UFC 142 Results: Let Aldo Reign
by David Castillo on Jan 15, 2012 6:01 PM EST
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To many fans and observers, the performance of Jose Aldo was a little bittersweet. Sweet because of his in-cage brilliance. And for a variety of reasons: avoiding the takedown with an effortless limp leg and immaculate balance, displaying no fear in throwing leg kicks against an elite wrestler, and the last sequence which ended the fight deserves its own emphasis.
Aldo's back is facing Chad Mendes with five seconds left in the first round. When Aldo breaks free, with his back still turned to Mendes, he grips Chad's right wrist with his right hand (hindering his ability to defend what was to come), swivels, and unleashes a knee that flatlines Mendes. It was the type of sequence that only the world's best could accomplish: an illustration of how MMA brilliance is defined by that momentary shift from one martial art to the next.
For most fighters MMA is a metaphysical struggle: the battle between revelation and reservation. 'To what degree can I keep my flaws to myself, and to what extent can I disclose the skills with which other men should fear?'
Aldo is different than his P4P contemporaries. He's not more accomplished. So let's clear that up. But his striking is not raw like Jon Jones, and his wrestling isn't lacking like Anderson Silva. If I were to focus on a word that describes Aldo, I can think of none better than 'ethereal'. Aldo isn't rattled by the sudden alterations of context inside the octagon.
If you can forgive this pretentious gushing, I'd ask that you forgive me once more because I think Aldo's post fight celebration was also important. If Aldo is to become a star in his homeland, what better gesture than to allow the Rio de Janeiro crowd to share in that victory by holding Aldo himself up above their shoulders? That moment will define him for the people of Brazil for years.
If there's a 'bitter' to all this, it's in thinking about Aldo's future at 145. 'What's the point?', I hear everyone saying. I agree to an extent. Right now the list of contenders are Hatsu Hioki, Dustin Poirier, Bart Palaszewski, Erik Koch, Chan Sung Jung, Jim Hettes, and perhaps the TUF star Diego Brandao will get his opportunity to be sacrificed in a year or two if he hits a nice winning streak. This is not exactly a murderer's row.
For guys like Hettes, and Poirier, it's simply too soon. For others like Jung, and Hioki, it's too life-threatening. But is a move to 155 really the solution?
For as interesting as the move might be, Aldo is only 25. Let him establish a real legacy while the division is still young. The problem with this line of thinking, that once a division has run out of contenders its champion needs to pack up his fists and leave, is that it can stagnate a division, leaving it without stars and history while giving it all to a division that already has it (well, minus the presence of 'stars').
The importance of being a star is that once you lose, it allows you to create new ones. Let Aldo be that star in the FW division. You're risking too much by having him move to LW. Not because he might lose, but because you'll have robbed a division of its only compelling fighter. You'll have robbed the division of the only question worth asking when watching a prospect, or contender make his own mark at 145: 'who can challenge Jose Aldo?'
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I say let him dominate 145
Nobody looks like they will beat him but he hasn’t claned out the division yet.
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The only champ vs champ fight that makes sense is Anderson vs GSP, simply because they have both been so dominant for so long. All the other champs are still fairly new.
But the time for that fight has passed. Anderson is old and GSP is hurt and has other challengers in front of him now. I don’t want to see any champ vs champ fights.
Let the champs reign.
by NoHo on Jan 15, 2012 6:11 PM EST reply actions 3 recs
Even
Anderson vs. GSP never made much sense to me. GSP’s work isn’t finished at WW, and it’s always been obvious that he simply doesn’t want that fight. So yea: agreed.
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by David Castillo on Jan 15, 2012 6:22 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Edgar has had 3 defenses
4 if he beats Bendo. Aldo sort of has had 6 if you count WEC. The thing about both LW and FW right now is that the there is no clear contender anymore. Jim Miller and Guillard fucked there chances up. Mendes was the only one with a good streak going on in FW.
With that I think I wouldn’t mind seeing a Champ vs. Champ fight.
...
