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Usually in fighting when a guy is a grappler and is bigger....he has the distinct advantage going into the fight. The difference between a Aldo/Khabib match up, is that size isn't going to be much of a factor. Let me explain why.
The whole reason people think Khabib could beat Aldo is for one reason...grappling. The thing is Khabibs takedowns are nothing special, they're actually incredibly basic and I dare anyone to try and explain why his takedowns are somehow different or better than anyone elses. He rushes in, takes strikes, and uses brute force to get deep in the penetration. Not only does he brute his way in, but he uses little technique to actually drag it down...instead he relies on locking his hands and just picking guys up and slamming them. His takedowns work very well because he's a big lightweight and over powers guys. His lack of takedown technique (within his mma fights) was exposes badly when he fought Gleison Tibau. Gleison is also a gigantic LW and 11..yes ELEVEN of all of Khabib's takedown attempts were EASILY stuffed. Infact, Gleison took Khabib down off of Khabib's own failed takedowns. So what does that say? His brute/pressure takedown style fails against people stronger/bigger than him. Of course most guys are not as strong as Tibau so we never really got to see Khabib get stuffed more often.
But Aldo isn't as strong as Tibau? True, but Aldo is one of the fastest fighters in the UFC and arguably the best reflexes. When it comes to defending takedowns, no one comes close to Aldo...he made Edgar look sloppy, Lamas couldn't do anything with him, and one of the best takedown artists in MMA history Chad Mendes struggled to take him down.
And when it comes to the takedowns, strength isn't a factor. It's about speed, set ups, and timing. Khabib may be strong as an ox, but if Aldo can see him shooting for the takedown...that strength means nothing until you can get a hold of him...and Chad/Frankie are miles faster and cleaner than Khabib in terms of takedowns. Just like KO power means nothing if the guy is too elusive. If Aldo can defend shots from much faster men...a brute like Khabib won't be able to touch his legs.
So again, we all know Khabib cannot win AT ALL unless he gets the takedown. So here are the reasons why this is arguably a UD for ALdo
1. Khabib's takedowns are the slowest that Aldo has ever faced. Better takedown guys like Chad struggled to even get in contact. Khabib relies on getting guys on the fence and then locking his hands. With Aldo, the time needed to lock hands is minimal.
2. Aldo's reflexes are on point to defend the takedown, but his pivot game is the best we've ever seen. He can defend the takedown athletically and technically. In the gif below, Frankie shoots a fantastic shot...but Aldo pivots well and if you look at frankies hands...he just wasn't fast enough to lock around and get his grip.
3. The size factor doesn't matter UNTIL it gets to the ground. Khabib relies too much on takedowns using the fence cause he wants guys trapped and have nowhere to go. He knows his shot and penetration are a bit sloppy and brutish, so he needs guys to be stuck on the fence to finally take them down. Aldo NEVER gets his back put against the fence because of his amazing footwork and pivot game.
Aldo would side step Khabib so hard, that Eagle would consider a career in dancing. Those sloppy doubles would look silly with Aldo's crisp footwork and pivoting. Not to mention, the striking aspect is not even worth mentioning...Khabib's grappling is world class...but he's got below-shields level striking. Not to mention Aldo is a black belt, MJ is a fish on the ground so don't use that as a bar on how good Khabib is. just 2 years ago, MJ got DESTROYED on the ground by now featherweight and black belt Myles Jury.
The whole reason people think Khabib could beat Aldo is for one reason...grappling. The thing is Khabibs takedowns are nothing special, they're actually incredibly basic and I dare anyone to try and explain why his takedowns are somehow different or better than anyone elses. He rushes in, takes strikes, and uses brute force to get deep in the penetration. Not only does he brute his way in, but he uses little technique to actually drag it down...instead he relies on locking his hands and just picking guys up and slamming them. His takedowns work very well because he's a big lightweight and over powers guys. His lack of takedown technique (within his mma fights) was exposes badly when he fought Gleison Tibau. Gleison is also a gigantic LW and 11..yes ELEVEN of all of Khabib's takedown attempts were EASILY stuffed. Infact, Gleison took Khabib down off of Khabib's own failed takedowns. So what does that say? His brute/pressure takedown style fails against people stronger/bigger than him. Of course most guys are not as strong as Tibau so we never really got to see Khabib get stuffed more often.
But Aldo isn't as strong as Tibau? True, but Aldo is one of the fastest fighters in the UFC and arguably the best reflexes. When it comes to defending takedowns, no one comes close to Aldo...he made Edgar look sloppy, Lamas couldn't do anything with him, and one of the best takedown artists in MMA history Chad Mendes struggled to take him down.
And when it comes to the takedowns, strength isn't a factor. It's about speed, set ups, and timing. Khabib may be strong as an ox, but if Aldo can see him shooting for the takedown...that strength means nothing until you can get a hold of him...and Chad/Frankie are miles faster and cleaner than Khabib in terms of takedowns. Just like KO power means nothing if the guy is too elusive. If Aldo can defend shots from much faster men...a brute like Khabib won't be able to touch his legs.
So again, we all know Khabib cannot win AT ALL unless he gets the takedown. So here are the reasons why this is arguably a UD for ALdo
1. Khabib's takedowns are the slowest that Aldo has ever faced. Better takedown guys like Chad struggled to even get in contact. Khabib relies on getting guys on the fence and then locking his hands. With Aldo, the time needed to lock hands is minimal.
2. Aldo's reflexes are on point to defend the takedown, but his pivot game is the best we've ever seen. He can defend the takedown athletically and technically. In the gif below, Frankie shoots a fantastic shot...but Aldo pivots well and if you look at frankies hands...he just wasn't fast enough to lock around and get his grip.
3. The size factor doesn't matter UNTIL it gets to the ground. Khabib relies too much on takedowns using the fence cause he wants guys trapped and have nowhere to go. He knows his shot and penetration are a bit sloppy and brutish, so he needs guys to be stuck on the fence to finally take them down. Aldo NEVER gets his back put against the fence because of his amazing footwork and pivot game.
Aldo would side step Khabib so hard, that Eagle would consider a career in dancing. Those sloppy doubles would look silly with Aldo's crisp footwork and pivoting. Not to mention, the striking aspect is not even worth mentioning...Khabib's grappling is world class...but he's got below-shields level striking. Not to mention Aldo is a black belt, MJ is a fish on the ground so don't use that as a bar on how good Khabib is. just 2 years ago, MJ got DESTROYED on the ground by now featherweight and black belt Myles Jury.
