There are myriad qualities that make Jose Aldo such a special fighter. I encourage readers to list what they believe sets him apart in the comments. I'll get to what really stands out for me in a moment, but AOL Fanhouse's Mike Chiappetta does a nice job of recounting what happened yesterday evening:
Aldo (16-1) is a singular talent in a world of overachievers. Armed with fast-twitch muscle that makes his standup a thing of destructive beauty, a seasoned ground game, surprisingly effective takedown defense and an even fight temperament, the WEC featherweight phenom laid a beating on defending champion Mike Brown, seizing the belt and starting a reign that has every possibility of lasting for years.
In Brown (22-5), the dynamic Brazilian was facing an opponent who was riding a 10-fight win streak. In theory, Brown was supposed to be the kind of fighter who would be Aldo's kryptonite, a rugged wrestler who can take a punch and is able to put nearly everyone on the ground with his tenaciousness. How do you cancel out a puncher's power? Put him on his back.
In practice, it wasn't much of a contest. Aldo was decidedly faster than Brown, getting to his spots quicker, getting in and out with a landed punch or kick before Brown had a chance to respond. He stuffed takedown tries. He outmaneuvered Brown on the ground. It wasn't so much an indictment on Brown as it was a celebration of Aldo, who has authored an early career highlight to rival the greats of MMA history at a similar stage.
Emphasis mine.
Mike's list takes a nice abstract view of things, but I'd like to home in on something more particular that has really stood out: Aldo's reflexive decision-making skills.
In my estimation, what makes Aldo such a terror isn't just his athleticism, speed and well-roundedness (although they are obviously hugely important). Instead, it is his uncanny sharp, snap judgments made when reacting to attacking or moving opponents.
This ability is facilitated by his fast-twitch muscles and athleticism, let there be no doubt. But simply suggesting Aldo throws quick, accurate combinations doesn't properly convey what's happening. He doesn't move forward and duel with opponents. As opponents press forward, throw strikes, lean forward or to the side or just adjust laterally, Aldo is able to read their movements with Matrix-like speed and accuracy. As he is measuring them, he makes lightning fast counterstriking decisions. Not rehearsed or mechanical counterstriking, but improvisational. He reads the moment and reacts. That ability is something he's honed through practice, but is more likely what makes him such a natural at the game. Worse, when his strikes land it's often to devastating effect thereby depriving his opponents of any chance to recover. Most fighters are forced to wade through several series of exchanges to gauge the timing, habits or important eccentricities of their opposition. Not Aldo. He is able to make rapid fire adjustments and decisions, act upon them with ferocity and follow up on damaged or bewildered opponents before they can even defensively cover up. Aldo isn't just winning quickdraw contests; he is fast, yes, but he's actually winning them by being the superior speed chess player. It is his snap judgments made by possible by his athleticism that make him so unique.
Aldo is more than athletic reflexivity. He's an excellent scrambler, hard puncher and well-conditioned athlete. But his ability to play speed chess with dynamite strikes is going to be problematic for featherweights in the WEC. In the blink of an eye, he's attacking openings that are barely there and collapsing the pocket before his opponents even have a chance to react.
Get the highlight reels ready. There's about to be plenty of material.
Photo by Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com.