Chad Mendes Confident He'll Beat Jose Aldo at UFC 142

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Chad Mendes knows he's an underdog who will face a hostile crowd when he fights UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo in the main event at UFC 142. But Mendes is brimming with confidence at his chances of taking home the belt.

"I have a good game plan and I'm confident that I'm going to do it -- I'm excited," Mendes said Wednesday. "I think Jose has all the pressure on his shoulders. He's the one fighting in front of his home crowd. He's the one who has the belt. I'm the underdog everyone is overlooking, and I'm confident that the things I'm good at are what's needed to beat him. I'm feeling confident going into this fight."

That's not to say Mendes doesn't think highly of Aldo as an opponent. Mendes knows that Aldo is 20-1 in his MMA career, and that Aldo has gone 10-0 while dominating all ten opponents since leaving his native Brazil and making his North American debut in 2008. But Mendes thinks he has the right skill set to be the one to finally solve the puzzle of Aldo.

"I don't think Jose has any holes or cracks in his game," Mendes said. But he quickly added, "I feel the same way about my game. I don't have any holes."

Mendes has been working with his friend and training partner Urijah Faber, who lost a unanimous decision to Aldo in 2010, to formulate a game plan against Aldo. Mendes didn't give away all of his strategies, but he did say he believes other opponents have been too cautious and passive and failed to take the fight to Aldo.

"I've watched his last few fights and that's something that's helped us put together a good game plan for this fight. I've sat down with Urijah," Mendes said. "Fighters stand in front of him too much. You've got to put pressure on Jose. He's the kind who will pick you apart."

Given his wrestling background, it's no surprise that Mendes plans to clinch with Aldo and attempt to take him down.

"Guys have to get their hands on him more," Mendes said. "Honestly, I don't think any of the guys who have fought him have had half the wrestling credentials -- or the wrestling ability -- to get him down and hold him down. I think my strengths are my keys to beating Jose."

Mendes said he has no qualms about going to Brazil and beating a popular local fighter in front of a capacity crowd.

"Beating the champion in his own backyard? To me there's no better way to prove that I'm the best 145-pound fighter," Mendes said. "This is the best shape I've ever been in and I'm excited to get this opportunity."

 

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Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2012/01/04/chad-mendes-confident-hell-beat-jose-aldo-at-ufc-142/

Cyril Abidi  Daniel Acacio Bernard Ackah  Terrance Aflague Yoshihiro Akiyama 

UFC Primetime Returns for UFC 143; UFC on Fuel TV 1 Prelims on Facebook; UFC on Fuel TV 2 Airs Live

The UFC's programming lineup for the coming months is taking shape, as UFC Primetime will debut on FX for Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit at UFC 143, UFC prelims will return to Facebook for UFC on Fuel TV 1, and UFC on Fuel TV 2 will air live from Sweden.

Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/27092/ufc-primetime-returns-for-ufc-143-ufc-on-fuel-tv-1-prelims-on-facebook-ufc-on-fuel-tv-2-airs-live/

Cyril Abidi  Daniel Acacio Bernard Ackah  Terrance Aflague Yoshihiro Akiyama 

Ronda Rousey vs. Miesha Tate on for Strikeforce in March

Ronda Rousey has just four fights in her MMA career, and not one has lasted over a minute. But that record has reportedly earned her a title shot. She is expected to take on Strikeforce bantamweight champ Miesha Tate at a Strikeforce event in early March.

After Rousey submitted Julia Budd in November, she asked for the fight with Tate. The two sparred over Twitter and during a fascinating interview with MMA Fighting. Tate believed Rousey was trying to talk her way into a title fight.

Now, that's what she has done, but she's hardly the first fighter to talk her way into a title shot, or who has earned it after a short record. Brock Lesnar was 2-1 when he beat Randy Couture for the UFC heavyweight title. Mo Lawal pestered the Strikeforce brass for a title shot, and he got it in his seventh pro bout.

What those two men and Rousey have in common is an extensive competitive background before MMA. Lesnar played pro football, was a pro wrestler and a decorated collegiate wrestler. Lawal wrestled at the international level before stepping in the cage. Rousey is an Olympic medalist in judo.

So yes, she has not yet proved that she can do anything but her trademark armbar, but so what? Tate will have a clear, definite path to show if Rousey belongs in the cage with her.

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Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/cagewriter/ronda-rousey-vs-miesha-tate-strikeforce-march-154612296.html

Yoji Anjo  Tank Abbott Hiroyuki Abe Cyril Abidi  Daniel Acacio

Strikeforce Fight Card: Rockhold vs. Jardine

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Luke Rockhold will face Keith Jardine at Strikeforce on January 7.Luke Rockhold vs. Keith Jardine headlines the Strikeforce fight card on Jan. 7 at the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

"Rockhold vs. Jardine" is the first of up to eight events in 2012 under Strikeforce's new deal with Showtime. Under the new agreement, preliminary bouts will air on Showtime Extreme, while the main card bouts will remain on the standard Showtime channel.

This particular card will be free for cable viewers as it takes place during Showtime's free preview weekend beginning Friday, Jan. 6 and through Sunday, Jan. 8.

The complete lineup is below.

Showtime Bouts
Luke Rockhold vs. Keith Jardine
Robbie Lawler vs. Adlan Amagov
King Mo Lawal vs. Lorenz Larkin
Tyron Woodley vs. Jordan Mein
Tarec Saffiedine vs. Tyler Stinson

Showtime Extreme Preliminary Bouts

Alonzo Martinez vs. Estevan Payan
James Terry vs. Nah-Shon Burrell
Gian Villante vs. Trevor Smith
Ricky Legere vs. Chris Spang

 

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Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2012/01/05/strikeforce-fight-card-rockhold-vs-jardine/

José Aldo  John Alessio  Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida  Eddie Alvarez