5 Reasons to Watch: UFC 179: Aldo vs. Mendes II
Following a two-week hiatus, the UFC is back in action this weekend with a card from Brazil featuring a main event between featherweight champion Jose Aldo and No. 1 contender Chad Mendes.
Aldo beat Mendes the first time they met, but not without a controversial foul that led to the end of the fight. Aldo visibly grabbed the fence to help stop a Mendes takedown, and when he turned, the champion launched a knee strike that ultimately won him the fight. Now two years later, Aldo tries to get the job done again as Mendes searches for redemption and the taste of sweet revenge.
Also on the card, former No. 1 light heavyweight contender Glover Teixeira looks to bounce back from his loss to Jon Jones as he takes on NCAA champion wrestler Phil Davis in a battle of two of the best fighters in the world at 205-pounds.
To get ready for the action this weekend, here's a list of five good reasons to tune into UFC 179: Aldo vs. Mendes 2.
Is Jose Aldo the Pound-for-Pound Best in the Sport?
There may not be a more dominant champion in all the UFC than featherweight king Jose Aldo. Currently riding a 14-fight win streak between the UFC and WEC, Aldo has been the only featherweight champion the UFC has ever known, and he's already ranked as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters on the planet.
He has more combined knockdowns and knockouts than any other featherweight on the roster and where experience counts, Aldo's logged more time in the Octagon than anyone else in the division. He's had eight consecutive title defenses when you combine his UFC and WEC reigns, and Aldo has shown little signs of slowing down in the past few years.
It wouldn't be hard to argue that he really is the best in the sport, given his devastating style on the feet and prolific record since joining the Zuffa family in 2008. If Aldo's not the top fighter in all of MMA, he's not far behind the No. 1 slot.
It's something special to watch a fighter like Aldo perform, and Saturday night will be no exception as he goes for his seventh consecutive title defense in the UFC and ninth overall since first winning the belt in 2009 while competing in the WEC.
Chad Mendes Bringing Home a Second Title to Team Alpha Male?
The last time Chad Mendes faced Jose Aldo he was an undefeated contender without a ton of big fight experience under his belt. Mendes lost the fight, but he took away a valuable learning lesson.
Now five fights and two years later, Mendes returns to Brazil with a second chance to take home the UFC featherweight gold. Since his last loss to Aldo in 2012, Mendes has developed a new killer instinct that's led him to four knockouts or TKO's in his last five fights. While his wrestling is still a big part of what makes Mendes great, it's the development in his hands working with coach Duane "Bang" Ludwig that's helped him find a new weapon in his battle to dethrone Aldo.
Mendes has also done everything in his power to get under Aldo's skin leading up to this rematch. He's poked and prodded at the champion for months and even got Aldo so heated that he shoved Mendes during a staredown at a press conference in Brazil while promoting the fight. Aldo has rarely shown much emotion before his fights, so this was a clear sign that he had been listening to at least some of what Mendes had been saying.
If Mendes can get the job done, he will join his teammate T.J. Dillashaw as champion at their camp, Team Alpha Male. The Sacramento-based squad has long been the home to the top fighters in the world from the lighter-weight divisions, and a second champion in-house would only boost their already stellar reputation.
The Conor McGregor Factor
It might seem crazy to make a guy not even involved with the event a reason to watch a UFC pay-per-view, but just about everything Conor McGregor does these days seems to draw a crowd.
The outspoken Irishman has been quite vocal lately about his desire to fight for the UFC featherweight title. He's called Aldo complacent and says the champion has stopped evolving as fighter. He says Mendes is a midget bantamweight bodybuilder who doesn't belong at 145-pounds.
Oh yeah, McGregor will also be cage-side at UFC 179 this weekend.
Think of McGregor as the Howard Stern of mixed martial arts. Whether you love him or hate him, everyone wants to see what he'll do next. Maybe he charges the cage after the close of the main event and challenges either Aldo or Mendes. Maybe he's shouting at both fighters during the fight causing a distraction.
Whatever the case may be, McGregor has injected a level of excitement into the featherweight division that's rarely been seen. He's not fighting this weekend, but that doesn't mean he won't do everything in his power to be the center of attention. The UFC needs more fighters asking to be in the spotlight. Conor McGregor is definitely one of them.
Contender or pretender: Teixeira vs. Davis
Two of the best light heavyweights face off in the UFC 179 co-main event as Glover Teixeira takes on Phil Davis, but this fight might end up being a battle to determine which of them is a real contender or serious pretender.
Teixeira was riding a 20-fight undefeated streak until he fought UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones back in April. Now there's no shame in losing to the best in the world, but the question remains whether Teixeira was really the No. 1 contender, or did he get there by beating lesser quality opponents? Teixeira was 5-0 in the UFC going into the title fight, but arguably his biggest win came over Ryan Bader, who was on the outskirts of the top 10 when they fought.
Meanwhile, Davis has long been considered a prospect with title aspirations in his future. The only problem is at 30 years of age, Davis can't live on the prospect label any longer. He was touted as one of the best natural athletes on the entire UFC roster, but a lackluster showing against Anthony Johnson not only pushed him out of title contention, but also brought up the question on whether or not he could ever go with top fighters in the division.
This fight has no titles on the line and no chance at becoming a No. 1 contender with a win. What it will do, however, is determine the future of both fighters. A victory puts Teixeira or Davis back in the top five of the weight class. A loss would be two in a row for either man, and a decided step back amongst the best fighters at 205-pounds.
Everyone wants to be champion, but nobody wants to be irrelevant. Davis and Teixeira probably know that fact better than most going into UFC 179.
5 for 5 in 2014 for Neil Magny
The undercard at UFC 179 is filled with top prospects such as Lucas Martins, who battles Darren Elkins in a featherweight bout, and Diego Ferreira, who is looking to keep his undefeated record in tact as he takes on fellow Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Beneil Dariush.
But it's the preliminary card that features a headline bout with some intrigue as Neil Magny goes for his fifth win in 2014 while taking on former Ultimate Fighter Brazil competitor William Macario.
Magny entered 2014 on a two-fight losing streak. He's since turned things around with four wins in a row and he's looking for No. 5 this weekend. Magny's activity has actually made him a better fighter, as he's showcased well-rounded skills on the feet and on the ground.
He's also looking to pass his old buddy Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone as the most active and successful fighter of the year when he tries for No. 5 this weekend. With a win, Magny can also match Roger Huerta as the only UFC fighter in modern history (discounting fighters who competed in the one-night tournament-style format) with five wins in a calendar year.
No matter how you cut it, that's impressive.
