UFC 156: February 2, 2013 Las Vegas, Nevada Featherweight Title Fight UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo (-205) Profile: The best featherweight MMA fighter the world has ever seen, UFC champion Jose Aldo (21-1) has no peer. His ferocious leg kicks, superlative takedown defense and incredible MMA skills translate into someone who was last defeated seven years ago and has matured into one of the most feared fighters on the planet. You could say Aldo has cleared out his entire division, sending Urijah Faber down to 135 pounds, retiring Kenny Florian, destroying the skull of Cub Swanson, and changing Mike Brown’s career forever after beating him for the WEC featherweight championship. The 26-year-old Brazilian has few challenges left but will have his first opportunity for a superfight with the chance meeting between he and Frankie Edgar, the former lightweight champ who has moved down after losing his belt. UFC Featherweight Contender Frankie Edgar (+155) Profile: The closest fighter the UFC has to Rocky Balboa, Frankie “The Answer” Edgar (14-3-1) has surprised everyone with his never-say-die attitude and come-from-behind guttiness that has led him to victories over B.J. Penn (twice) and his arch-nemesis Gray Maynard. Winner of five Fight of the Night awards, Edgar comes out of Renzo Gracie’s East Coast fight team with a chip on his shoulder and a Jersey attitude that have turned him into one of the most impressive UFC champions since Jens Pulver. Opponents can never count Edgar out, and the 30-year-old former champ has fought for the lightweight title six times. The most recent time resulted in his second straight setback against Benson Henderson that prompted him to drop down to featherweight and challenge Aldo for his title belt. Opening UFC 156 Odds Analysis: MMA oddsmaker Nick Kalikas has made Aldo a small -205 favorite (bet $205 to win $100) against Edgar, who opened as a +155 underdog (bet $100 to win $155) according to the MMA odds. UFC president Dana White got what he wanted with Edgar moving to featherweight, a logical decision considering his size when compared to some of the bigger lightweight contenders. While Edgar was able to win the title at 155, he belongs at 145 and will have to beat the best to become the best in the division. Aldo was originally scheduled to fight Erik Koch, who is not even in MMAOB’s Top 15 MMA Fighter Rankings at featherweight. When Koch pulled out of their fight due to injury, it made perfect sense for Edgar to step in despite suffering consecutive losses to Benson Henderson. The problem is, Aldo is still the superior fighter, and Edgar is jumping right into the fire rather than earning his way to a title shot. A superfight pattern could continue if White follows through with his plans for another blockbuster matchup between middleweight champion Anderson Silva and welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre, who may also be out of challengers following his upcoming title bout against Carlos Condit at UFC 154 in November. Aldo’s recent foot injury that pushed this fight back from UFC 153 is a minor concern, as a bigger one might be the layoff he has had since knocking out Chad Mendes back on January 14 at UFC 142. Regardless, Edgar’s heart gives him a chance, although a victory would likely set up a fourth straight rematch for him with Aldo getting an opportunity to win back his belt if he happens to lose.
