Aldo vs. Mendes II: Complete Guide to UFC 179
The UFC is back!
After a plethora of fight cards throughout 2014 the UFC gave everyone a few weeks break from action. Now an 11-fight slate brings back MMA action. UFC 179 takes place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The main event is a rematch between Chad "Money" Mendes and Jose Aldo. The two originally battled in Brazil at UFC 142 in 2012. More than two years later Mendes has earned another crack at the championship. Mendes' first bid ended in the first round after Aldo broke free and turned to unleash a brutal knee to Mendes' face.
Outside of the main event there are plenty of quality fights that should satisfy the fan's desire for finishes.
This is your complete guide to UFC 179. We will take a look at each and every fight on the card, tell you where you can watch it, and even throw in some predictions for you as well. Without further delay, let's walk through the UFC 179 fight card.
Fabricio Camoes vs. Tony Martin
1 of 11
Division: Lightweight
Records: Fabricio Camoes (14-8-1), Tony Martin (8-2)
See it on: UFC Fight Pass (subscription required)
Camoes earned his way back into the UFC with back-to-back wins over Steve Lopez and Efrain Edscudero in 2011, but his return hasn't been fantastic. He is 1-2 since returning to the UFC, and has an 1-3-1 overall UFC record.
Martin hasn't fared any better. His 8-0 undefeated record earned him a UFC contract, but he has been defeated in each of his two UFC bouts. He comes in short notice to take on Camoes at UFC 179.
Both fighters may be fighting for their UFC careers in this fight.
Martin has the talent to win the fight, but Camoes is an underrated fighter in the division. He isn't championship material, but he is well-rounded and tough. He has fought better competition than Martin, and that experience against a tougher slate will be the difference.
Prediction: Camoes, unanimous decision
Gilbert Burns vs. Christos Giagos
2 of 11
Division: Lightweight
Records: Gilbert Burns (8-0), Christos Giagos (10-2)
See it on: Fight Pass (subscription required)
Giagos makes his UFC debut on Saturday against the undefeated Burns. Giagos got the UFC contract after winning four straight fights with his latest win coming over Dakota Cochrane at RFA 17.
Burns debuted at UFC on Fox 12 against Andreas Stahl in a welterweight affair, but now he drops back to lightweight.
This is a tall order for Giagos. He has shown quality skills himself, but Burns is a world jiu-jitsu champion. He has to try and defeat him in hostile territory. Burns will have to be weary of the stand-up, but once the distance is closed it will be difficult for Giagos to stop Burns from controlling this fight.
Expect Burns to showcase his superior ground skills at UFC 179.
Prediction: Burns, submission
Felipe Arantes vs. Andre Fili
3 of 11
Division: Featherweight
Records: Felipe Arantes (16-6-1 [2 NC]), Andre Fili (13-2)
See it on: Fox Sports 1
Fili entered the UFC with significant hype. The young featherweight showed all the promise and more in his TKO win over Jeremy Larsen, but took a step back when Max Holloway dispatched of him at UFC 172.
Arantes' UFC tenure has been up and down. He has never won or loss consecutive fights. A 3-2-1 UFC record is curious considering he holds wins over the likes of Godofredo Pepey and Maximo Blanco, but faltered against Kevin Souza and drew with Milton Vieira. He has not been consistent.
This fight will test both men. Fili will bring the fight to Arantes. This could be a chance for Fili to add to his highlight reel, but Arantes holds good power in his hands as well. The matchup will be a fantastic opener to the Fox Sports 1 prelims.
This fight could easily go 15 minutes in a back-and-forth affair, but I think Fili can catch Arantes to put him back on the path as one of the top prospects at 145-pounds.
Prediction: Fili, TKO
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Scott Jorgensen vs. Wilson Reis
4 of 11
Division: Flyweight
Records: Scott Jorgensen (15-9), Wilson Reis (18-5)
See it on: Fox Sports 1
This could be the Fight of the Night, and you can catch it live and free on Fox Sports 1. That's a win for us all.
