MMA World Cup: Can Aldo Win Gold in Featherweight Finals?
by Jonathan Snowden on Apr 24, 2011 3:00 PM EDT
in MMA Analysis
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Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes both won one-sided contests in the semi-finals to advance. That sets up an intriguing bout for the bronze as Hioki and Hominick will do battle for the third time for the honor of advancing to the medal stand.
Gold Medal Match:
1. Jose Aldo vs. 3. Chad Mendes
My Take: There's nothing to make me believe that Aldo can fend of Mendes's takedowns for five rounds. Better men than Aldo have look surprisingly human the first time they looked an American wrestler in the eye.
Bronze Medal Match:
2. Hatsu Hioki vs. 4. Mark Hominick
My Take: The Sherdog Fight Finder will tell you Hominick has lost to Hioki twice. What it won't tell you is that it looked to many like he had won the second bout - only to be denied by the judges. This should be a great fight, but the third time is the charm for the Canadian.
- Brazil: Jose Aldo
Asia/AUS: Hatsu Hioki- USA: Chad Mendes
Canada: Mark HominickCIS/Assorted: Deividas TauroseviciusEurope: Joachim Hansen
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Links to Previous Posts after the Jump
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It's like they are unaware that Hominick has lost on the ground and standing to Hioki before
in two different fights. I’m as impressed as anybody by a decision win over Leonard Garcia since then, but Hioki just beat Marlon Sandro who is better than Hominick or anybody Hominick has faced.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
He lost a so-so decision to Omigawa,
in the same period that Hominick got submitted by Josh Grispi and Rani Yahya. Your second sentence is correct though, there is really no reason to believe Hominick will beat Hioki in a third bout.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
No clue how Hominick is over Hioki here. If nothing else I’ve learned from this little experiment that MMA fans on the whole have no idea what goes on outside the UFC and are barely even able to use a simple search engine.
"Unless you can’t think of something intelligent to say, don’t reply and make the world as dumb as you are appearing to be." - mabel4life
by lowellthehammer on Apr 24, 2011 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions
My Take: There's nothing to make me believe that Aldo can fend of Mendes's takedowns for five rounds.
HHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHA
NO ONE IS BEATING JOSE ALDO FOR A LOOOOOOOOOOONG TIME. especially not chad “money” mendes….is this a joke?
I mean, once you’ve beaten Manny Gamburyan what else is there to accomplish?
by Jonathan Snowden on Apr 24, 2011 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
What is this even supposed to mean? People are over-rating Aldo because of his win over Gamburyan? Aldo’s reputation was already made before that fight, and the clinical finish there only further defined his ability. How about his destructions of fighters who have otherwise dominated the FW division?
crazy talk
and what if he loses to hominick? there goes his legendary P4P status right out the door as we all realize that calling someone great after two big wins is fucking ridiculous.
jose aldo is still building a reputation.
"A blowjob is like a stacked card. You can't guarantee it will deliver, but people will come regardless."
by Hendo_One-Shot on Apr 24, 2011 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions
But when you have decisioned Cub Swanson
on the other hand…
Snowden’s argument would make more sense if Aldo had, indeed, never faced an American wrestler before. Check out Thomas Rios’ breakdown of Aldo’s ability to stuff takedowns: http://www.snarkfights.com/2011/01/why-this-guy-is-awesome-jose-aldo_20.html
Aldo has far more ways to finish the fight, and Mendes’ most significant advantage (wrestling) is mitigated by Aldo’s fantastic TDD. I have absolutely no doubt that Aldo will land more meaningful offense than Mendes—the only question is if Mendes can take the fight to decision where the judges’ might be overly generous to take-downs and inactive top control. That’s obviously not quite the same thing as Mendes actually truly winning the fight. Keep in mind that Mendes, in contrast to even other fighters with the lay and pray label, is very inactive from on top. We are not likely to ever see a Fitch-Penn round 3 from him for example.
