Update: Aldo Injured, UFC 125 Defense in Danger
Mike Whitman Nov 23, 2010
UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo may
not compete at UFC
125.
The Brazilian has suffered an injury which may force him out of his title defense against Josh Grispi on New Year's Day at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The news was first reported by Heavy.com.
“That is true,” Aldo's coach,
Nova Uniao boss Andre
Pederneiras, told Sherdog.com. “He has a cervical disc injury
and the doctor told him to stop his training for one month, to
start the rehabilitation.”
Aldo is widely regarded as the best featherweight on the planet, as well as one of the sport's top pound-for-pound competitors. The 145-pound Brazilian has buzz-sawed his way through the World Extreme Cagefighting featherweight division since joining the promotion in 2008. After finishing each of his first five WEC opponents, the once-beaten 24-year-old ran through champion Mike Thomas Brown, knocking out the American Top Team product in the second frame and lifting his title in the process.
Since winning the championship at WEC 44 in 2009, “Junior” has defended his belt twice. First, Aldo battered former champion Urijah Faber in the main event of the WEC's first pay-per-view show at UFC 48. Aldo followed his unanimous decision victory with a crushing second-round knockout of Armenian judoka Manny Gamburyan at WEC 51.
Like Aldo, Grispi has only been bested once in his professional career. The 22-year-old is 4-0 since joining the WEC in 2008 and holds notable victories against contender Mark Hominick and former UFC lightweight king Jens Pulver. A finisher, “The Fluke” has either knocked out or submitted 13 of the 14 opponents that he has defeated. His lone loss came in 2006 in only his fifth professional bout. Most recently, Grispi earned “submission of the night” honors for his guillotine victory over L.C. Davis at WEC 49 in June.
After it was announced in October that the WEC would merge with the UFC in 2011, it was made known that Aldo would defend his newly-christened UFC title on New Year's Day against Grispi. At UFC 123 on Nov. 20, Aldo was formally presented with his new UFC belt. It appears, however, that fans will have to wait a while longer to see that title defended inside the 30-foot cage of the UFC.
Chris Nelson contributed to this report.
This item was updated at 10:15 p.m. ET to add information obtained from Aldo's trainer.
The Brazilian has suffered an injury which may force him out of his title defense against Josh Grispi on New Year's Day at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The news was first reported by Heavy.com.
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Aldo is widely regarded as the best featherweight on the planet, as well as one of the sport's top pound-for-pound competitors. The 145-pound Brazilian has buzz-sawed his way through the World Extreme Cagefighting featherweight division since joining the promotion in 2008. After finishing each of his first five WEC opponents, the once-beaten 24-year-old ran through champion Mike Thomas Brown, knocking out the American Top Team product in the second frame and lifting his title in the process.
Since winning the championship at WEC 44 in 2009, “Junior” has defended his belt twice. First, Aldo battered former champion Urijah Faber in the main event of the WEC's first pay-per-view show at UFC 48. Aldo followed his unanimous decision victory with a crushing second-round knockout of Armenian judoka Manny Gamburyan at WEC 51.
Like Aldo, Grispi has only been bested once in his professional career. The 22-year-old is 4-0 since joining the WEC in 2008 and holds notable victories against contender Mark Hominick and former UFC lightweight king Jens Pulver. A finisher, “The Fluke” has either knocked out or submitted 13 of the 14 opponents that he has defeated. His lone loss came in 2006 in only his fifth professional bout. Most recently, Grispi earned “submission of the night” honors for his guillotine victory over L.C. Davis at WEC 49 in June.
After it was announced in October that the WEC would merge with the UFC in 2011, it was made known that Aldo would defend his newly-christened UFC title on New Year's Day against Grispi. At UFC 123 on Nov. 20, Aldo was formally presented with his new UFC belt. It appears, however, that fans will have to wait a while longer to see that title defended inside the 30-foot cage of the UFC.
Chris Nelson contributed to this report.
This item was updated at 10:15 p.m. ET to add information obtained from Aldo's trainer.
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