Jose Aldo’s latest title defense at UFC 179 will have little impact on his legacy.
Sure, Chad Mendes might be able to stamp his place in history by putting an end to Aldo’s 17-fight winning streak in front of what could be 11,000 of the champion’s coun…
Jose Aldo’s latest title defense at UFC 179 will have little impact on his legacy.
Sure, Chad Mendes might be able to stamp his place in history by putting an end to Aldo’s 17-fight winning streak in front of what could be 11,000 of the champion’s countrymen. Perhaps Aldo runs through Mendes once more, ruining Mendes‘ hopes of bringing a second title to Team Alpha Male.
He was the greatest MMA featherweight before fighting Mendes for a second time. He will be the greatest MMA featherweight after fighting Mendes for a second time.
The following slides illustrate the greatest moments that have helped solidify Aldo’s place in the UFC’s version of Cooperstown, New York.
Mixed martial arts is a chaotic sport where two athletes step into a cage to battle for physical supremacy, and it is the competition of it all that drives Chad Mendes.
The Team Alpha Male standout and current No. 1 contender to the featherweight…
Mixed martial arts is a chaotic sport where two athletes step into a cage to battle for physical supremacy, and it is the competition of it all that drives Chad Mendes.
The Team Alpha Male standout and current No. 1 contender to the featherweight crown has been in some form of athletic competition since the age of five, and he’s grown up adhering to a belief in sportsmanship and an appreciation for those he has competed against.
While the mutual respect between champion and challenger was obvious before and in the immediate aftermath of their first bout at UFC 142 back in 2012, that particular element between the two men has dissolved over the past two years.
Although both Aldo and Mendes have continued on their respective paths and have been successful in every outing since their first meeting, “Junior” has never hesitated to launch a barb in the former title challenger’s direction when he’s asked about Mendes in interviews.
The Nova Uniao leader has launched a series of veiled allegations in Mendes’ direction, suggesting the Sacramento-based fighter uses special “supplements” to gain an athletic edge, per C.J. Tuttle of Sherdog. And while Mendes has always responded to those accusations in kind, “Money” has also lived up to his nickname, as he’s put together an impressive five-fight winning streak to earn his way back to another title opportunity.
He will get another shot at the pound-for-pound great at UFC 179 this Saturday night, and Mendes is coming into Rio de Janeiro as a man on a mission. Not only will he be looking to fulfill his dream of becoming the featherweight champion, but he also has every intention of making the long-reigning champion eat his words.
“There is always somewhat of a personal aspect to every fight,” Mendes told Bleacher Report. “It’s just the nature of the business. Obviously I respect Aldo as a fighter. He’s the champion and I can’t come into this fight not respecting his talent and skill level. I obviously do respect him in that sense. It’s something I’ve trained for and prepared my mind and body to get in there and face the champion.
“But he said a lot of s–t about me in the media and that’s not cool. Whether he respects me or not, if you want to say these things to sell a fight or whatever caused you to say them, my like for you has gone completely out the window. This is now a fight against a person who is trying to beat me up and trying to take the money I use to put food in my mouth. This no longer has anything to do with me liking or respecting him. There is going to be a war in there.
“The ultimate goal is to win the title. That is something that needs to happen in my mind. My mindset is to go in there and take the belt from whoever has it, and he’s the one holding it right now.”
Coming into their first meeting at UFC 142, the bout was the classic “striker vs. wrestler” pairing from a stylistic standpoint. While the rematch will still hold similar aspects, both fighters’ skill sets have progressed from their tilt two years ago. On that front, Mendes has definitely shown the most improvement, as he’s expanded his dynamic wrestling base to include power striking with proven knockout capabilities. Of his current five-fight winning streak, only one of those victories went to the judges’ cards, as the other four opponents suffered knockout losses.
That said, Aldo has built an impressive winning streak in his own right, as the reigning champion has notched 17 consecutive wins since November 2005. It has been nearly a decade since the Brazilian knockout artist last tasted defeat, but Mendes is confident he has what it takes to dethrone the featherweight king at UFC 179.
“I’ve watched a lot of tape leading up to my first fight with Jose and I’ve watched every fight he’s had since then. He hasn’t made a ton of improvements. Jose is really damn good at what he does and that is why he’s the champion. He hasn’t had any reason to change anything up because he’s been beating everyone with what works for him.
