After watching the main event last night, I'm convinced Mendez will beat Aldo in their rematch and become new champ. The era of Brazilian dominance is coming to an end. Basically once that happens, every champ will be American. Not implying anything racial here just making an observation.
I don't see how TJ's victory translates to Mendes skillset. They're too entirely different fighters. Chad doesn't employ anywhere near the same kind of movement as TJ, and if he tried he would gas out. Chad is huge at 145 and carries a lot more muscle for his weight. TJ is on the smaller side of 135 fighters. Aldo is a different and better fighter than Barao. Methodical and technical with excellent striking defense.
Besides their kicks, Barao and Aldo are very different strikers. Aldo has a well rounded boxing game and can mix in his Muay Thai seamlessly. Barao has never been able to do that. Look at how many times Macdonald and Wineland were able to catch him in the punching exchanges.
Let's ignore the fact that Barao, Dillishaw, Aldo, and Mendes are different fighters with different fighting styles. There are clearly other forces at work here.
Lol at thinking Mendes, a completely different fighter than Dillashaw, will beat Aldo, a completely different fighter than Barao, because Dillashaw beat Barao. On the reals, doe... Nobody is beating Aldo for a few more years.
I effin hate it when people talk about "eras" in a serious way. But anyway, if there was such a thing as a Brazilian era, and if it were to end, it would get replaced by a Russian (and its federative states) era. American era was Tank Abbot till Chuck, and as far as I'm concerned ended when Chuck got schooled in Pride.
Aldo is a different fighter than Barao. Mendes is a different fighter than Dillashaw. Aldo will win via UD 49-46.
You watched a fight that included neither Mendes or Aldo, but that fight taught you that Mendes would win? That doesn't make sense....
I would usually say this is an idiotic comment but seeing how TJ was able to outstrike the striker and seeing how TJ and Mendes are trained by the same coach I dont think it would be such an idiotic comment to say... however I think Mendes should put his foot down and tell Urijah "no matter what the fuck you want I want Ludwing in my corner for the fight"
ok, fannyboz - a partially agree.... HW - mexican/american LHW - african/american MW - ok american WW - american LW - peurto rican/american FW - brazilian BW - american FW - african/american
Well, that whole tourney was set up in a deal between Dana and PRIDE so that Chuck and Wand could meet in the finals and Wand ultimately won, so there.
I'd strike the american part out of there, because he tries his darndest to point out the side of his heritage that he respects and identifies with, I mean... With the music, and the tattoos and the color scheme and everything.