What does that article have to do with a wrestler of Mendes’s caliber? Hint? Nothing.
by Jonathan Snowden on Apr 24, 2011 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Unless the term “American wrestler” only refers to american wrestlers of a certain caliber, you were completely wrong in your article. It would be right of you to admit that. What the article in question does look at is Aldo’s wrestling, which is surprisingly superb from a technical stand point. Of course that is relevant to the discussion, and can’t be dismissed by simply pointing out that Mendes is a superior wrestler.
“Aldo will crumble in the presence of an American wrestler!”
“Aldo has fought some pretty good American wrestlers….”
“Not of this caliber!”
what a lame-o
Do I really have to explain the difference between Chad Mendes and a guy who was basically a good high school wrestler and another guy who was barely an NCAA qualifier?
by Jonathan Snowden on Apr 25, 2011 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions
The Aldo hate by Snowden is ridiculous
He leg kicked Team Alpha Male leader to oblivion, and now one of his understudies is going to lay on top of Aldo for 5 rounds?
C’mon son.
Also, correct me if I'm mistaken
But aren’t Mike Brown and Urijah Faber “americans” and “wrestlers”?
So how does this sentence make any sense?
Better men than Aldo have look surprisingly human the first time they looked an American wrestler in the eye.
I remeber those two looking “surpisingly human” after a metting with José Aldo, not the other way around.
Have you watched mendes before? He’s basically a FW Ryan bader, he’s not going to be 100% after 2 or three rounds, aldo will be.
"A blowjob is like a stacked card. You can't guarantee it will deliver, but people will come regardless."
by Hendo_One-Shot on Apr 24, 2011 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Have you watched mendes before?
I’ll match your snarky “have you watched blah blah blah” with a “fuck you asshole” retort.
by Jonathan Snowden on Apr 24, 2011 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I’ll match your snarky “fuck you asshole” retort with a “your face” rebutte.
"A blowjob is like a stacked card. You can't guarantee it will deliver, but people will come regardless."
by Hendo_One-Shot on Apr 24, 2011 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions
MOMMY, DADDY, STOP FIGHTING!
YOU’RE RUINING MY BIRTHDAY PARTY!
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
Thanks for reminding me I should have worn a condom.
"A blowjob is like a stacked card. You can't guarantee it will deliver, but people will come regardless."
by Hendo_One-Shot on Apr 24, 2011 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions
This, ladies and gentleman
is the sound of Jon Snowden having no valid counter argument.
Xtreme Couture- The best never rest!
"I swear it upon Zeus an outstanding runner cannot be the equal of an average wrestler."
-Socrates
by ElliotMatheny on Apr 25, 2011 1:31 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
A counter argument to “Guy who was a great wrestler is just like another slightly less good wrestler?” Or counter to “Guy who has been out of the third round once will have better cardio than guy who is untested in a long fight?”
What is there to counter? It’s conjecture by someone being snarky. So what?
by Jonathan Snowden on Apr 25, 2011 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions
Snarky because what you’re saying makes no sense. Mendes is NOT the chael sonnen to Aldo’s Anderson silva. He’s NOT going to take Aldo down consistently for 5 Rounds. He’s NOT going to have any answer in the standup department. And I’m almost certain he won’t have the cardio to fight effectively for the 5 rounds that this fight is sure to last. Doesn’t matter if my comment was snarky or not, your stance is silly, And you really don’t have a valid counter arguement.
"A blowjob is like a stacked card. You can't guarantee it will deliver, but people will come regardless."
by Hendo_One-Shot on Apr 25, 2011 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions
While I’m in the “Aldo beats Mendes” camp, there’s some serious underestimation of Mendes’ ability happening here. His drastic improvement and growing confidence have been fun to watch.
by Charlie Custer on Apr 25, 2011 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions
Nor anybody that Mendes has faced
Compares to Aldo.
And who has Mendes faced that compares to Aldo? The point is that Aldo has faced wrestlers and obliterated them. I fail to see an example of Mendes doing something similar to anyone.
by TheRage on Apr 24, 2011 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Hey
Mendes decisioned Cub Swanson!
You know, this guy….
So that's what that was
I thought I saw something fly across the cage. I just figured it was his mouthpiece.
