The UFC featherweight title unification bout is less than three months away as the main event at UFC 212 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Hawaiian interim champion Max Holloway (17-3) will bring a 10-fight winning streak into enemy territory against Brazilian champion Jose Aldo (26-2), who has won 19 of 20 but fought more than 13 seconds only once since October of 2014. While the 25-year-old Holloway has obviously been the more active fighter recently, Aldo’s longevity and nearly unbeatable experience inside the Octagon continue to make him arguably the scariest opponent on the planet for any 145-pounder not named Conor McGregor. Holloway’s four-inch height advantage could also pose problems for the 5-foot-7 Aldo as one of the biggest featherweights on the UFC roster. Regardless, this looks to be one of the most intriguing title fights of 2017 and should be worth the wait. MMA oddsmaker Nick Kalikas just released the opening line for Aldo vs. Holloway via Several Bookmakers and ESPN… Featherweight title Jose Aldo -130 Max Holloway +100 Nick’s thoughts: It’s going to be a competitive fight, it’s probably going to hit the scorecards. Still, Aldo can finish anyone, anytime. He’s the best featherweight of all-time for a reason. Right now, the opening line is closer than people might anticipate, but a lot of that has to do with Holloway’s rise, especially in the eyes of bettors despite the fight being in Brazil. Holloway’s been bet up to an extreme degree in his last eight fights from the opening number, with the public riding him for almost all of his 10-bout winning streak. The recent run for Holloway has been much more impressive than that of Aldo, who has fought just over 15 rounds in the previous three years combined. Holloway is 10-0 during that same stretch dating back to the start of 2014, which is incredible and shows you the drastic difference in their level of activity. Aldo is a deserving favorite based on his longtime domination of the division until losing to Conor McGregor, who is coincidentally the last fighter to beat Holloway back in 2013. But there is obviously a lot of respect for Holloway and his recent run to the top along with the fact that he is just entering his prime while Aldo’s best years might be behind him.