Jorgensen finally got back in the win column against Danny Martinez in June to break a three fight losing skid, but he is right back into a bout against a top level fighter. Reis dropped to flyweight and looked solid in his decision win over Joby Sanchez.
This fight is a clash of styles, but also between two fighters who can throw out their gameplans and swing away. It will be very interesting to see which fight we get. Jorgensen may not want to utilize his wrestling against Reis, a jiu-jitsu world champion. In spite of coming off a win, Jorgensen may still have his back pressed against the wall. His wrestling and power may be able to stifle Reis.
This is just a difficult fight to pick, but I lean toward Reis. Jorgensen's struggles against above average competition cannot be ignored. And Reis is certainly above average.
Prediction: Reis, unanimous decision
Yan Cabral vs. Naoyuki Kotani
5 of 11
Division: Lightweight
Records: Yan Cabral (11-1), Naoyuki Kotani (33-11-7)
See it on: Fox Sports 1
We head back to the lightweight division for the next fight on the card, and we reach an interesting fight.
Kotani's record looks good, and shows he has a wealth of experience. However, that is deceiving. He ran up his tally against mediocre competition. The UFC gave him a shot in 2007, and he went 0-2. He returned earlier this year and lost to Normal Parke.
Cabral is 1-1 in his UFC career.
The two fighters coming off a loss could be fighting for their spot on the crowded lightweight roster. If you have to tip the scale in someone's favor it would have to be Cabral. His wins over Sakuraba and David Mitchell are better than almost anything Kotani has ever done.
Prediction: Cabral, submission
William Macario vs. Neil Magny
6 of 11
Division: Welterweight
Records: William Marcario (7-1), Neil Magny (12-3)
See it on: Fox Sports 1
Few fighters are having a better 2014 than Magny. The former The Ultimate Fighter contestant went 1-2 in 2013, but rebounded in the new year with four-in-a-row. He can make a case for a much bigger fight with a fifth consecutive W on Saturday.
Marcario won't be an easy out. He has been out of action since December, but the former The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil finalist is coming off a win over Bobby Voelker at UFC 168.
Last year I would have probably taken Marcario in this matchup, but Magny has grown leaps and bounds as a fighter in the last year. He has started to utilize his reach very well, and also shows nice skills on the mat. His growth as a fighter shows why The Ultimate Fighter is still a quality way for the UFC to bring along fighters.
Magny continues his upward trend in the division.
Prediction: Magny, unanimous decision
Carlos Diego Ferreira vs. Beneil Dariush
7 of 11
Division: Lightweight
Records: Carlos Diego Ferreira (11-0), Beneil Dariush (8-1)
See it on: PPV
Ferreira was a known prospect in the lightweight division, but he announced himself a legitimate threat to anyone in the division with his performance against Ramsey Nijem at UFC 177.
Dariush is another young prospect in the division, but he faltered against Nijem when he met him in April. Now, MMA Math does not always work, but this particular one is recent enough to draw some conclusions from.
Ferreira is further along in his development, and this fight looks like a showcase fight for him. Dariush is not a lamb being led to slaughter per se, but they sure are not doing him any favors. He will be out of his depth on Saturday.
The talented Brazilian dominated this fight and puts himself on a list of fighters to watch heading into 2015.
Prediction: Ferrira, submission
Darren Elkins vs. Lucas Martins
8 of 11
Division: Featherweight
Records: Darren Elkins (17-4), Lucas Martins (15-1)
See it on: PPV
This fight is largely a striker versus grappler battle, and that favors the American.
Elkins is a grinder. Martins is an explosive striker. Martins will struggle to stay upright in this fight.
Elkins has stifled the likes of Diego Brandao, Steven Siler and lasted on the ground with Hatsu Hioki. It is difficult to see how Martins can do any better without sneaking in the one strike that rocks Elkins. The American has been fighting better competition, and only a select few have been able to avoid his grinding style.
