. I haven’t put too much thought into it. I’m sure in the next few weeks I’ll start to see how many people are going to be coming. It’s good to have my friends and my family there, something that I haven’t had in a while. A lot of them travel to come see me fight, but now everyone is going to be able to go. It’s as close to home as it gets so I’m really excited.

I read on your website that you had 14 amateur fights. That’s quite a few considering the somewhat dismal state of amateur MMA in North America. Why did you have so many amateur fights?

I was just really having fun with it. I was transitioning from wrestling. My first couple of fights I was just looking for the takedown. I was just trying to take guys down, put them on their back and beat them up. I evolved throughout my amateur career. Towards the end I started to get knockouts. I got to do some traveling. I fought an amateur fight in Mexico, which is pretty cool. I was at a gym where I didn’t have anyone pushing me, telling me I was ready to go pro. I got with Ray and Matt and they put me in with some guys sparring who were already in the UFC at the time and I did well. They said, “Look, man. You’re ready to go.” When those guys tell you you’re ready, you gotta believe them. They’ve been around the game long enough and they know what it takes.

Would you advise more young fighters to go out there and search for those amateur fights? We see so many young fighters who just want to be a pro MMA fighter, or be able to say that they’re a pro MMA fighter. 

It depends on the individual for sure. For me, I think I definitely needed that amateur experience, but there’s other guys who might come in and don’t need it. Chris Weidman is a perfect example. He skipped the amateur ranks and went right to the pros and look at him now. It all depends on the individual and where you start. That’s why you’ve gotta have a great trainer. You have to put your trust in their hands.

We’re about two years removed from your stint on The Ultimate Fighter. Looking back, what do you think of the experience?

It was a great experience. For someone who wants to be a fighter, that’s the best environment that could be. I’ve seen these guys on some of the seasons complaining about six weeks and whining. My season was 13 weeks and I loved it. Every day I was eating, getting fed what I needed to be fed. I didn’t have to worry about going grocery shopping or anything. I didn’t have to worry about obligations outside of training. It was just eat, sleep and train. I had people driving me to the gym. I had a gym full of guys who were top prospects at 155. I was on Urijah Faber‘s team so I had the whole Alpha Male team there to work with. For a 155-pound fighter looking to do good in MMA, there’s really no better place in the world.

What are your thoughts on Urijah Faber as a head coach? I read that you were out training with team Alpha Male a little bit before this fight.

He’s a great coach. Once his fighting career is over, I think coaching is something he would definitely be good at. He’s such a positive person to be around. It’s easy to get motivated around a guy like that. I’ve been out there to Sacramento, training with those guys for a few weeks at a clip. I always come back so much more motivated with a whole new outlook on the sport and life in general.

You mentioned his positivity and motivation, but what else about Urijah Faber makes him a good coach? 

It’s just the energy he gives off. No matter what happens in training, he puts it into perspective that it’s just a 15 minute fight so give it what you’ve got. The lifestyle of being a fighter, he’s always in shape to fight. He’s always thinking about what he’s putting into his body. He’s always trying to be a better person the next day than he was the day before.

You spent over a year on the sidelines with injuries. How frustrating was it to be on the sidelines and watching other fighters from your season, even fighters you defeated like Myles Jury, really establishing their names in the UFC?

It was tough, for sure. I just kind of kept it in the back of my head that when it’s my time it will be all about me. I just had to wait it out. I think having that year kind of helped clear my head after that long season of The Ultimate Fighter. I got to clear my head, take some time, re-evaluate my weaknesses and turn them into my strengths. It was good for me and now I’m healthy and ready to go. I got some time to make up for and I’m looking forward to doing that.

Your opponent for this bout is the debuting Kevin Lee. After two straight wins, and looking good in both, did you think you’d get an opponent a little bit farther up the pecking order?

For sure. I was definitely surprised when I got an opponent I hadn’t even heard of. Looking at his record and resume, he’s a tough kid. He’s taken care of everyone who has been put in front of him. I don’t think he’s faced anyone even near as good a fighter as I am. I’ve fought guys that are way better than the guys he has fought. He hasn’t fought a Ryan Couture of Piotr Hallmann and he’s taking a big step up. I’m going to definitely welcome him the right way.

