The Glade 4.0

My favorite fighter and one of my all time favorite atheletes, Jose Aldo, gets his crack at the Featherweight champ, Mike Thomas Brown at WEC 44 tomorrow night. The WEC's featherweight division is considered among the best in all fight promotions, better than Shooto's lightweight (143), Bellator (145) and Dream/DEEP FC's featherwight (139) and Sengouku (143). Alexandre Franca Nogueira established himself as the 145 lber's king in Japan where he fought to a 12-2-2 record in Shooto. Coming over to WEC, he was dispatched by Aldo.

The epicenter of 145 lb division was built upon Urijah Faber, who destroyed the competition in King of the Cage, Gladiator Challenge, and then to the WEC where he built up the division around his belt. MTB has since beaten him twice, one in a stunning first round stoppage to win the belt and again in a 5 round unanimous decision. It's a good time for the division as they have actually established a lineage for the belt, with the passing of one undisputed champion to the next.

Since 2006, neither Brown or Aldo have lost and have combined 18 wins since that time. Aldo has a very tough fight ahead of himself, because of Browns enormous strength, wrestling and powerful hands. However, Aldo has the edge in speed, explosiveness, reach, length (better knees in the clinch) and probably submissions. Brown has an edge in experience. Both are equal in endurance with Brown maybe being tougher.

Brown trains in Florida with ATT, who have spawned past contenders Thiago Alves (loss to GSP) and Thiago Silva, and current Strikeforce Heavyweight contendor, Antonio Silva. Aldo is associated with Nova União that counts among its team, Thales Leites, Vitor Ribeiro, Wagnney Fabiano, and formerly, current UFC Lightweight Champion BJ Penn.

Previously, Aldo was a semi-pro footballer in Brazil and 135 lb (I believe) world champion in Jiu-Jitsu as a brown belt. He defeated the current 3-time featherweight black belt world champion Rubens Charles "Cobrinha" in the semifinals that year.

Here's hoping Aldo pulls off the upset!

The card can been tomorrow, live, at 9EST on VS. VS broadcasts in HD, as well.

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"It's real, grew up in trife life, the times of white lines
The hype vice, murderous nighttimes and knife fights invite crimes" - Nasir Jones

Thanks for the reminder. I will try and stay awake to watch this fight.

I haven't seen much of Aldo, but I did see the fight where he ended Cub Swanson (I think) in about 8 seconds with that brutal flying knee to the forehead. He looks like a very explosive fighter.

Is there any hope left for Faber? His second fight with Brown was such a disappointment since he broke his hand and could only throw elbows. I really think Brown would have had a tough fight in front of him had Urijah stayed unbroken.

Faber is definately one of my favorite fighters.

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This must be Thursday. I could never get the hang of Thursdays.

ALDO BY TKO IN ROUND 2!!!!!!!!

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"It's real, grew up in trife life, the times of white lines
The hype vice, murderous nighttimes and knife fights invite crimes" - Nasir Jones

Foamy:

Faber is a better fighter than Brown. Brown is more technically sound, more cool, maybe a bit stronger, but Faber is a better athelete because of his speed, footwork, and ability to push the pace. Brown got completely picked apart by Aldo, who frustrasted him with his trademark spring-loaded leg kicks, and he hammered him from range with long jabs.

Aldo would beat Faber, because I think he's faster than Faber and as strong or stronger than Brown. He showed awesome takedown defense against MTB, who wasn't able to score a single takedown. The only advantage Faber might have is heart, he's a tremendous competitor. But Aldo is a plain better fighter.

Either way, it's the only fight left. Leonard Garcia might give him some trouble because he's by far, the tallest 145, but Garcia showed he has no fight losing as completely lopsided UD to Manvel Gamburyan. Gamburyan himself might even be a better match for Aldo, but unless Gamburyan can score a takedown (which I don't think he can) Aldo will tool him even worse than he did Brown.

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"It's real, grew up in trife life, the times of white lines
The hype vice, murderous nighttimes and knife fights invite crimes" - Nasir Jones