UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes
Jose Aldo makes his 5th Featherweight Title defense on Saturday against up-and-coming wrestling prospect Chad Mendez.
Date/Time: January 14, 2012, 10pm ET/7pm PT
Location: HSBC Arena, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Broadcast: PPV, FX (Prelims)
Main Card:
Jose Aldo (20-1): -240
Chad Mendes (11-0): +190
Aldo, who was once considered one of the most dominant champions in MMA has come back down to earth a little bit – he was slightly exposed in his last two wins (both by decision) over Mark Hominick and Kenny Florian.
Aldo is as lethal a striker as there is in the world of MMA – his Muay Thai and leg kicks are absolutely brutal. With Aldo’s striking prowess, most tend to forget that Aldo is also a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu – he is no joke if this fight happens to hit the ground. Mendes is a two-time All American collegiate wrestler – take downs will be his only chance in this fight. With Aldo’s incredible take down defense and insane ability to inflict damage while standing, this fight should end like all but one of Aldo’s battles.
To beat Aldo, a fighter has to be top notch in absolutely every aspect of the game – Mendes may be just a tad too one dimensional. If this fight started and stayed on the ground, Mendez would have a great chance. But as we all know, MMA battles begin on the feet and Aldo has a serious knack of keeping it there. In a good fight, take the champion to remain just that!
Pick: Jose Aldo -240
Vitor Belfort (20-9): -115
Anthony Johnson (10-3): -115
Anthony Johnson makes his debut at Middleweight after having a hard time making weight at Welterweight. Standing in way of his first win in his new division is one of the best strikers that the MMA world has ever seen Vitor Belfort.
Both fighters are technically strong in the standup game and both have their strengths when and if the fight hits the mat. Both are super athletic and both have the ability to end a fight anywhere anytime. Do you get the idea that this is a tough fight to call? Good!
All said, Belfort should be motivated in front of a home crowd to avenge one of the more incredible knockouts in MMA history – his last loss to Anderson Silva. Belfort has the crowd, experience and most of all the chip on his shoulder to get it done on Saturday.
Pick: Vitor Belfort -115
Mike Massenzio (13-5): +350
Rousimar Palhares (13-3): -500
Mike Massenzio takes on Brazilian submission ace Rousimar Palhares on Saturday and the oddsmakers don’t like his chances – neither do I. The fact is that the best part of Massenzio’s game is his grappling – an aspect of the fight game in which he will be totally outclassed against Palhares.
Palhares is simple one of the most feared submission fighters in the Middleweight Division whose striking game, namely his kicks are ever-evolving. Massenzio’s only chance in this fight is to stand – he wants absolutely no part of Palhares on the mat. Massenzio’s standup is average at best – a notch below even Palhares.
Palhares dominates in front of his home crowd and makes Massenzio look like an amateur. This pick is easy!
Pick: Rousimar Palhares -500
Edson Barboza (9-0): -280
Terry Etim (15-3): +210
Undefeated Lightweight Edson Barboza will look to keep his roll going when he takes on uber-tough Brit Terry Etim at UFC 142. Barboza brings a lethal Muay Thai background into the fight – power and precision to spare. Etim is a good all around striker himself but has failed when asked to step up his level of competition.
Barboza, despite the hype has gone to the judge’s score cards in his last two bouts while Etim is coming off a loss to Rafael dos Anjos. Etim’s standup defense will be the most important factor in this fight. Although he has good striking capabilities, his need to be extra aggressive in this fight will likely be his downfall. Barboza is too skilled, too powerful and too motivated to get it done in front of his home town fans to be denied in this one. In a good fight, look for Barboza to remain undefeated – barely!
Pick: Edson Barboza -280
Carlo Prater (29-10-1): +375
Erick Silva (13-1, 1 NC): -550
Two Brazilian Muay Thai practitioners with submission skills meet in the first fight on the Pay-Per-View card. Prater, a veteran of MMA is a severe underdog against the up-and-coming Silva. Silva exploded on the scene with a 40 second knockout of Luis Ramos and is deservedly the favorite in this fight. But Prater holds wins over such fighters as Welterweight standout Carlos Condit – he is no joke.
Silva has the edge as the more technical and more powerful striker but this fight has to hit the ground at some point. There, Prater should be able to hold his own – 16 of his 29 wins have come by submission. I like the underdog in this one – Silva is certainly the more hyped of the two fighters but has yet to get it done against elite level competition. Experience prevails at a very intriguing price!
Pick: Carlos Prater +375
Preliminary Card:
Felipe Arantes (13-4): +175
Antonio Carvalho (13-4): -220
Antonio Carvalho makes his UFC debut against Felipe Arantes on Saturday. Both fighters are decent strikers that will be looking to make a name for themselves quickly inside the Octagon. Both fighters have the same amount of experience in their Pro careers but I’m taking the fighter with the slightly higher level of competition. [ad-3573245]
Pick: Antonio Carvalho -220
Sam Stout (17-6-1): -115
Thiago Tavares (16-4-1): -115
In a early favorite for Fight of the Night, two UFC veterans look to gain a little traction in the Lightweight Division. Striking will be the name of the game in this one. As long as the fight stays standing, Stout has the aggressiveness to give him a slight edge – enough to give a decision victory. It should be fun with the Canadian coming out on top.
Pick: Sam Stout -115
Mike Pyle (21-8-1): -500
Ricardo Funch (8-2): +350
Experience meets youth in a Welterweight match at UFC 142. Ricardo Funch will be looking to get his first win in the UFC after two losses. The key for Funch – stopping Pyle’s inevitable takedown attempts. I don’t see him being able to do so – Pyle gets it done by submission!
Pick: Mike Pyle -500
Gabriel Gonzaga (12-6): -130
Ednaldo Oliveira (13-0-1, 1 NC): +100
Gabriel Gonzaga will look to make the most of his second chance in the UFC when he takes on Ednaldo Oliveira – a training partner of Junior Dos Santos. Oliveira his ridden his 6’7” frame to an undefeated record so far in the Octagon but it will likely be the unquestioned power of Gonzaga that makes the difference in this one. Gonzaga has too much to lose and way, way too much to gain to be denied. In an exciting Heavyweight tilt, Gonzaga wins the fight and possibly Knockout of the Night honors!
Pick: Gabriel Gonzaga -130
Yuri Alcantara (26-3): -180
Michihiro Omigawa (13-10-1): +150
Featherweights are on tap on the undercard of UFC 142. Yuri Alcantara will be going for his 13th straight win over Michihiro Omigawa who has gone just 1-3 in the UFC. Alcantara will dominate this fight anywhere that it happens to go – on the ground or on the feet. Alcantara enters the Featherweight Title conversation with an impressive win on Saturday.
Pick: Yuri Alcantara -180