Which he won’t
Ruining Your Special Night with all caps and the like. Be prepared to be disappointed. But not by us. Because of us.... We're not disappointing, it's the things we say to you, and.... fuck it, everyone else sucks. Mmkay?
by halitosis on Jan 15, 2012 8:26 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Edgar would have to clear out lightweight first
And considering how staked lightweight is, Edgar would have to go on a five year undefeated streak to beat every single possible contender.
by discoandherpes on Jan 15, 2012 8:40 PM EST up reply actions
Thing is
there really isn’t a clear contender in the division right now.
A superfight would give time for the division to figure that out.
With Cerrone losing to Nate Diaz, it looks like Nate Diaz may be next in line, but even with him, I think that most MMA fans would want to see him get another good win before fighting for the UFC Lightweight Title. The winner of Miller vs Guillard will be “in the mix” again, but not in immediate contention. Melendez is stuck in Strikeforce, so we won’t see Melendez in the UFC anytime soon. The division in the UFC still needs to figure itself out at the moment.
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You could throw in pretty much any high level lightweight and not many people would complain.
by discoandherpes on Jan 15, 2012 11:18 PM EST up reply actions
Not really
The people who were considered to be one fight away from a title shot, all lost.
Miller, Pettis, Guillard and Guida.
Bendo has my vote
but if Edgar wins it would be nice to see champ vs champ at a catch weight. Then Diaz can fight the winner of Lauzon/Pettis for #1 contender. and someone can build a title run at FW
P4P(my opinion based on talent): Silva, GSP, Aldo, Jones, Cruz
This
but I never wanted to see the GSP/Andy fight to begin with.
Anderson Silva, Edson Barboza, Jose Aldo, Charles Oliveira, Thiago Alves = Muay Thai wrecking machines!
by SentientAndroid on Jan 16, 2012 9:54 AM EST up reply actions
I honestly can't see who can compete at 145
there was hope for Hioki but he looked terrible in his first fight in the UFC.
It's still
a fight worth making, but yea, Hioki will get smashed. In fact, Hioki would probably lose to Poireir and Koch as well. It’s just a terrible style matchup and always has been. Even when Aldo could use soccer kicks.
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by David Castillo on Jan 15, 2012 6:24 PM EST up reply actions
Aldo with soccer kicks would be too unfair with to anybody
I think that he can time a perfect kick whenever someone is going for a TD.
One bad match against Roop and Hioki is garbage
I still think Hioki would offer a challenge to Aldo. Maybe not….but I wanna see it when he beats Pal dude.
I didn't say Hioki
was garbage. I gave my opinion on who I think are bad matchups for him, and to me, Koch and Poireir are bad matchups. Both of whom are future contenders themselves.
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by David Castillo on Jan 15, 2012 6:51 PM EST up reply actions
I think Hioki needs to adjust his game badly. He is allowed to elbow when he mounts someone.
That said do we really think Hioki has the wrestling to put Aldo on his back? He might be able to survive the stand up because he is a pretty decent boxer overall and very good at using his range, but still.
by discoandherpes on Jan 15, 2012 8:43 PM EST up reply actions
I'm still high on the Korean zombie matchup
At least business wise for him and the UFC. A lot of people gonna watch and Aldo is gonna get another spectacular knockout and the casuals will be hooked. Then he can start dominating the actual challengers.
Now I've switched signature to this one.
by the guy with the big nose on Jan 15, 2012 6:25 PM EST reply actions
I like the fight
too, but I’m just no interesting in watching premeditated murder inside the cage…at least on principle. But it makes sense and the UFC can always play up the “Jung beat Hominick worse than Aldo” angle.
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by David Castillo on Jan 15, 2012 6:30 PM EST up reply actions
*not interested
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by David Castillo on Jan 15, 2012 6:30 PM EST up reply actions
I think
Koch is a good fight for Aldo if he picks up a solid win after getting back from injury.
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by David Castillo on Jan 15, 2012 6:28 PM EST up reply actions
idk if u find this relevant, but
all those people comparing Aldo to Anderson are wrong. if they give Aldo an advantage for TD defense, and put him over Andy in the p4p rankings, they don’t realize that there’s NO ONE in featherweight devision that hits like Hendo, NO ONE as good of a fighter as Chael P. Sonnen who just covers the distance with his straightforward moving, plus they have granite chins(hendo). so putting Aldo over Anderson is wrong. If Aldo moves to LW and beats everyone there, than I agree that he’s p4p #1. until then the spider all the way.
by Nodir Shermatov on Jan 15, 2012 6:55 PM EST up reply actions
I dont know
What the guys at FWD give up in the areas you listed, they make up for in technique and speed. I still have Andy at #1 for now, but it’s tight.
