Aldo is back!

UFC 200 saw the return of former champion Jose Aldo as he locked horns with fellow Featherweight wrecking machine Frankie Edgar. The two battle in a closely contested contest that eventually ended with a unanimous decision victory for Aldo. It was great to see Aldo performing like his old self with great footwork, snappy counters, and brilliant takedown defense. It’s the kind of performance that gives Aldo supporters hope that getting revenge on current Featherweight champion Conor McGregor is not only attainable, but a foregone conclusion. The problem is that may not be true. What is true is that Jose Aldo looked great in his return to the octagon. He is the clear number one contender and will likely do battle with McGregor again by the end of the year. Whether he can redeem himself against the brash Irishman is something that’s less clear. Sure, he did outduel Frankie Edgar in a tough fight and looked as dangerous as ever, but that doesn’t change the fact that Conor McGregor has some clear advantages over the Brazilian powerhouse. McGregor is arguably faster, has more power in his hands, and is the larger man of the two. McGregor may have seemed to lose some luster after losing to Nate Diaz back in March, but the reality is that he was facing a bigger man and was unprepared for the task. In an Aldo versus McGregor rematch the biggest X factor is likely to be the same as the first meeting. Aldo is fast and sharp, but still has a tendency to drop his hand during and after combinations. He also still prefers wide looping hooks when he’s in the pocket, something that McGregor could exploit. There are still the leg kicks to consider, but the southpaw versus orthodox match up still favors McGregor where that’s considered. The bottom line, we’ll all have to wait and see what Aldo can bring to the table in the rematch for the unified Featherweight title. Until then, all we have are questions and speculations to keep us warm. Do you think Jose Aldo will beat Conor McGregor? Follow Generation Iron MMA on Facebook and Twitter. Also, be sure to share, like, and comment to show your support.

Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Twitter and Facebook to keep up with his antics.