Have you had a chance to study Lee yet?

I watched some video when I first signed the fight. Every now and then I’ll throw on the computer and look at some of his fights. For the most part, I’m really worried about myself, my game and improving myself every day.

What’s it like to train with Chris Weidman on a regular basis?

It’s awesome. It’s great seeing a guy who works that hard and has the confidence in himself to do great things and then go out there and do it, it really shows how all this work pays off. We have a good little template over here at Serra-Longo. If it’s paying off for him and I’m doing the same thing, I’m definitely on the right track.

UFC 169: Who’s on the Hot Seat?

This Saturday’s UFC 169 will feature four fighters vying for world championships, but it will also include as many competitors who could be battling for their UFC jobs.
Headlining the fight card is a bantamweight title bout between Renan Barao and Urij…

This Saturday’s UFC 169 will feature four fighters vying for world championships, but it will also include as many competitors who could be battling for their UFC jobs.

Headlining the fight card is a bantamweight title bout between Renan Barao and Urijah Faber, while a featherweight championship matchup between Jose Aldo and Ricardo Lamas will serve as the co-main attraction.

Behind those four elite fighters, though, even the most high-profile mixed martial artists appearing on the undercard could be in jeopardy of losing their positions on the UFC roster. As the UFC’s first pay-per-view event in 2014 approaches, here are the fighters who will be feeling the heat on Saturday.

 

Alistair Overeem and Frank Mir

In the upper echelon of the heavyweight division for years, Alistair Overeem and Frank Mir will battle to remain relevant title contenders this weekend.

Overeem made a big splash in his UFC debut, stopping former champion Brock Lesnar in the first round. Before his next fight, though, Overeem failed a drug test and was suspended nine months. The former Strikeforce champion has not had his hand raised since beating Lesnar more than two years ago.

Since earning a title shot with a submission win over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Mir has lost three straight fights. Like Overeem, the former UFC titleholder has not picked up a win since December 2011.

Because they have such big names, Overeem or Mir may be kept around even with a loss at UFC 169. Still, neither fighter can feel comfortable should his losing streak continue on Saturday.

 

John Lineker

Do you remember Anthony Johnson?

He was released from the UFC roster after missing weight three times over a period of four years.

If John Lineker fails to hit 126 pounds before UFC 169, it’d be the third time he’ll have missed weight in only six months. Moreover, it would be the fourth time the Brazilian missed weight for a UFC bout in the past two years.

With four straight victories, Lineker is a legitimate contender in the flyweight division. However, his victories have been tainted by his inability to compete at the same weight as his opponents. 

Should he miss his mark at Friday’s weigh-ins, Lineker will likely either be forced to move to the bantamweight division or be released from the world’s top MMA promotion.

 

Nick Catone

In a more typical must-win situation, Nick Catone has lost two in a row and can’t afford to suffer another defeat this weekend.

Before sitting out through 2013, Catone was stopped by Chris Camozzi and TJ Waldburger. “The Jersey Devil” decided to return to middleweight following his loss to Waldburger at 170 pounds, and he’ll meet Tom Watson on Saturday.

Although Catone once defeated the highly ranked Costa Philippou, he hasn’t won since that outing in March 2011. With a 3-4 UFC record, Catone needs to get back to even in order to continue competing inside the Octagon.

 

Neil Magny

While The Ultimate Fighter veteran Neil Magny earned a longer term on the UFC roster by beating Jon Manley in his official debut, he hasn’t done much to prove he belongs since then.

In his second and third UFC bouts, Magny was submitted by Sergio Moraes and beaten by Seth Baczynski in a decision. At UFC 169, he’ll take a step down in competition and welcome Gasan Umalatov to the Octagon.

