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ROUNDTABLE: Predictions for Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes rematch at UFC 179
Oct 25, 2014 - 4:35:03 PM ROUNDTABLE: Predictions for Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes rematch at UFC 179

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Who wins the UFC Title rematch between Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes at UFC 179, and how?


DAN MOORE, MMATORCH UK COLUMNIST

There will probably be a lot of people backing Chad Mendes to pull off the upset, but I'm not one of them. I do think it's going to be a lot closer than their first encounter at UFC 142, but it won't be close enough. Mendes is going to struggle to take Aldo down with any kind of regularity, and even if he does, he probably won't be able keep him down. Aldo has been champion for this long because his fight IQ is outstanding. He isn't always entertaining to watch, but he knows how to do just enough to win against a particular style of opponent.

Mendes needs to do something spectacular early in the fight to have any chance of winning. Failing that, he needs to dominate Aldo in the latter rounds, and I'm convinced he won't be able to. Even though Aldo tends to fade going into championship rounds, Mendes himself has struggled toward the end of three round fights, and that doesn't bode well if he needs to finish strong. I expect Mendes to put Aldo in some tricky situations early on in the fight. But the Brazilian will eventually work his magic with high volume leg kicks, and win this fight by unanimous decision.


FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

I'm going with Aldo here. I know Mendes will be looking to avenge his early loss to Aldo, but I think Aldo is still one of the best fighters in the world. He's taken to outpointing guys in his fights, which I don't like, but he still has the ability to finish guys quickly. He can be an explosive striker when he wants to be, and I think he will want to in this fight. He'll have to be that explosive striker if he wants to beat Mendes. Mendes is too good for Aldo to toy with, so he'll have to bring it if he wants to keep his title.


BRAD WALKER, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

I'm going out of my way to pick Chad Mendes over a cage grab this time around. Aldo's weakness is his ground game on bottom and Mendes has the power and skill to put and keep him there. I'm taking Mendes by decision because I don't believe he will feel bold enough to go for a finish.


KALE HAVERVOLD, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

I think Jose Aldo retains his title. He is just much to well rounded. And other than the odd fatigue, he has no noticeable weaknesses. Only way I see Mendes being able to win is by holding him down for five rounds, and I don't see it happening. Aldo will stop him again.


TOM STRONG, MMATORCH UK CONTRIBUTOR

I'm quite surprised so many people are picking Mendes to beat Aldo this coming Saturday. I just don't see it. Since his defeat to Aldo, Mendes has gone on a five fight winning streak, knocking out four of the five opponents, with his latest victory being a unanimous decision win over Nik Lentz. Well, that fight was almost ten months ago!

Aldo is just a beast, and always finds a way to win. If Mendes can get Aldo down, things might just get interesting. Though getting Aldo down, and keeping him down, is a whole different ball game. It has been done before with Mark Hominick in the later rounds where Aldo was exhausted, but that was three years ago, and Aldo has improved his cardio and weight cutting since then.

Striking will be key to this fight; Mendes has much improved in this area, but will it be enough to end Aldo's four year reign as champion?

Prediction: Jose Aldo TKO Round three