Conducting an experiment on knocking people out in particular ways would be unethical.
there you go
knew youd get there
Conducting an experiment on knocking people out in particular ways would be unethical.
He didn't quit
Aldo pressed the off switch in his head.
"If I had a dollar for every brain you don't have, I'd have one dollar." - Squidward Tentacles
The difference between two completely uncredentialed guys like Faber and Brown
and a top ranked two time Div-I All American who only lost one match his senior year is like the difference between Clay Guida and Gray Maynard. I picked Florian to beat Maynard after how good his wrestling looked against Guida because I’m an idiot. I won’t make the same mistake for Aldo if he fights Mendes.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
This is true. But has he Really shown good takedowns and conditioning in his fights?
"A blowjob is like a stacked card. You can't guarantee it will deliver, but people will come regardless."
by Hendo_One-Shot on Apr 24, 2011 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Great takedowns, forgettable conditioning.
It’s good enough for Rashad Evans in a much tougher division, and Mendes at least has good top control. His boxing was above functional against Omigawa, which was a huge improvement, and I think he will continue to look much better in every fight. I think he can win an ugly, gross fight against Aldo and become the most unpopular UFC champ in 2011. There’s a sick part of me that wants to see it happen too.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
Well, I know its hard to compare but who has rashad fought who is as good all around as Aldo? not to mention rashad has much better strike-to-takedown transitioning, making his takedowns work much better.
"A blowjob is like a stacked card. You can't guarantee it will deliver, but people will come regardless."
by Hendo_One-Shot on Apr 24, 2011 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Mendes is a beast but he would have so many holes in his game exposed by Hioki or Sandro that by the time comes to face Aldo, Aldo will poke those holes and rip them open. I’m not saying Mendes would beat Hioki or Sandro, but I believe those two would be the ceiling for him at this point. Aldo by TKO.
I think Mendes is the guy to beat Aldo
It wouldn’t be the most exciting thing in the world, mind you.
Also, it should be pointed out that while Faber and MTB are not wrestlers at the level of Mendes, they had achieved far more than Mendes at FW before facing Aldo. Neither gave Aldo much of a fight.
What does it mean to have accomplished anything at featherweight before 2010? The good featherweights were all at 155 back then.
by Jonathan Snowden on Apr 24, 2011 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions
WTF?!?! PEOPLE HIOKI BEAT HOMINICK........TWICE!!!
Learn JiuJitsu, it's fun.
by RolloTomasi on Apr 24, 2011 5:29 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
In boxing Takalani Ndlovu just beat Steve Molitor yet he had lost to him two times previously.
http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=14345&cat=boxer
Smart fighters adapt to losses and that last (debatable) loss to Hioki was 4 years ago now.
That’s quite a lpong time ago in fighting terms.Maybe one has improved more than the other.
I ‘m not saying one or the other would definitely win as i admit i don’t know enough about Hioki (or Hominick for that matter) but as Snowden said,the second fight was an extremely close majority decision.
It is hardly a stretch of the imagination to see a fighter at the top level overturning a loss.
What is this? YouTube?
425 PEOPLE GOT THEIR LUNCH MONEY STOLEN BY HIOKI LOL THUMBS UP PLEASE
And then God created Saturn ... and he liked it, so he put a ring on it.
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by James Brady on Apr 25, 2011 12:05 AM EDT up reply actions
People don't know Hioki
But they know Hominick, so they pick him. Thus ruining this whole world cup concept, which is actually a really cool idea, but when people just pick the bigger name, it loses it’s purpose.
by minotauro11 on Apr 24, 2011 11:10 PM EDT up reply actions
I wouldn't say that.
The world cup results reflect the opinion of BE readers/ commenters. I personally picked Hioki, but Hominick is a badass and especially given Snowden’s commentary about the last fight being a controversial decision, and Hominick’s career renaissance, it’s completely unsurprising that he’s favored.
Xtreme Couture- The best never rest!
"I swear it upon Zeus an outstanding runner cannot be the equal of an average wrestler."
-Socrates
by ElliotMatheny on Apr 24, 2011 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm suprised.
It’s not like Hioki has regressed.
