UFC Predictions: UFC Vegas 17: Thompson vs. Neal predictions and picks

#2: UFC Bantamweight division: Jose Aldo vs. Marlon Vera

Marlon Vera faces his greatest challenge this weekend against former UFC champ Jose Aldo.

This weekend’s co-main event sees former UFC Featherweight kingpin Aldo facing off with rising contender Vera. So will Aldo be able to bounce back from his loss to UFC champ Petr Yan with a win? Or will Chito rise to the occasion and pick up his biggest win to date?

Vera has been with the UFC now for six years, but this is the closest he’s ever come to legitimate UFC title contention. For the most part, he’s been seen as a reliable action fighter. However, his UFC record of 10-5 is strong, and the only loss he’s suffered in his past seven fights was a bogus decision to fellow contender Song Yadong.

Essentially, the Ecuadorian is a jack-of-all-trades with pretty nasty offense in all areas. At 5’8” and with a 70.5” reach, Vera is a long Bantamweight who uses that length well, landing kicks and strikes from the outside and threatening with chokes in particular on the ground.

We all know about Aldo’s overall game now. He’s one of the most accomplished strikers in UFC history, and while he doesn’t always show it, he’s also got a dangerous ground game. However, the former UFC champ is now 34 years old, and he’s lost his last three fights.

Admittedly, his “loss” to Marlon Moraes probably should’ve been a win – showing he could cope at the top of the Bantamweight division. But his defeat to Yan was worrying. The Russian basically beat Aldo from pillar to post, very much proving the generational gap between the two fighters.

Aldo, in his prime, would be massively favored against a fighter like Vera. Despite being shorter, the former UFC champ has a similar reach and would’ve likely butchered Chito with his leg kicks.

Aldo coming off the loss to Yan, though, is another thing entirely, and that’s why this one is so interesting. If Vera’s given the opportunity, there’s no doubt that he can put Aldo away.

However, I’m going with the safe pick in this fight. Aldo might’ve lost to Yan badly, but there’s a reason the Russian is the UFC champion. Before that, he looked excellent against Moraes, and Vera hasn’t done anything to suggest he’s quite on that level yet.

With that in mind, my pick is Aldo via decision.

The Pick: Aldo via unanimous decision