Jose Aldo Says Chad Mendes Hasn’t Changed Since UFC 142
The main talking point around Jose Aldo vs Chad Mendes 2 seems to be about evolution…..
UFC 179 goes down this Saturday (October 25th, 2014) and is headlined by Jose Aldo vs Chad Mendes 2 for the featherweight strap. “Scarface” first saw off “Money” at UFC 142; knocking out the Alpha Male product in the first round with a swift knee. The two have become involved in quite a heated feud, perhaps made even more so by TJ Dillashaw knocking out Renan Barao at UFC 173.
It seems the banter around Jose Aldo vs Chad Mendes 2 has been on the subject of change or, more specifically, which fighter has changed more. Mendes claims he has evolved light years since the first fight, but Aldo argues that it is quite the opposite. Check out what the featherweight champion said to Combate.com, transcribed by Bloody Elbow:
“I see no difference in his game. He’s still the same person with the same game. He’s maybe more confident but there is nothing that I can see to tell: ‘Oh, the guy has a better striking now.’ No. He has never had a bout with a good striker and fought three rounds against him. In the cage we’ll see who evolved more.”
So Aldo makes the argument that Mendes has not evolved, let’s take a look at that claim; the five fights before Mendes fought Aldo consisted of four decisions and a submission win for “Money”. Since the first fight in Brazil, Mendes has put together four knockouts and one decision, but there is one part to Aldo’s claim that rings true.
“Money” has not faced a pure striker since his first fight with Aldo, and you could argue that his entire 16 wins have been against either all-rounders or wrestlers. I’m not backing Junior up, but clearly that is a valid point. With guys like Clay Guida, Nik Lentz, Darren Elkins and Yaotzin Meza, Mendes has never really had to defend against heavy kicks to the legs or slick & powerful boxing.
Is the champion right about the rematch, will Jose Aldo vs Chad Mendes be a repeat of UFC 142?
