Super Bowl weekend will start off with a bang when Jose Aldo (3-0 UFC) defends his featherweight title against former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar. UFC 156: Aldo vs. Edgar takes place at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas this Saturday.
Edgar is dropping down from lightweight to featherweight after two straight decision losses to Benson Henderson at UFC 144 in Japan and at UFC 150. Out of all of Aldo’s competition, Edgar could have the answer for Aldo’s attack.
Aldo loves to strike, but can he handle himself if it goes to the ground? Frankie’s wrestling is on a high level and he should be able to secure a take-down or two, but will he be able to keep Aldo on his back?
Can Edgar win this fight standing? Will Aldo knock Frankie out of the UFC with another title loss and be the first person to finish Edgar? Let’s break this fight down from top to bottom.
~Aldo’s Strengths~
Muay Thai, BJJ, deadly soccer style leg kicks and a unique barrage of strikes.
~Edgar’s Strengths~
Great chin, heart, wrestling, loves to catch kicks, well rounded mma fighter.
~What these fighters share~
Great cardio, speed and endurance.
~How Aldo wins~
Aldo needs to match Edgar’s speed, keep moving and utilize and land multiple leg kicks. Aldo can win this fight standing if he can land one of his devastating blows, but Edgar is no easy finish, and Aldo better be ready to go five rounds with the former lightweight champion. Aldo should expect Edgar to try and keep this fight on the ground, but as we all know, Aldo doesn’t stay down easy.
~How Edgar Wins~
Edgar can win this fight through being the faster of the two and by pushing the pace. I see this fight being a stand-up war, but I honestly think if Edgar can get the fight to the ground early and often, then he has a great shot at walking out the new featherweight champion via unanimous decision.
Edgar needs to not get stuck on his feet and instead keep the champ guessing. Bouncing around with high intensity and trading blows back and fourth won’t win this fight for him. Edgar isn’t finishing Aldo and if he expects a win, he needs to mix his game up. He needs to get this fight to the ground and keep it there, via Mark Hominick-esque ground and pound. If he can do something like this, then “The Answer” could be the new featherweight champion.
~Final Thought~
The faster fighter will win this fight in my opinion. I see Edgar pushing the pace early but fading late. Aldo will use his leg kicks and after Frankie learns he can’t catch the majority of them, he will have to rethink his game-plan, and by then it will be too late. Edgar won’t get this fight to the ground early enough and Aldo will wear him down in the stand-up game and win a decision. With a third straight loss, Edgar will saty at featherweight, but will be done as a top contender if he loses.