Here’s my top 5:
1. Andy
2. Aldo
3. Jones
4. GSP
5. Edgar
Ruining Your Special Night with all caps and the like. Be prepared to be disappointed. But not by us. Because of us.... We're not disappointing, it's the things we say to you, and.... fuck it, everyone else sucks. Mmkay?
by halitosis on Jan 15, 2012 8:32 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I have it
1. Andy
2. GSP
3. Aldo
4. Jones
5. Edgar
But man this year of 2012 is going to be an exciting one. GSP is basically out for the year, Andy might fight only a couple of times again this year and Jones is talking about fighting 4 times again (that COULD be another possible 4 finishes, 8 in 2 years). So who knows how the pfp picture will look by January 2013. It could very well be:
1. Jones
2. Aldo
3. Silva
4. Edgar
5. GSP
Crazy shit imo.
Anderson Silva, Edson Barboza, Jose Aldo, Charles Oliveira, Thiago Alves = Muay Thai wrecking machines!
by SentientAndroid on Jan 16, 2012 10:03 AM EST up reply actions
You would have to outstrike him
Like I said when people were foolishly saying that Mendez had the style advantage, Aldo has historically eaten wrestlers alive. You would need to be able to outstrike him and outlast him. Test his cardio in the later rounds and poor it on.
by discoandherpes on Jan 15, 2012 8:44 PM EST up reply actions
He Should Fight on UFC on FOX 3
I said it last night in one of the threads, but while I’m usually against padding of records, giving Aldo some more exposure before a Mega-Fight would be nice. This fight last night could be a great springboard to promote him going into a fight on Fox. Sacrificing the Korean Zombie to Aldo wouldn’t be that incongruous if you take into consideration the current crop of fighters may not be able to give Aldo much of a test within the next year or two. By showcasing him on Fox in a stand up battle, against an opponent who just KO’d the man who gave Aldo his biggest test in under 15 seconds, it’s pretty easy promotion.
People keep saying the UFC needs to promote new stars, but they want their stars to step up in competition each fight. They need to keep them active and get them wins before they cash in on big money fights. This may be a theory best tested by Jones vs. Evans. If it still draws as big or bigger as projected previously, they may approach other big fights similarly.
This Felipe Dana got quite the epic photos from that night
Another one captured Rumble looking dead into the camera as Vitor was choking him out. And this Aldo one is just perfect. Perfectly epic.
by Scribonius Curio on Jan 15, 2012 6:37 PM EST reply actions
I don't think he is the only compelling fighter at 145.
Piorier and Hettes, as you mentioned, are compelling as well. He is the only star though, that’s for sure.
Everyone I watch mma
Loves the Zombie. Is this not the same elsewhere? Before last night I had to constantly remind everyone that Aldo was not Cruz and vice versa. Moments like this make me wonder what a random person who doesn’t watch every event like me and 5 of my friends do. So much going on its hard to stay caught up.
The Korean Zombie is surprisingly well liked by even casual fans
It doesn’t hurt that his fights are usually very exciting.
by discoandherpes on Jan 15, 2012 8:45 PM EST up reply actions
Aldo is the king of chaos
Mendes was still trying to sort out the situation and Aldo slipped right between the cracks of “wrestling” and “stand-up.” It was sublime.
For real – that was about as impressive a KO as I’ve ever seen. There are very, very few people with the reflexes and intuitive understanding of MMA needed to land that knee in that spot.
by crazybones on Jan 15, 2012 6:40 PM EST reply actions 4 recs
That’s a really good way of putting it.
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito Ortiz on Vitor Belfort at Affliction:DOR
by Rundownloser on Jan 15, 2012 9:19 PM EST up reply actions
It seems like the expected rush of UFC lightweights down to FW has slowed down. Griffin and Stevenson didn’t fair very well. Kenflo is already gone from FW. Pearson and Siver are at FW now, but haven’t proven anything yet. I expected to see the FW div open up more over the last year but Aldo’s dominance now makes it seem shallow.
