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Posted at 1:45 AM EST. Odds subject to change.

UFC 301 from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Jonathan Martinez vs. Jose Aldo

Wager: Martinez by decision (points)

11:45 PM EST. There was a time when Jose Aldo was untouchable. According to many UFC fighters, he’s the greatest featherweight of all time, perhaps mostly because he was the first ever featherweight champion in the company. Known for his brutal kicks and elite jiu-jitsu, the "King of Rio" had some incomparable moments during his five year reign as champion, a belt that he defended seven times. Then came Connor McGregor in 2015. The Irish superstar ended Aldo’s historic run, in Rio de Janeiro we might add, commissioning a new era in the UFC. Aldo would go on to lose 5 of his next 8 fights, switching over to the Bantamweight weight class along the way, and giving up a large part of his fame in the process. Studs like Max Holloway, Alexander Volkanovski, and Petr Yan humbled the Brazilian celebrity as he aged. Now, at 37, Aldo has one last fight on his UFC contract, a conceivable final battle in a storied fighting career spanning 20 years, and his opponent is very formidable.

30-year-old Jonathan Martinez has quietly ascended in the Bantamweight division, and he’s ready to take the next step. Like his elder foe, Martinez unleashes brutal leg kicks and striking combinations that have taken out some of the best in the division. He's smart, calculated, well-rounded, and undoubtedly in his prime. Winner of six bouts in a row, Martinez has defeated impressive names leading up to tonight’s showcase bout, including Vince Morales, Cub Swanson, Said Nurmagomedov, and Adrian Yanez. And his own star power is rising. UFC leadership knows what its doing, setting Martinez up for a seminal moment to kickstart his potential as a title contender. Make no mistake about it, the humble yet cerebral striker is ready to take advantage. 

This is a classic set up that we’ve seen from Dana White many times in the past. Jose Aldo is a legend in the UFC, someone who deserves all the adulation he’ll get at Saturday’s big event, but 39 fights in and coming off a loss, he’s just not the assassin he used to be. That being said, even Medab Dvalishvili, who many consider to be the most dangerous fighter in the Bantamweight division, had to go all three rounds to beat the aging Aldo. In what will likely be his final UFC bout, the acclaimed Brazilian jiu-jitsu martial artist will give it all he has, even if it’s not enough in the end. Expect Martinez, who mirrors Aldo’s style in many ways, to respect and assume caution against his legendary opponent tonight, picking his spots along the way to a decision victory.

Farley

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