Jose Aldo: Tyson-esque or Flash in the Pan?

by Jonathan Snowden on Nov 18, 2009 10:05 AM EST

Much was made during his media tour of Jose Aldo's admiration for former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson. On the surface the two have much in common. Like Tyson, Aldo is climbing to lofty heights early in his career, riding a string of devastating and amazing knockouts to a title shot tonight against Mike Brown.

But this is MMA, not boxing. And as much as he resembles Tyson, Aldo's rise reminds me more of another Brazilian slugger...

For all the Tyson talk, the fighter Aldo most resembles is the young Vitor Belfort. "The Phenom" entered the UFC octagon in the early days with blazing hands and furious power. It was only later opponents and fans would find out his heart would often wilt when the going gets tough. If anyone will put Aldo to the test, it will be Brown. More than half of Aldo's fights have ended in the first round. How well he is prepared to go into the championship rounds could be the difference in the fight.

Like Aldo, Belfort was the product of a famed Jiu Jitsu camp, studying under the late Carlson Gracie. Aldo has a Jiu Jitsu pedigree as well. His ability to beat Brown may depend quite a bit on how well he can apply those skills against a very strong wrestler.

"How good is he? We really don't know. He hasn't been tested. Brown's going to test him," WEC President Reed Harris said in an exclusive interview. That test, if it comes, will likely be on the ground. Like Belfort, a Carlson Gracie disciple, Aldo trains with some of Jiu Jitsu's best at Nova Uniao. He's spent almost every second of his fighting career standing and banging. If Brown can take him down, and keep him there, the puncher's Jiu Jitsu prowess will be the difference in becoming a champion or becoming another Brown victim.

Jose Aldo takes on Mike Brown for the WEC Featherweight Title tonight on Versus.

The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.

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I am more excited for this fight than anything at UFC 106.

by Jonathan Snowden on Nov 18, 2009 10:08 AM EST reply actions

Same here..

But that isn’t saying much!

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by Dave Walsh on Nov 18, 2009 10:13 AM EST up reply actions

I am actually excited for Johnson v. Koscheck, but this is one of the most intriguing fights of the year.

...Behold, a pale horse. The man that sat upon it was Wieters, and hell followed with him.

"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard

by Brett Jones on Nov 18, 2009 10:17 AM EST up reply actions

If Koscheck doesn’t try a takedown in the first two minutes, it is going to get ugly for him…

by Jonathan Snowden on Nov 18, 2009 10:22 AM EST up reply actions

Hence my excitement!

...Behold, a pale horse. The man that sat upon it was Wieters, and hell followed with him.

"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard

by Brett Jones on Nov 18, 2009 10:27 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

This and Fedor vs Rogers (mostly for the primetime network TV aspect) were my two fights of the month. Now think how much (much, much) better 106 would be if this was the main event alongside Tito vs Forrest.

by John Nash on Nov 18, 2009 2:23 PM EST up reply actions

I too am massively excited for this fight, but think too much is being made of Jose Aldo right now.

Not that he’s not super-talented and a dynamic talent, but honestly, who has he beaten? Cub Swanson? Good fighter, but nowhere near the level of Brown.

Aldo certainly presents an strong challenge – lighting-fast hands, supposedly great BJJ – but beating some midcard guys and Cub Swanson is way different than being in the spotlight and taking on the champ.

The Jon Jones of Mixed Martial Arts Journalism

by E. Spencer Kyte on Nov 18, 2009 10:25 AM EST reply actions

Yeah, that’s why this is such a big fight for him. Like, Reed Harris said, we don’t know what Aldo can be. If he beats Brown, we know. If he hangs with Brown, we know. If he loses quickly and looks bad?….We know.

by Jonathan Snowden on Nov 18, 2009 10:28 AM EST up reply actions

I think less of the hype is due to who
he has beaten, and more is due to how amazingly dominant he is. He smells ood
and ends fights in the time it takes to blink. His hands are amazing and his leg kicks find a home every time.

his speed and accuracy are scary—I imagine the world moves in slow motion for this guy.

The path to my fixed purpose is laid with iron rails, whereon my soul is grooved to run. Towards thee I roll, thou all-destroying but unconquering BROCKLESNAR; to the last I grapple with thee.

by judonerd on Nov 18, 2009 11:26 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

He also smells blood, but being able
to smell “ood” is highly underrated.