"If I wanted to spend a half hour between two hairy legs I'd go to your mother's house." -Don Frye
Griffin losing to Bart was a major blow. I think Tyson would be easier to market than most FWs simply because he has been in the UFC for so long.
Florian did okay at FW. He was ranked and fought for the title, but I don’t think the cut was comfortable
Stevenson just went on a mad decline. Pearson looked alright in his debut, and hopefully Siver can comfortably make the cut
Florian actually did okay outside of the third round
He did get outstruck, but he didn’t really get killed.
by discoandherpes on Jan 15, 2012 8:47 PM EST up reply actions
That fence grab was a little weak and the KO might not have happened if he hadn't grabbed the fence.
But anyway.
Really dude?
Don't follow in my footsteps I walk into walls
by MattParker117 on Jan 15, 2012 6:55 PM EST up reply actions
Well it wouldve happened the next round
Aldo was stuffing d’s effortlessly.
And he got put down some ten seconds after and got up instantly. Mended had no shot at winning, that goes for all rounds after as well.
Ruining Your Special Night with all caps and the like. Be prepared to be disappointed. But not by us. Because of us.... We're not disappointing, it's the things we say to you, and.... fuck it, everyone else sucks. Mmkay?
by halitosis on Jan 15, 2012 8:39 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Leave Aldo in the division for a while
BJ Penn ruined it for everyone moving up to fight GSP. Now everyone has to move up after dominating. Let him make a big name of himself smashing everyone for a year or so. If all else fails let him sit on the sidelines GSP/SILVA style while more contenders come up. In a years time alot can change. Look at the light heavyweight champion.
Maybe BJ Penn cuts down to 145 lol
Champs moving up are a thing of the past, they make too much money now, there is too much at stake. Any good manager won’t let his champ move up.
by Kenya_MMA on Jan 15, 2012 7:13 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
I like Aldo too, but heres the thing: If you think Hominick won round 2 (very possible, upon rewatching the fight) and if you think round 5 was a 10-8 round (again, very possible), that fight was a draw. Aldo hit significantly harder in that fight, but honestly I thought Hominick was more accurate and technical, especially in the first half of the fight. IM NOT SAYING ALDO DIDNT WIN. I’m saying he isnt invincible. He is very likeable and fights an exciting style at times, so his every win is greeted with orgasmic glee and his poor performances are greeted with a million excuses as to why the fight didnt go according to “plan”. All I’m saying is: perspective, people.
no one is invincible
Aldo won the fight pretty clearly and he was completely gassed because he was sick and had a horrific time making weight for that fight. That being said he still won by a big enough margin in my eyes and Hominick is a tough SOB when he’s not throwing haymakers 2 secs into a fight.
by TheDreadedMarco on Jan 15, 2012 8:44 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Andy and GSP have both been BEATEN more times than Aldo has
And their dominance is rarely questioned. Even after nearly losing to Chael Andy is still undisputed (except by Chael). The only champ more dominant so far has been Jones.
Ruining Your Special Night with all caps and the like. Be prepared to be disappointed. But not by us. Because of us.... We're not disappointing, it's the things we say to you, and.... fuck it, everyone else sucks. Mmkay?
by halitosis on Jan 15, 2012 8:45 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I watched that fight yesterday before the ME
And no, Hominick didn’t do anything until the 5th round. Hit aldo a couple of times, but aldo hurt him every round and dropped him a couple times….. Watch the fight and not the stats next time.
I did. As evidenced by my saying in my original post that I just rewatched it the other day. Reading comprehension is your friend. Aldo did almost nothing in the second. People only remember the 3rd and 4th because they were so devastating (and they were ) but he got outstruck in round 2. Which of course means that if you think round 5 was a 10-8…..,etc etc etc. This isn’t Pride, it’s a 10 point must system, Aldo clearly won the fight overall, but scoring round by round, a strong case could be made for a draw. Then again, I give 10-8s a bit more liberally then most.
by Hutchy on Jan 15, 2012 9:50 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Aldo needs to stay at featherweight
A it gives casuals a star they can latch on to
B why move up to lightweight possibly lose to a mid level lightweight (who could most likely just drop to 145 anyway) or run roughshod over a division and get over big in Brazil.
