Jose Aldo-Korean Zombie
DON’T CALL JO-SAY ALDO JOSE!
Los Angeles, CA– Saturday night at the HSBC Arena in Rio De Janero, Brazil, Jose “Scarface” Aldo (22-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) makes his fifth defense of his UFC featherweight (145 LB.) belt in the headlining fight of UFC 163. His opponent will be the very game “Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung (13-3 MMA, 3-0 UFC) of “Face Twister” submission fame. Jung is a live underdog, but I expect Aldo, a native of Brazil, to prevail and maintain his ranking among the pound-for-pound best in the sport.
ALDO & ZOMBIE HAVE COMMON FOE
Jung did have a much easier time with common opponent Mark Hominick (20-12 MMA, 1-4 UFC). While Hominick pushed Aldo’s cardio to the brink in a decision loss, Jung scored the fastest knockout in UFC history with his 7-second destruction of the normally durable Canadian. Styles make fights, however, and I see the overall superior striking of Aldo to carry the night. The Brazilian has not lost a fight since 2005.
MACHIDA TOPS UFC 163 UNDERCARD
In the co-main event, former UFC light heavyweight (205) champion Lyoto Machida (19-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC) of Brazil takes on fellow contender Phil Davis (11-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC). Davis is great wrestler and solid overall fighter, but Machida eats wrestlers for breakfast. Lyoto will hand Davis the second loss of his career. Thiago Santos (8-1 MMA) makes his UFC welterweight (170) debut against Cezar Ferreira (5-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC). Neither fighter is very experienced, but Santos should be slightly favored here. Middleweight (185) Thales Leites (20-4 MMA, 5-3 UFC) fights under the UFC banner for the first time since 2009 against Tom Watson (16-5, 1-1 UFC). The more experienced Leites should exit the Octagon with his hand raised.
UFC 163 FACEBOOK FIGHTS AT 3:30 PM PT!
The UFC 163 card starts at 3:30 PM PT on Facebook.com before going to FX Cable at 5 PM PT and then Pay Per View at 7 PM PT.
Zak Young