While it is a matchup that gives Magny a chance to get back on track, it is also one that will essentially guarantee his release from the UFC should he come away with a third consecutive loss.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC Officials, Fans Are Overlooking Jose Aldo vs. Ricardo Lamas

UFC 169 is just a few days away, and the event features two title fights. Unfortunately, one of those fights is not getting the promotion or love it deserves.
UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo will defend his title for the eighth time, adding in his…

UFC 169 is just a few days away, and the event features two title fights. Unfortunately, one of those fights is not getting the promotion or love it deserves.

UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo will defend his title for the eighth time, adding in his WEC defenses. The challenger? No. 2-ranked Ricardo Lamas.

Lamas is 4-0 in the UFC with four quality wins. Matt Grice, Cub Swanson, Hatsu Hioki and Erik Koch make up his list of defeated UFC fighters. Three of the four wins came by way of stoppage.

Lamas is a legitimate contender for the title, so why is his bid for the gold not getting the hype it deserves?

He is not the most charismatic fighter on the roster and has chosen not to be as visible as he could be. That makes it more difficult for the UFC to use him in promotional aspects because the UFC fanbase does not know him that well.

The other factor is Aldo’s dominance.

Many fans immediately discredit featherweight opposition going up against Aldo. In his long reign as the top featherweight in the world, he has disposed of top fighter after top fighter. In his eight title fights, he has fought eight different foes. Lamas will be the ninth.

With the lack of competitive bouts, fans discredit whomever stands opposite him.

According to MMAPayout.com, the last time Aldo headlined a pay-per-view, the buyrate was under 200,000. There is little question as to why this title fight between Aldo and a largely unknown challenger has been relegated to the co-main event slot. That is even with a main event that we have seen before, which was largely one-sided.

What fans and management need to realize is that Lamas is a real threat to the featherweight throne.

He brings in a well-rounded skill set that gives him opportunities to challenge Aldo no matter where the fight takes place. He is a competent striker with big power, a quality submission game and a very good wrestling background. He will be able to push Aldo in this fight.

The UFC should be using the lead-up to this fight to raise Lamas’ profile. The UFC 169 TV spot does little to enhance Lamas or Aldo. It is thrown in as an afterthought.

Without a clear focus on this fight, the fans will not care about it. There is a distinct level of apathy from the fans for this fight. That is a travesty.

The combination of Aldo’s dominance, Lamas’ lack of charisma and the UFC’s lack of promotion for this fight does little to help UFC 169, the fighters or the organization in the long term. These are two elite fighters who deserve more.

If UFC Fight Pass was utilized properly, the UFC could use that platform to push Lamas’ past performances. It would showcase him and show the fans that this is a man who can walk out of UFC 169 with the featherweight title.

This should be the most talked-about fight on the UFC 169 card, but it is not. It is being overlooked by just about everyone.

Aldo vs. Lamas is by far the most intriguing bout on the UFC 169 lineup. It is a shame it is not getting the push it deserves.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 169: Aldo vs. Lamas Betting Odds and Predictions

When featherweight champion Jose Aldo (23-1) squares off against Ricardo Lamas (13-2) on Saturday, Feb. 1 at the Prudential Center in the co-main event of the UFC 169 pay-per-view, the MMA world will be focused on this marquee title fight.
Since winni…

When featherweight champion Jose Aldo (23-1) squares off against Ricardo Lamas (13-2) on Saturday, Feb. 1 at the Prudential Center in the co-main event of the UFC 169 pay-per-view, the MMA world will be focused on this marquee title fight.

Since winning the WEC Featherweight Championship from Mike Brown in 2009, Aldo has reigned supreme over the division, and he helped it make the transition over to the UFC in 2011.

Aldo successfully defended the title seven consecutive times and has won 16 straight fights.

Lamas is in serious trouble.

Here is all the vital viewing and betting information for UFC 169 and a full preview of this featherweight fight.

 

Where: Prudential Center, Newark, N.J.

When: Saturday, Feb 1 at 10 p.m. ET

Watch: Pay-per-view

Live Stream: UFC Fight Pass

 

Aldo vs. Lamas Preview and Prediction

Jose Aldo is one of the most dangerous fighters in the world today. While Ricardo Lamas deserves immense credit for putting himself in a position to earn a title fight, he is outmatched in this bout and will suffer.

