Check out some free fights from the stars of UFC 179.
Featherweight champion Jose Aldo is one of the more dominant title holders in UFC history. Aldo has won 17 straight fights dating back to 2006, with notable wins over Cub Swanson, Urijah Faber, Manny Gamburyan, Kenny Florian, Chad Mendes, and Frankie Edgar. With 15 career wins by knockout and one by submission, Aldo is considered one of MMA’s best pound-for-pound fighters. He’ll look to keep his streak and tact – and his belt – when he faces Team Alpha Male rival Chad Mendes at UFC 179.
More: KO of the Week – Jose Aldo vs. Cub Swanson | Jose Aldo 360 Degrees | Countdown to UFC 179 – Aldo vs. Mendes
Simply put, Chad Mendes wants revenge. The former Division I NCAA All-American wrestler started his MMA career on an impressive 11 fight win streak before running into a Jose Aldo knee at UFC 142. Since that loss, the Team Alpha Male product has reeled off five straight wins, with four coming by way of knockout. During that streak, Mendes also became the first person to stop tough featherweight Clay Guida with punches inside the Octagon. Mendes has been admittedly training for another shot at Aldo throughout the years and will have his chance at UFC 179 to avenge his only career loss.
More: The Journey – Chad Mendes | UFC Breakthrough | Film Room with Jon Anik and Chad Mendes
Light heavyweight Glover Teixeira was somewhat of a mystery to fans when he made his UFC debut at UFC 146. The heavy-handed Brazilian stopped his first three opponents in the WEC before heading back to Brazil to develop his skills and continue his fighting career. Twelve fights and 11 finishes later, Teixeira was back in the states and ready to put his 15-fight win streak on the line against Kyle Kingsbury at UFC 146. Teixeira would go on to post victories over talented 205ers Fabio Maldonado, Rampage Jackson, James Te Huna, and Ryan Bader before falling to champion Jon Jones. Teixeira knows that the road back to a shot at the title starts with a win over Phil Davis at UFC 179.
More: Move of the Week – Davis vs. Boetsch | Rapid Fire with Phil Davis | How’d You get Your Nickname?
Army National Guard Sgt. Neil Magny was one of the brightest prospects during his stint of the 16th season of The Ultimate Fighter. But after a 1-2 start to his UFC career, things began to look bleak for Magny. Then something clicked at the beginning of 2014 for the 27-year-old Brooklyn native. He started his year with an impressive win over Gasan Umalatov as part of a four-fight win streak. Magny will have his hands full with William Macario at UFC 179 in what will be his fifth fight of the year. But challenges like this are just one of the many reasons he fights.
Beneil Dariush has finished his last seven wins, including two submissions in the Octagon. In his UFC debut at Fight Night Atlanta, Dariush showed off his punching power, dropping vet Charlie Brenneman before finishing with submission, and in his latest outing, rallied to stop Tony Martin. Dariush will continue to rise through the lightweight ranks with a win over Diego Ferreira at UFC 179.
