Jose Aldo Plans On Knocking Out Chad Mendes For A Second Time

UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo will return to action this August, as he squares off for the second time against Team Alpha Male product Chad Mendes, at UFC 176. The two first squared off in Brazil, at UFC 142, where the Nova Uniao product scored a vicious first round knockout. Since then, neither man has lost.

Aldo went on to win three in the time since, as opposed to Mendes’ five straight, with four knockouts. It’s fair to say that ‘Money’ has evolved a lot in the time since, but ‘Scarface’ still feels he has his opponent’s number. Check out what he said to MMAFighting:

“We always try to relax after every fight because we train so hard, but I’m looking forward to fight again, [Mendes] is the only one left,” he continued. “It was between Cub Swanson and Chad Mendes, but Cub signed to fight Jeremy Stephens.”

“We already know each other so there’s nothing to hide,” he said. “I just have to get ready for the fight. Every fight is a new fight. We will study his fights and see all the details, things that he may have evolved or not. We will study his game and get there to defend the title.”

The first fight was decisive enough, but Mendes has certainly filled his time well since that night in Brazil. ‘Money’ has looked unstoppable at 145 pounds, knocking out Cody McKenzie, Yaotzin Meza, Darren Elkins, Clay Guida and decisioning ‘Carny’ Nik Lentz. Aldo continued:

“Every fighter seeks evolution. If a fighter thinks he knows everything and stops trying to evolve, he’s lost. He may have evolved, but we are going to watch his fights and see. We will work hard (for the knockout),” he said. “I respect every opponent, but I will train hard to get that.”

Mendes was the last fighter that Aldo actually finished with strikes. Korean Zombie at UFC 163 was officially a TKO by punches, but the fact remains that it was due to a shoulder injury, and wasn’t a clean knockout. After a dominant five round decision win over Ricardo Lamas at UFC 169, many fans questioned Aldo’s finishing abilities.

At such a high level, it is very hard to maintain a good finishing rate. If anyone is going to test if the champion has still got it, that man will be Chad Mendes. He is looking like a tank right now, and If Aldo can get the finish, there wouldn’t be many reasons to stick around at featherweight.

Photo by Jason Silva USA Today Sports