“I feel like I’ve made major improvements in my game. The first time we fought I was only two fights into the UFC. When I watch the tape, I look like I was a baby in there. I look so much younger and smaller and I feel I’ve grown up a lot as both a person and a fighter since then. I truly believe this is going to be a different fight the second time around. It’s been over two years now and I’m a much better fighter.
“I’m more experienced with everything about my fight game now,” he added. “Even making the trip to Brazil for this fight is something I feel comfortable with. For my first fight with Jose, that was the first time I had ever flown out of the country and fought in an opponent’s backyard. It was a big learning experience for me and I have that aspect under control. I’ve also done a lot of game planning for this fight with Duane Ludwig and the new head coach at Alpha Male, Martin Kampmann. It just came down to meshing the two views on Aldo with what works for my body and fighting style and I believe we have a great game plan to win this fight.”
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
At UFC 179, Jose Aldo will meet Chad Mendes in a rematch for the 145-pound championship.
In his initial meeting with the champion, Mendes was knocked out in the opening round. However, an Aldo cage grab prior to the knee that ended the fight was a poin…
At UFC 179, Jose Aldo will meet Chad Mendes in a rematch for the 145-pound championship.
In his initial meeting with the champion, Mendes was knocked out in the opening round. However, an Aldo cage grab prior to the knee that ended the fight was a point of controversy.
With five straight wins since then, Mendes has done everything he could to prove he’s at least the second-best featherweight in the world. On Saturday, he’ll get another chance to claim the UFC gold Aldo has held onto in six consecutive outings.
There aren’t many fighters who will be competing for their UFC roster spots this weekend, but a few are in jeopardy. Here are the individuals sitting on hot seats heading into UFC 179 in Rio deJaneiro.
NaoyukiKotani
After winning 13 consecutive bouts, NaoyukiKotani made his return to the Octagon in July.
Given his success in smaller shows, it looked like Kotani might have the potential to make more noise than in his first stint with the big show, which saw him go 0-2 before heading back to Japan. However, Kotani was stopped by Norman Parke during the first round in his reentry to the UFC roster.
On Saturday, Kotani will meet Yan Cabral, who is 1-1 inside the Octagon. Should he lose again, Kotani could be looking at another two-and-out situation.
Moreover, with an 0-4 UFC record and being 32 years old, Kotani might not get another chance to compete on the biggest stage in MMA should he fail to get his hand raised this weekend.
Fabricio Camoes and Tony Martin
Since beating Tommy Hayden in his UFC return, Fabricio Camoes has been matched up with some tough competition. Bouts with Jim Miller and Melvin Guillard have resulted in two straight losses for the Brazilian, putting him in a troubling position.
Those defeats hardly showed that Camoes doesn’t belong inside the Octagon, as he was expected to lose against both opponents. However, Camoes is still in danger of losing three in a row, a slump that almost always results in a fighter being released from the UFC roster.
Meanwhile, Tony Martin has been struggling against less proven competition. Beaten by RashidMagomedov and BeneilDariush in his first two UFC outings, it’s honestly a bit surprising to see Martin still hanging around.
Martin is getting another chance on Saturday, though. Should he lose again, it will have almost certainly been his last opportunity to pick up a win inside the Octagon.
Chad Mendes
While Mendes is in no danger of being released, he has a lot of pressure on him heading into his UFC 179 matchup with Aldo.
Having already lost to Aldo once, Mendes is almost in a must-win situation this weekend. With another loss to the Brazilian champion, Mendes would have an extremely hard time earning a third title shot as long as Aldo sits atop the featherweight class.
Seemingly best-suited to compete at 145 pounds, Mendes would have some tough decisions to make in that situation. So while a championship bout already gets the nerves going, Mendes might be feeling more stress than he otherwise would have heading into this rematch.
The UFC hasn’t been on in weeks. That is one reason why you should watch UFC 179 this weekend.
The card, which features a featherweight main event between Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes, hosts a number of young talents and established fighters. The main eve…
The UFC hasn’t been on in weeks. That is one reason why you should watch UFC 179 this weekend.
The card, which features a featherweight main event between Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes, hosts a number of young talents and established fighters. The main event in particular is interesting, as it’s a rematch from UFC 142.
Other than the fact the UFC hasn’t been on recently, you may need some more reasons to watch the card. Here are five reasons you should tune in Saturday night.
