Pros Pick: Aldo vs. Faber
Mike Sloan Apr 24, 2010
History will be made Saturday in Sacramento, Calif., as the WEC
televises its first pay-per-view event. Headlining is a stellar
featherweight bout between champion Jose Aldo and
former champion Urijah
Faber.
It’s the perfect style matchup between a powerful wrestler with insane cardio in Faber and a submission dynamo who has some of the smoothest and most dangerous striking in the sport in Aldo. Faber is determined to recapture the title, but Aldo has been tearing the 145-pound class asunder and currently stands as a 3-to-1 favorite in various sportsbooks.
Sherdog.com recently caught up with dozens of professional fighters
and trainers brave enough to put their street cred on the line and
predict a winner.
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira: I think Jose Aldo will impose his pace and get the knockout in the third round.
Mike Ciesnolevicz: After seeing Faber lose twice to Mike Brown and Aldo just destroyed Brown and everyone else they put in front of him, it’s hard to think Faber will win the fight. Maybe if he takes it to the later rounds he can outwork Aldo and score takedowns, maybe utilize the clinch and tire Aldo out. The smart money is on Aldo by TKO, round one or two.
Elvis Sinosic: I'm picking Aldo to win this one. It will be a late finish or a decision. Both guys are machines. This will be a great match to watch.
Tyron Woodley: I am torn in this matchup. I'm trying to look at it from a neutral standpoint. A part of me (wants) to say Aldo because he is so sick. Then I want to go with the wrestler. I think Aldo can do stuff no one should be able to do. He is like Bones (Jon Jones) on three Rockstars. But Urijah has lots of gas. Heart says Aldo, but I’m going with Urijah. That way if he has the belt, Brown can beat Aldo in a rematch and take the belt from Urijah again! Boo-ya!
Gabe Ruediger: Should be a good fight. Both guys come to fight, and it should be entertaining. No one has really been able to find an answer for Aldo. I don’t think Urijah will either. I’m going with Aldo by TKO. On a side note, I’m out training with Ben Henderson for the Cerrone fight right now, and I’m picking Ben to win the rematch.
Thiago Tavares: I think that Aldo is the more complete fighter and more dangerous nowadays. He will win by knockout.
Lee Mein: I think Aldo will win if he lands more punches, gets more takedowns and attempts more submissions.
Stephane Vigneault: Aldo by TKO. He is just too fast, too aggressive, too good. Aldo over Faber via TKO round two.
Aldo is a huge
favorite.
Pedro
Rizzo: I think it ends in the second round. Aldo is well
trained, confident. There’s no way for Faber to overcome him. Aldo
by knockout or submission.
Jaime Fletcher: I think if Faber can turn this thing into a wild scrap on the feet and scramble fast on the ground, he can find a way to win. He's good at that, and his submission game is underrated. If Aldo stays in his comfort zone, I think his style is too precise and brutal. I pick the “California Kid” by submission in the later rounds of the fight. He knows he can't play games with Aldo, and I think he will be focused and serious.
Marcus Davis: Blazing speed, vicious strikes and cage control guide Aldo to a KO/TKO victory.
Tom Gavrilos: Aldo is a force, but Brown seemed beaten before he even got in. The explosiveness of Aldo is intimidating. Faber is hungry, tough and hard to intimidate. If any style matches up well with Aldo, I think it’s Faber’s. Faber by decision.
Vitor Miranda: Aldo is stronger in striking, and it is very hard to take him to the ground. I think he wins by knockout.
Robin Black: If anyone out there thinks this doesn’t have Fight of the Year written all over it, they’re bonkers. Both guys are insanely fast, both guys have explosive striking, both guys are in crazy condition. It may come down to Faber’s wrestling versus Aldo’s black belt level jiu-jitsu. On the other hand, either guy can KO the other if he makes the smallest mistake. Man, tough one to call. The only thing we do know is it’ll be exciting.
Nick Thompson: Derrick Noble and I are still taking a break from one another, so I will again have to go it alone in this Pros Pick. Maybe he will be less agitable after his fight on the 24th; he is just so moody. But I digress. Aldo has looked really, really good lately. But Faber is always very affable when I see him. Based on that analysis, I have Faber via unanimous decision.
Gustavo Machado: I think Aldo wins by knockout or submission. It won’t go to a judges’ decision. Aldo is in a great rhythm, very confident and better standing and on the ground.
Cristiano Marcello: I do not see major problems for Aldo in this fight. Being an athlete complete on the ground and standing, if he dictates the pace he's been putting in his training, I see an early end with a knockout or submission.
Matt Mitrione: Aldo is a beast, but I feel Urijah has something to prove again. I go with Urijah, but it’ll be a war.
Vitor Ribeiro: Aldo will block all takedown attempts and will finish the fight in the second round on the ground.
Carlos Barreto: It will be a big test for Aldo because Faber is a good athlete, has a strong and competitive game. I think Aldo will know how to impose his pace and will force Faber into his game of sharp and thundering strikes. Aldo by KO.
Chael Sonnen: I’ll be ringside for the match, and if you see me, don’t be afraid to send over a nacho (plate) and a Coke big enough to swim in. Faber (wins).