The path to my fixed purpose is laid with iron rails, whereon my soul is grooved to run. Towards thee I roll, thou all-destroying but unconquering BROCKLESNAR; to the last I grapple with thee.

by judonerd on Nov 18, 2009 11:27 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

I thought you were saying he “smelled good.” This makes more sense. ;)

by Jonathan Snowden on Nov 18, 2009 11:43 AM EST up reply actions

LOL

That was my thought as well… Maybe he distracts his opponents with a lovely fragrance?

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by funnytiger on Nov 18, 2009 11:47 AM EST up reply actions

It would be like that one wrestling commercial I saw months ago where the guy locked up with the other guy but didn’t try to do anything because his opponent smelled too good.

by black dragon on Nov 18, 2009 3:43 PM EST up reply actions

I’ll believe all the hype after tonight, if he beats Mike Brown. As evident in this only loss, he got controlled on the floor, and Brown’s size and power will only make any improvements he made a bit tougher to show the fans, if he has in fact improved immensely on the floor.

It should be a good fight, but I could see a short fight with Brown punching Aldo’s face in while he’s on his back in the second round.

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"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein

by Leland Roling on Nov 18, 2009 11:43 AM EST up reply actions

That was almost four years ago, and his opponent was a tough 155 pounder who beat Din Thomas and hung with Sakurai. Here we have Aldo in his natural weight class and four years further developed.

by Jonathan Snowden on Nov 18, 2009 11:47 AM EST up reply actions

You’re right, of course. And yet, I just can’t help but feel like Aldo is this special fighter that just hasn’t gotten his shot yet.

I’ve shied away from comparisons to Anderson Silva, but I can’t help but remember that Silva had beaten only Chris Leben before facing Rich Franklin. Now, no one would compare Franklin’s style to Mike Brown’s, but still, a lot of people felt that Silva still had a lot to prove going into the first match with Franklin. Silva proved himself in spades and he hasn’t looked back since.

I feel like Aldo is on a similar career path. But you’re still right about everything you’ve said about Mike Brown. You really cannot understate Mike Brown’s greatness at this point. He’s the best in the world, and that didn’t happen by accident. That’s his mantle to lose.

What a great match up this is.

...Behold, a pale horse. The man that sat upon it was Wieters, and hell followed with him.

"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard

by Brett Jones on Nov 18, 2009 1:12 PM EST up reply actions

Of course Silva had also beaten Jeremy Horn, Carlos Newton, and Hayato Sakurai before he ever came ot the UFC.

by Jonathan Snowden on Nov 18, 2009 1:48 PM EST up reply actions

What, Peqeueno Nogueira, Chris Mickle and Cub Swanson don’t do anything for you?

...Behold, a pale horse. The man that sat upon it was Wieters, and hell followed with him.

"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard

by Brett Jones on Nov 18, 2009 2:37 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

That’s what I’m saying!

Aldo has looked great and has all the attributes everyone is accurately bestowing upon him, but Peqeueno / Mickle / Cub isn’t the most terrifying trio in the books and doesn’t come close to Brown’s Faber / Garcia by demolition / Faber triple.

The Jon Jones of Mixed Martial Arts Journalism

by E. Spencer Kyte on Nov 18, 2009 2:44 PM EST up reply actions

To that point and the comparison to the first Silva v. Franklin match:

You could argue that Franklin had the inferior resume coming into that fight. Sure, he had beaten Evan Tanner (twice) but aside from that? Nate Quarry? David Loiseau? Jorge Rivera?

Although, I think Pequeno is to Aldo what either Horn was to Anderson Silva. Newton and Mach were/are Welterweights. I understand that Silva was too once upon a time, but I’m not sure how relevant that is or those two are with regards to Silva’s ability to succeed at Middleweight.

I mean, Silva had also submitted to Ryo Chonan, and more recently than he had fought the aforementioned list of fighters. That doesn’t matter a little bit at this point, nor did it when he fought Rich Franklin.

I see both sides of the argument, I really do. I think both sides have compelling arguments. That’s why I love this fight.

...Behold, a pale horse. The man that sat upon it was Wieters, and hell followed with him.

"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard

by Brett Jones on Nov 18, 2009 2:56 PM EST up reply actions