UFC 212 predictions, Jose Aldo vs. Max Holloway expert picks, date, fight card
Here's how the experts at CBS Sports see Saturday's main card shaking out in Brazil
By
CBS Sports Staff
•
3 min read
Saturday may prove to be a true changing of the guard. Storied UFC champion Jose Aldo will face one of the toughest challenges of his career in front of his hometown fans in Brazil, but the champion is as focused as ever, even going so far as to say he never lost his belt to Conor McGregor in 2015.
"It's a great honor for me to come back and fight in Brazil and really know that what motivates me is that I love what I do and this is what I do for a living," Aldo said via FOX Sports. "So, the past year, I just preferred to put that behind me and, you know, I'm happy to go in there and unify this belt because like I've always said, I've always fought -- I've never lost a championship.
"I've always been the champion."
In steps the young and hungry Max Holloway, who is riding one of the longest winning streaks in UFC and will finally get his long-awaited shot at the belt.
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On top of that, two of the best women's strawweight fighters in the world will go head-to-head for the chance to battle for the belt when Claudia Gadelha and Karolina Kowalkiewicz enter the Octagon. Plus, legends Vitor Belfort and Nate Marquardt are ready to throw down.
Here's how the full fight card shakes out with the latest odds from Bovada.
UFC 212 main card
| Favorite | Challenger | Weightclass |
|---|---|---|
Jose Aldo (c) -150 | Max Holloway +120 | Featherweight title |
Claudia Gadelha -350 | Karolina Kowalkiewicz +265 | Women's strawweight |
Vitor Belfort -160 | Nate Marquardt +110 | Middleweight |
Paulo Borrachiniha -300 | Oluwale Bamgbose +265 | Middleweight |
Yancy Medeiros -140 | Erick Silva +110 | Welterweight |
With a big card on tap, our experts took a crack at picking each of the main card fights. Here are your pick makers: Bill Reiter (national columnist), Brian Campbell (Fight sports writer), Matthew Coca (producer), Michael Mormile (producer), and Brandon Wise (editor).
UFC 212 Picks
| Fight | Reiter | Campbell | Coca | Mormile | Wise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aldo (c) vs. Holloway | Aldo | Aldo | Aldo | Holloway | Aldo |
Gadelha vs. Kowalkiewicz | Gadelha | Kowalkiewicz | Gadelha | Kowalkiewicz | Gadelha |
Belfort vs. Marquardt | Marquardt | Belfort | Belfort | Belfort | Belfort |
Borrachiniha vs. Bamgbose | Borrachiniha | Borrachiniha | Bamgbose | Borrachiniha | Borrachiniha |
Medeiros vs. Silva | Silva | Silva | Silva | Silva | Medeiros |
Overall record | (5-5) | (6-4) | (7-3) | (7-3) | (4-6) |
Campbell on why Aldo wins: Aldo proved in his clinical shutout of Frankie Edgar last July that he's fully recovered from his 13-second title loss to Conor McGregor in 2015. And considering that Holloway relies on pressure to overwhelm opponents, Aldo presents the worst possible counter style for him. Aldo's calculated striking should be enough to chop him down over time, especially if Holloway is unable to execute a Plan B or C.
Mormile on why Holloway wins: I think it's time for Holloway, especially with the 10-fight win streak he's riding with to Brazil. I believe he will have an unorthodox style to challenge Aldo as long as he can avoid the leg kicks. I'm taking Holloway via decision.
Coca on why Gadelha wins: If Claudia Gadelha is going to win, she needs to figure out a way to apply constant pressure, but also make sure she doesn't use everything in her tank early on. That was her issue in her rematch with Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Gadelha was able to control the fight early on, but by round 3 she had nothing left. She's getting more technically sound in all areas of her fight game, now it's time for her conditioning to catch up. Let's not forget another major advantage in this fight: it's in Brazil where Gadehla has never lost in her career.
Wise on why Kowalkiewicz wins: The first five minutes of this fight will tell us where Kowalkiewicz is mentally. Coming off her first professional loss at the sport's highest stage, Kowalkiewicz needs to bounce back with an emphatic win. Even though she has not scored a stoppage win since 2014 and none in UFC, I think Kowalkiewicz finds a home for her right hand on Gadleha's chin and knocks her out.
