WEC 48 Preview: The Main Card
Aldo vs. Faber
Apr 23, 2010
April hasn’t been a good month for MMA fans to say the least.
UFC 112 managed to avoid any weather-related problems only to have Anderson Silva turn into Charlie Chaplin, and Strikeforce “Nashville” ended with a post-fight brawl and ratings that have many wondering if MMA will ever find its way back to major network television.
This is why the WEC exists and why WEC 48 will revive what has been
a moribund month for the sport. The main card alone features two
title bouts backed up by three fights that could determine the
future challengers for every one of the WEC’s titles -- that is
some high-potency violence.
Hitting our brain stems live from the Arco Arena in Sacramento, Calif., this card marks the WEC’s first foray into pay-per-view since Zuffa annexed the organization more than three years ago. The fights themselves live up to the lofty expectations of pay-per-view, as pound-for-pound ace Jose Aldo will make his first defense of the featherweight title against former WEC golden child Urijah Faber and Benson Henderson puts his lightweight title on the line against Donald Cerrone in a rematch of 2009’s fight of the year.
Jose Aldo vs. Urijah Faber
The Breakdown: Reigning featherweight champion Jose Aldo has been nothing short of dominant throughout his WEC run, but the one thing that has eluded him is the mainstream popularity of his opponent and former champion Urijah Faber. This could be Aldo’s one and only chance to become the man who leads the featherweight division to true prominence in MMA. It may also be the last chance Faber gets to regain the crown that was once synonymous with his name.
To beat Aldo, Faber needs to bypass the striking game altogether and go for takedowns. There is an argument to be made for Aldo being the best striker in the sport. He is especially dangerous from a distance, where his reach, speed and power synch up beautifully. Compare that to Faber, who is mostly effective from up close and who was soundly out-boxed by Mike Thomas Brown, the same guy Aldo picked apart for the title.
While Aldo is no free takedown and Faber is an undersized featherweight, Faber’s acceleration on the single leg is tremendous and he is one of the best scramblers in the sport. It is in the scramble that Faber is at his most effective since he can rip off rapid ground-and-pound bursts and quickly transition to either submission holds or dominant positions. The first step is the longest one, though, as Faber’s minuscule reach means he’ll have to cover a lot of ground to get in deep on a takedown.
Being unable to effectively set up a takedown with strikes means Faber’s timing will have to be perfect or he could end up running headlong into a counter-knee. Really any strike that Aldo lands cleanly on Faber is likely to rock him, and Aldo’s finishing ability has been proven several times over. This leads back to the same point, which is Faber needs to not only score takedowns but also take calculated risks in order to finish Aldo because the five-round format does limited game plans no favors.
The limitations imposed on Faber by this style clash are really what hold him back, as his inability to compete physically with Brown is a bad omen for this fight. Aldo’s superior striking technique and ability to dictate distance is something Faber doesn’t have the tools to overcome, and his own hyper-aggressive approach can lead to foolish mistakes. Mistakes are not something you get away with against Aldo.
* * *
The Bottom Line: He may not have hair like Farrah Fawcett or the surfer dude mannerisms of Jeff Spicoli, but Aldo will put the world on notice that he runs the show at featherweight by beating Faber. The same patience and precision that befuddled Brown at WEC 44 will await Faber as Aldo gradually tightens his grip on the fight before putting him down and out. With the scalps of two former champions under his belt at just 23, the future of featherweight MMA will be largely in the hands of Aldo.
UFC 112 managed to avoid any weather-related problems only to have Anderson Silva turn into Charlie Chaplin, and Strikeforce “Nashville” ended with a post-fight brawl and ratings that have many wondering if MMA will ever find its way back to major network television.
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Hitting our brain stems live from the Arco Arena in Sacramento, Calif., this card marks the WEC’s first foray into pay-per-view since Zuffa annexed the organization more than three years ago. The fights themselves live up to the lofty expectations of pay-per-view, as pound-for-pound ace Jose Aldo will make his first defense of the featherweight title against former WEC golden child Urijah Faber and Benson Henderson puts his lightweight title on the line against Donald Cerrone in a rematch of 2009’s fight of the year.
Throw in MMA’s answer to Christian Okoye, the hysterical screaming
of Marc Laimon from Shane
Roller’s corner and a rematch of an epic bantamweight brawl and
you better have your Saturday night plans set in stone. To tide you
over until then, get your knowledge fix with another round of
in-depth and hate-generating analysis.
Jose Aldo vs. Urijah Faber
The Breakdown: Reigning featherweight champion Jose Aldo has been nothing short of dominant throughout his WEC run, but the one thing that has eluded him is the mainstream popularity of his opponent and former champion Urijah Faber. This could be Aldo’s one and only chance to become the man who leads the featherweight division to true prominence in MMA. It may also be the last chance Faber gets to regain the crown that was once synonymous with his name.
To beat Aldo, Faber needs to bypass the striking game altogether and go for takedowns. There is an argument to be made for Aldo being the best striker in the sport. He is especially dangerous from a distance, where his reach, speed and power synch up beautifully. Compare that to Faber, who is mostly effective from up close and who was soundly out-boxed by Mike Thomas Brown, the same guy Aldo picked apart for the title.
While Aldo is no free takedown and Faber is an undersized featherweight, Faber’s acceleration on the single leg is tremendous and he is one of the best scramblers in the sport. It is in the scramble that Faber is at his most effective since he can rip off rapid ground-and-pound bursts and quickly transition to either submission holds or dominant positions. The first step is the longest one, though, as Faber’s minuscule reach means he’ll have to cover a lot of ground to get in deep on a takedown.
Being unable to effectively set up a takedown with strikes means Faber’s timing will have to be perfect or he could end up running headlong into a counter-knee. Really any strike that Aldo lands cleanly on Faber is likely to rock him, and Aldo’s finishing ability has been proven several times over. This leads back to the same point, which is Faber needs to not only score takedowns but also take calculated risks in order to finish Aldo because the five-round format does limited game plans no favors.
The limitations imposed on Faber by this style clash are really what hold him back, as his inability to compete physically with Brown is a bad omen for this fight. Aldo’s superior striking technique and ability to dictate distance is something Faber doesn’t have the tools to overcome, and his own hyper-aggressive approach can lead to foolish mistakes. Mistakes are not something you get away with against Aldo.
The Bottom Line: He may not have hair like Farrah Fawcett or the surfer dude mannerisms of Jeff Spicoli, but Aldo will put the world on notice that he runs the show at featherweight by beating Faber. The same patience and precision that befuddled Brown at WEC 44 will await Faber as Aldo gradually tightens his grip on the fight before putting him down and out. With the scalps of two former champions under his belt at just 23, the future of featherweight MMA will be largely in the hands of Aldo.
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