Learn JiuJitsu, it's fun.
by RolloTomasi on Apr 25, 2011 12:20 AM EDT up reply actions
Hominick has really hit his stride though,
and just think about the access MMA fans have to both fighters. Any fight fan with cable in America has probably seen Hominick fight multiple times. To see Hioki fight live, you either need HDNet or internet streams to watch him fight. And unless you’re a big fan of his style, it’s unlikely that someone would go out of their way to watch his fights.
I like Hioki, and think his grappling game is just too much for Hominick (not to mention his slick, rangy punching ability). But for the average MMA fan, it doesn’t surprise me a bit that the majority vote is Hom.
Xtreme Couture- The best never rest!
"I swear it upon Zeus an outstanding runner cannot be the equal of an average wrestler."
-Socrates
by ElliotMatheny on Apr 25, 2011 1:20 AM EDT up reply actions
Let's see Mendes get into Aldo's range first before we talk about him winning 5 straight rounds
Until Mendes proves that he has good enough strikes to set his takedowns up without shooting halfway across the cage on Aldo, I’ll take the champ. If Mendes telegraphs his shots or goes into range without mixing it up, Aldo will hurt him.
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Aldo hasn't even gotten the chance to work off his back in his whole WEC career
Doesn’t mean he won’t handle Mendes.
And people are seriously overrating Hominick.
"If I had a dollar for every brain you don't have, I'd have one dollar." - Squidward Tentacles
Nothing wrong with thinking Mendes would beat Aldo. As much as I’d hate for it to happen, there is a very real possibility. He’s a big FW and undoubtedly the best wrestler in the division, which can take you a long way. I certainly think he has a better shot than Hominick.
Still my picks are Aldo and Hioki in this one.
Blasphemy
I call blasphemy Snowden. Aldo is Liu Kang in real life
"So he basically called me a Jew. I was confused because I'm black and Methodist."
by rocket8188 on Apr 24, 2011 8:17 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I like how Snowden can say “Fuck you asshole” to people behind his keyboard and not get the usual BE warning for being a dick to someone…. dude comes off as a stuck up asshole.
BAWSE
Polishing turds since back in the day
MMA Fan. Bernard Hopkins is a tool
I have no problem with Snowden (actually really like him now) but yeah, that’s really lame. It doesn’t matter what the guy said before him, that’s worth a warning right there.
And then God created Saturn ... and he liked it, so he put a ring on it.
SaberCats Examiner | SB Nation Bay Area | Niners Nation | Twitter
by James Brady on Apr 25, 2011 12:07 AM EDT up reply actions
You just gotta rise above it all.
Higher and higher HIGHER!
Learn JiuJitsu, it's fun.
by RolloTomasi on Apr 25, 2011 12:21 AM EDT up reply actions
Both fights are tossups
If I had to place money on it, I guess I’d have to go with Aldo. But Mr. Money could ride the A. train all the way to the bank. You know what, screw it! I’m going Money Man with the upset! I just wanna see if he can pull out a Sonnen style win against him As for Hioki Vs. Hominick, I just don’t know…Hioki has to be favored…If I could, I’d vote a draw on this one. But I can’t…So I guess I’ll go with Hioki.
"Good People drink good beer." -Hunter S. Thompson
My take:
Mendes beat Omigawa, but there were a lot of moments in that fight that Omigawa could put together some combinations standing. Sure, they didn’t actually hit c.q. damage Mendes but in a 5 round fight Aldo might lose a round or 2 but he will find his mark eventually. So imo it’s the other way around. I’ve seen nothing in Mendes that makes me believe he can stay awake for 5 rounds again Jose Aldo.
Fighter, lover and all around awesome.
by Sebastiaan Tauran on Apr 25, 2011 10:06 AM EDT reply actions
And the other fight...
Hominick… I think the dude has some good striking…. Against people who can’t strike for shit. George Roop and Leonard “should be 0-9 in last 9 fights” Garcia… Meh. Hioki beat him twice, and would do it again.
Fighter, lover and all around awesome.
by Sebastiaan Tauran on Apr 25, 2011 10:11 AM EDT reply actions
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