Move over Joe Lauzon vs. Jamie Varner, there's a barnburner coming through.
When Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to Brazil on Sat., Oct. 13, 2012, in Rio de Janeiro, it will do so with UFC 153, an event headlined by a featherweight championship showdown pitting titleholder Jose Aldo against former lightweight kingpin Frankie Edgar in his first foray into the 145-pound division.
That's a true "super-fight," folks. And in a recent interview with Bleacher Report, "Scarface" says he expects the two to put on the "Fight of the Year."
"The UFC made me very happy giving me this fight right now. It is a pleasure to fight with Edgar inside my country. I think this is going to be the fight of the year. It is a great opportunity to show everyone I'm the best. I will be looking to finish the fight at all times."
Considering the stakes, combined with Edgar's propensity to go deep against whomever he's squaring off against, don't be surprised if Aldo is exactly right. This one has five-round war with a controversial decision written all over it.
That being said, the featherweight king believes he'll have an advantage in a key area Edgar is used to having the edge in:
"I think Edgar will lose a little bit of his speed at 145 pounds. At 155 pounds his speed made a big difference for sure but at 145 pounds I don't see any difference between him and the other fighters."
Edgar was always undersized at lightweight but made up for it with his speed and quickness, not to mention a tenacity and toughness few could match. His technique was also close to flawless.
Put it all together and we're talking about one of the best in the world at 155-pounds.
But how will that translate to featherweight? "The Answer's" first fight in his new digs will come on short notice in a hostile environment against one of the pound-for-pound best in the world after having to cut weight, something he's not used to doing.
It raises and interesting question, Maniacs. Is Aldo right? Will Edgar lose many of the advantages that made him so successful in his former weight class?
Opinions, please.