Martins is being thrown into a fight against the worst style he could be facing for what he does best. After what should be an exciting PPV opening contest this one will bring the Brazilian crowd back down before getting to the final three fights.
Prediction: Elkins, unanimous decision
Fabio Maldonado vs. Hans Stringer
9 of 11
Division: Light Heavyweight
Records: Fabio Maldonado (21-7), Hans Stringer (22-5)
See it on: PPV
The durable Brazilian had won three straight fights in the light heavyweight division, and then he stepped up on short notice to fight top-five heavyweight Stipe Miocic. That fight went how just about any fight between a mid-tier light heavyweight and elite heavyweight would go. Badly.
Now he returns to the proper division against a proper opponent.
Stringer won his UFC in March with a split decision over Francimar Barroso. The 27-year-old Dutch fighter brings in a style that will appease the Brazilian crowd for this fight. And it is a style that will favor Maldonado.
These two will stand and exchange. Now that Maldonado won't be fighting a heavyweight, he will be able to press forward and absorb shots while dealing out his own punishment. It should be an exciting encounter where they'll duke it out until one falls.
It favors Maldonado, but isn't a lock.
Prediction: Maldonado, TKO
Glover Teixeira vs. Phil Davis
10 of 11
Division: Light Heavyweight
Records: Glover Teixeira (22-3), Phil Davis (12-2 [1 NC])
See it on: PPV
Now we get to the meat of the show. No. 4-ranked contender Texieira battles No. 6-ranked Davis.
We have not seen Teixeira since his failed bid at the UFC light heavyweight strap. And he doesn't get an easy fight in his return. The last time Brazilian fans saw Davis he was winning a contentious decision over local Lyoto Machida.
Davis was on his way to potentially earning a title shot, but was sent back to the drawing board with a loss to Anthony Johnson. The former Penn State wrestler has all of the raw ability to be a threat to the gold, but has failed to put it all together.
Teixeira has quality takedown defense, 75% according to FightMetric, and will need it to defeat Davis. If Teixeira can stop the takedowns and turn this into a striking match he will have a decided advantage. We saw that with Johnson vs. Davis.
Davis has to be a threat on the feet to make Teixeira defend before going for the takedown. He cannot be predictable. He has a decent jab, and good reach. This fight largely depends on if he can take Teixeira down. On the mat, Davis' top pressure will be hard to stop.
I have to favor Davis' wrestling. It will tax Teixeira's cardio over the course of the fight. Davis eeks another one out in Brazil.
Prediction: Davis
Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes
11 of 11
Division: Featherweight
Records: Jose Aldo (24-1), Chad Mendes (11-1)
See it on: PPV
This rematch isn't getting the hype it deserves, and don't sleep on this being a back-and-forth fight that challenges Aldo.
In their first fight Mendes nearly had Aldo to the mat, but a fence grab stopped it from happening. Eventually, Aldo broke the body lock, turned and iced Mendes. If Mendes gets that takedown that maybe doesn't happen and the course of the fight is altered.
Since that fight, Mendes has dramatically improved his hands. Both his speed and technique has improved greatly. And a five fight win streak with four knockouts prove just that.
Aldo has fallen into a point-fighting method in recent fights. He doesn't take the risks that led him to the championship. He plays it safe. That is smart, but also off-putting for the fans. Will Aldo feel the pressure to throw caution to the wind this Saturday?
After Mendes' recent comments about his not promoting the fight enough he may just want to make an example out of the American. He also carries the weight of being the only non-American champion left on the UFC roster.
Stylistically this fight was very intriguing the first time the two met, and now after Mendes' improvements it is even more of an enticing fight to watch. Aldo is the cream of the crop, and his takedown defense will make it exceptionally difficult for Mendes to win this fight.
It won't end in the first round, but Buffer will announce "...and still" at the end of the contest.
Prediction: Aldo, TKO
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