Aldo will be looking for yet another TKO victory.

Lamas has earned four straight wins since joining the UFC in June of 2011, but he has not faced a challenger with the power, speed and aggressiveness Aldo possesses. While elite wrestling and striking skills make Lamas a dangerous fighter, the champion has proved his ability to counter even the best offensive game plans.

A fighter doesn’t win 16 straight bouts without being the best in his weight class and one of the pound-for-pound toughest men in the world, and Aldo has been both for a long time.

The knock on Lamas has been the lack of elite competition he faced to earn his title shot, but there is no question about the caliber of fighters Aldo has taken down over the last several years.

From Frankie Edgar to Chad Mendes to Kenny Florian to Urijah Faber, every challenger who has stepped into the Octagon with Aldo has been defeated. As the inaugural UFC featherweight champion, Aldo does not want to relinquish the prize.

Using his powerful striking and unique mixture of muay thai and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Aldo will bully Lamas around the cage while avoiding his challenger’s takedown attempts.

It will be just a matter of time before Lamas gets too aggressive and Aldo makes him pay.

Predicted Winner: Aldo via third-round TKO.

 

*Stats via UFC.com. Betting information via Bovada.lv.

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UFC 169: Mir vs. Overeem Betting Odds and Predictions

When former heavyweight champion Frank Mir (16-8) squares off against Alistair Overeem (36-13-1) Saturday, Feb. 1 at the Prudential Center in a supporting card fight at UFC 169, the MMA world will be focused on this important battle.
Instead of this b…

When former heavyweight champion Frank Mir (16-8) squares off against Alistair Overeem (36-13-1) Saturday, Feb. 1 at the Prudential Center in a supporting card fight at UFC 169, the MMA world will be focused on this important battle.

Instead of this being for a chance to fight for the heavyweight title, these two former elite fighters are trying to save their jobs. Mir has lost three straight bouts and Overeem was destroyed by both Antonio Silva and Travis Browne in back-to-back fights.

The winner of this fight will begin the march back into championship contention, and the loser will be one step closer to an early retirement.

Here is all the vital viewing and betting information for UFC 169 and a full preview of this heavyweight fight.

 

Where: Prudential Center, Newark, N.J.

When: Saturday, Feb 1 at 10 p.m. EST

Watch: Pay-per-view

Live Stream: UFC Fight Pass

 

Mir vs. Overeem Preview and Prediction

There are few stars in recent MMA history as disappointing as Overeem. Heralded as one of the next big faces of the sport, he was signed by the UFC after a storied kickboxing career and dominating the ranks of Pride and Strikeforce.

After beating Brock Lesnar and earning a shot at then-heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos, Overeem was suspended for failing a random drug test. Since returning from that suspension, he has been knocked out twice and has looked like a slower version of the fighter many believed would eventually win the title.

As if a sign of mercy, Dana White and the matchmakers have given Overeem the chance to prove he deserves a spot on the roster by beating heavyweight gatekeeper Mir. The former champion is a shell of the championship contender he once was, and three straight losses have serious doubts surrounding how much longer he can go in the Octagon.

Both men have their backs against the wall. Something must give.

Mir is the more likable of these two fighters, but at 34 years old and with plenty of damage from years and years of fighting in the UFC’s heavyweight division—he debuted in the company on Nov. 2, 2001—Overeem should win this matchup.

Using his heavy striking and elite kicks, Overeem must keep Mir at a distance and force this fight to stay standing up. The challenger is a much better wrestler, and Mir will punish Overeem if he gains the top position.

With the kicks forcing Mir to think twice about shooting for the takedown, the heavy hands of Overeem will knock his opponent down. That’s when his submission skills will kick in, and Mir will be in serious trouble.

Mir’s anti-submission form has never been perfect, and when Overeem finds the opening needed to lock in a rear-naked choke or a guillotine, he won’t miss his opportunity.

Predicted Winner: Overeem via Second-Round Submission.

 

*Stats via UFC.com. Betting information via Bovada.lv.

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