A fighter’s success is what helps them elevate their profile and earn bigger opportunities, but oftentimes, setbacks and adversity show the true measure of who they really are. When Glover Teixeira steps into the Octagon to face Phil Davis this we…
A fighter’s success is what helps them elevate their profile and earn bigger opportunities, but oftentimes, setbacks and adversity show the true measure of who they really are. When Glover Teixeira steps into the Octagon to face Phil Davis this weekend at UFC 179, it will be the first time he’s entered a fight coming off of a loss in nearly a decade. And he’s hungrier than ever to get back into the win column.
After a blistering winning streak that saw the Brazilian powerhouse topple the first five opponents he faced under the UFC banner, Teixeira was given the opportunity to face Jon Jones for the light heavyweight title at UFC 172 back in April.
While many believed the 34-year-old John Hackleman-trained fighter had the tools to dethrone the pound-for-pound great, Teixeira had few answers to what the long-reigning champion brought to the table, and the end result was Jones walking away with a lopsided unanimous-decision victory.
There is no question the championship tilt wasn’t Teixeira’s best night inside the cage, and he’s eager to put the bout with Jones behind him. He can do that by defeating the former NCAA Division I national champion wrestler in the co-main event at UFC 179 on Saturday, and that’s precisely what he’s planning to do.
“I feel great, man,” Teixeira told Bleacher Report. “I have trained hard for this fight and I’m ready. I’m so happy to be getting back into the Octagon. Phil is a good fighter. He comes from a wrestling background and I think he’s going to come in there and try to use his wrestling a lot. I think he’s going to be moving around a lot and trying to score points with his wrestling. I’m going to be ready for that and I’ll be looking for the knockout.
“Of course there was more motivation for this fight. I am coming off a loss in my last fight and then I had an injury and that’s why I didn’t fight sooner. But I’m feeling great now and I’m more motivated than ever to get back in there and start climbing the ladder again. This is a big fight for me because I am trying to get back on track and work my way back to become the No. 1 contender again.”
In addition to both fighters battling to rise up the divisional hierarchy in the 205-pound division, the upcoming clash between Teixeira and Davis also presents an interesting stylistic pairing. The Team Alliance Member is a long fighter who relies on his wrestling foundation to get the job done inside the Octagon, while the former title challenger mixes knockout power with a strong submission game.
Yet, while having the ability to finish his opponent with either hand is a plus, Teixeira believes that single attribute isn’t something a fighter can rest upon.
“Power is good to have, but you can’t just rely on that one thing because what is the point of having power if you are unable to hit your opponent?” Teixeira said. “I have been training my footwork and working on my speed and timing a lot. Power definitely helps, but I’ve been working on a lot of different things for this fight.
“I’m confident wherever this fight goes. Whether it’s standing or on the ground; I believe in my skills. I can be dangerous anywhere.”
When Teixeira steps in to face Davis at UFC 179, it will mark the third time in seven appearances he’s competed on his native soil as a UFC fighter. While many Brazilian fighters ultimately aspire to break out of competing in their home country and reach the American fanbase, Teixeira’s rapid rise to popularity has allowed him to do the opposite.
The matchup with Davis will mark another showcase bout for The Pit representative, and he’s eager to put on another show for the passionate Brazilian crowd.
“It’s always great to be fighting in Brazil,” Teixeira said. “The fans are always very excited and loud. They love MMA, and I enjoy fighting in Brazil and being close to my family. I always want to give the fans a show. That is why I train and that’s why I work so hard. When I go out there I can’t just wait around and fight that way. I come out there looking for the knockout and to finish the fight.”
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
UFC 179 plays host to the rematch between Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes.
Aldo won the first encounter by TKO and then ran out of the cage to celebrate with the feverish Brazilian crowd. It was one of the best sights in MMA. Pure joy.
Mendes has won five st…
UFC 179 plays host to the rematch between Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes.
Aldo won the first encounter by TKO and then ran out of the cage to celebrate with the feverish Brazilian crowd. It was one of the best sights in MMA. Pure joy.
Mendes has won five straight fights, four by knockout, to earn another shot at Aldo’s championship belt.
The Brazilian champion is one of the pound-for-pound best in the world. He is the last remaining non-American champion in the organization. He will enter in front of a friendly crowd with a lot of weight on his shoulders.
UFC 179’s main event is a true No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup, a rarity in sports these days. The UFC brings you the rematch the featherweight division has been waiting for.
Let’s break down the featherweight tilt from head to toe.
Mixed martial arts is a chaotic sport where two athletes step into a cage to battle for physical supremacy, and it is the competition of it all that drives Chad Mendes.