Pros who picked Aldo: 14
Pros who picked Faber: 7
Pros who couldn’t decide: 1
Gleidson Venga contributed to this article. You can also contact Mike Sloan at www.facebook.com/mikesloan19
It’s the perfect style matchup between a powerful wrestler with insane cardio in Faber and a submission dynamo who has some of the smoothest and most dangerous striking in the sport in Aldo. Faber is determined to recapture the title, but Aldo has been tearing the 145-pound class asunder and currently stands as a 3-to-1 favorite in various sportsbooks.
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Antonio Rogerio Nogueira: I think Jose Aldo will impose his pace and get the knockout in the third round.
Benji
Radach: Knowing Mikey Brown and the mental state he was
in when he fought Aldo, I can see Faber having a lot bigger chance
to take this fight than most people think. Aldo brings a lot to the
table, but Urijah has what it takes to keep the pressure on and get
the win as long as he doesn't decide to throw too much flash in the
first round of the fight, (like a) spinning back elbow headbutt
fist. I'm going to root for Uriah. I'm sure he's hungry and looking
for some.
Mike Ciesnolevicz: After seeing Faber lose twice to Mike Brown and Aldo just destroyed Brown and everyone else they put in front of him, it’s hard to think Faber will win the fight. Maybe if he takes it to the later rounds he can outwork Aldo and score takedowns, maybe utilize the clinch and tire Aldo out. The smart money is on Aldo by TKO, round one or two.
Elvis Sinosic: I'm picking Aldo to win this one. It will be a late finish or a decision. Both guys are machines. This will be a great match to watch.
Tyron Woodley: I am torn in this matchup. I'm trying to look at it from a neutral standpoint. A part of me (wants) to say Aldo because he is so sick. Then I want to go with the wrestler. I think Aldo can do stuff no one should be able to do. He is like Bones (Jon Jones) on three Rockstars. But Urijah has lots of gas. Heart says Aldo, but I’m going with Urijah. That way if he has the belt, Brown can beat Aldo in a rematch and take the belt from Urijah again! Boo-ya!
Gabe Ruediger: Should be a good fight. Both guys come to fight, and it should be entertaining. No one has really been able to find an answer for Aldo. I don’t think Urijah will either. I’m going with Aldo by TKO. On a side note, I’m out training with Ben Henderson for the Cerrone fight right now, and I’m picking Ben to win the rematch.
Thiago Tavares: I think that Aldo is the more complete fighter and more dangerous nowadays. He will win by knockout.
Lee Mein: I think Aldo will win if he lands more punches, gets more takedowns and attempts more submissions.
Stephane Vigneault: Aldo by TKO. He is just too fast, too aggressive, too good. Aldo over Faber via TKO round two.
Dave
Mandel/Sherdog.com
Jaime Fletcher: I think if Faber can turn this thing into a wild scrap on the feet and scramble fast on the ground, he can find a way to win. He's good at that, and his submission game is underrated. If Aldo stays in his comfort zone, I think his style is too precise and brutal. I pick the “California Kid” by submission in the later rounds of the fight. He knows he can't play games with Aldo, and I think he will be focused and serious.
Marcus Davis: Blazing speed, vicious strikes and cage control guide Aldo to a KO/TKO victory.
Tom Gavrilos: Aldo is a force, but Brown seemed beaten before he even got in. The explosiveness of Aldo is intimidating. Faber is hungry, tough and hard to intimidate. If any style matches up well with Aldo, I think it’s Faber’s. Faber by decision.
Vitor Miranda: Aldo is stronger in striking, and it is very hard to take him to the ground. I think he wins by knockout.
Robin Black: If anyone out there thinks this doesn’t have Fight of the Year written all over it, they’re bonkers. Both guys are insanely fast, both guys have explosive striking, both guys are in crazy condition. It may come down to Faber’s wrestling versus Aldo’s black belt level jiu-jitsu. On the other hand, either guy can KO the other if he makes the smallest mistake. Man, tough one to call. The only thing we do know is it’ll be exciting.
Nick Thompson: Derrick Noble and I are still taking a break from one another, so I will again have to go it alone in this Pros Pick. Maybe he will be less agitable after his fight on the 24th; he is just so moody. But I digress. Aldo has looked really, really good lately. But Faber is always very affable when I see him. Based on that analysis, I have Faber via unanimous decision.
Gustavo Machado: I think Aldo wins by knockout or submission. It won’t go to a judges’ decision. Aldo is in a great rhythm, very confident and better standing and on the ground.
Cristiano Marcello: I do not see major problems for Aldo in this fight. Being an athlete complete on the ground and standing, if he dictates the pace he's been putting in his training, I see an early end with a knockout or submission.
Matt Mitrione: Aldo is a beast, but I feel Urijah has something to prove again. I go with Urijah, but it’ll be a war.
Vitor Ribeiro: Aldo will block all takedown attempts and will finish the fight in the second round on the ground.
Carlos Barreto: It will be a big test for Aldo because Faber is a good athlete, has a strong and competitive game. I think Aldo will know how to impose his pace and will force Faber into his game of sharp and thundering strikes. Aldo by KO.
Chael Sonnen: I’ll be ringside for the match, and if you see me, don’t be afraid to send over a nacho (plate) and a Coke big enough to swim in. Faber (wins).
Pros who picked Aldo: 14
Pros who picked Faber: 7
Pros who couldn’t decide: 1
Gleidson Venga contributed to this article. You can also contact Mike Sloan at www.facebook.com/mikesloan19
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