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Either
Poirier or Koch will be the guy who eventually beats him, but not for at least two or three years since they’re both so green. So what does the UFC do with him in the meantime? Feed him the Zombie and Hioki, I guess, until they can set up a fight with Frankie Edgar. I understand the arguments for and against that fight, but wouldn’t it be worse to have him sitting on the shelf waiting for challengers? There’s nothing that says the fight has to be at 155, either — if Edgar is dethroned (not that I’m saying he will be), he could easily drop to 145, or they could even set it up as a catchweight fight at 150.
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Poirer and Koch are young and will improve
So is Aldo. The guy’s 25. Koch and Poirer will both get smoked.
Ruining Your Special Night with all caps and the like. Be prepared to be disappointed. But not by us. Because of us.... We're not disappointing, it's the things we say to you, and.... fuck it, everyone else sucks. Mmkay?
by halitosis on Jan 15, 2012 8:47 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I don't think Koch would get smoked
I think he could do just as well as Hominick.
by discoandherpes on Jan 15, 2012 8:49 PM EST up reply actions
Exactly
But in three years, believe it or not, Aldo will be entering the downward phase of his career unless he’s a total freak. He’ll have been fighting professionally for almost eleven years by that point, and historically guys start to drop off between 9-11 years.
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by Patrick Wyman on Jan 15, 2012 9:01 PM EST up reply actions
Even though Edgar is my favorite fighter
He is going to get dethroned sooner or later. The LW division is just too good.
by discoandherpes on Jan 15, 2012 8:49 PM EST up reply actions
agree
It will be difficult for LW to have a dominant champion for a while at least. It seems DFW is pushing for a drop to featherweight while Frankie is the champ. I can’t imagine how much he’ll push when Frankie loses
by cletusvandam on Jan 15, 2012 9:02 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah
At some point he’s going to run into someone who has the right combination of style, size, and game plan. As you pointed out, given the depth of the division it’s going to happen.
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by Patrick Wyman on Jan 15, 2012 9:03 PM EST up reply actions
Edgar is a bad matchup for Bendo
A great scrambling wrestler who can exploit his defensive boxing.
by discoandherpes on Jan 15, 2012 11:19 PM EST up reply actions
Too true
I see Edgar keeping his head on a swivel, staying out of trouble in scrambles and pasting Bendo with boxing.
Benson will make a fight out of it due his grit and cardio…but if Frankie is still putting combos together like he was in his last fight he will eventually wear Bendo out and finish him too.
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by The Blackula on Jan 15, 2012 11:28 PM EST up reply actions
I'm not sure Frankie finishes Bendo
but I see him picking Bendo apart with boxing. Benson could potentially use his size and grind Frankie but even if he takes him down, I think Frankie scrambles back to his feet and takes a decision in the end.
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by Sweet Scientist on Jan 16, 2012 4:00 AM EST up reply actions
Personally I'm always wary of declarations that a champ has 'cleared out' their division
It looked like BJ had 155 sewn up until Edgar (who absolutely noone gave a chance the fight time round) came along. In MMA you never know when an upset’s coming. I mean, it wasn’t long ago we were ushering in the Machida era…
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by Mattyjudo on Jan 16, 2012 2:29 AM EST via Android app reply actions
Meant "first time", not "fight time"
Doh
"Anyone who enjoys watching sport on television is an imbecile; a dangle-mouthed, cud-chewing, salivating ding-dong with a brain full of dim piss, blobbing out in front of a box watching a grunting thicko knock a ball round a field while their own sad carcass gently coagulates into a wobbling mass of beer and fat and thick white heart-attack gravy" - Charlie Brooker
by Mattyjudo on Jan 16, 2012 2:30 AM EST via Android app up reply actions
After Hioki, Koch & Poirier
Aldo should challenge Winner of Edgar/Henderson
by The KO Kid on Jan 16, 2012 3:14 AM EST via mobile reply actions
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