UFC 179: Chad Mendes has improved but Jose Aldo hasn't and what else we ...
Aldo and Mendes' classic title tussle got people's attention but what were the other major talking points after the UFC's return to Brazil?
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UFC President Dana White called Aldo vs. Mendes the 'best featherweight title fight I've ever seen'There weren't many of the fireworks we have come to expect from a UFC card in Brazil.
However, UFC 179 was saved from mediocrity by a titanic back and forth tussle between featherweight champion Jose Aldo and Team Alpha Male's Chad 'Money' Mendes, which has to go down as the Brazilian's toughest defence to date.
Who and what stood out in the heat of Rio? Here are four things we learned at UFC 179...
1) Hans Stringer's conditioning could be his undoing
The Dutch BJJ black belt had an outstanding first round against Brazilian slugger Fabio Maldonado on Saturday night, easily claiming the takedown and dominating his opponent from topposition.
However, early in the second round, it was obvious fatigue had already robbed Stringer of his strength and speed, and soon it was Stringer on his back, unable to stop the barrage of punches which eventually ended the fight.
The talented Blackzilians product will have to correct this glaring fault in his game if he wishes to challenge the division's best.
2) Phil Davis has started to accept his limitations
Phil Davis earned the best win of his career as he outwrestled Glover Teixeira for three rounds. It wasn't pretty, but the former All-American's constant pressure made him the clear victor.
Despite the fact that his path to a title shot has been made shorter by the indefinite suspension of Anthony Johnson, Davis used his victory as an opportunity to call out middleweight legend Anderson Silva.
Chastening losses to both Johnson and Rashad Evans appear to have made 'Mr Wonderful' doubt his abilities to beat the best in his weight class, and he has set his sights on a money spinning encounter with 'The Spider', an ambition which is unlikely to impress Dana White.
3) Lucas Martins is talented, but not yet a contender
Despite the fact one judge bizarrely scored all three rounds in his favour, make no mistake, Lucas Martins was soundly beaten by American wrestler Darren Elkins.
In a curiously listless performance, the Brazilian kickboxer seemed afraid of letting his hands go for fear of being taken to the mat. Elkins, by contrast, was far more active with his combinations, and landed time after time from the clinch he controlled.
Martins can take heart from the fact he stuffed the vast majority of takedown attempts, and at 25 he has plenty of time to improve. But until he is confident in his wrestling abilities, he will find it hard to take advantage of his striking background against the best.
4) Chad Mendes may have been right about Aldo
Jose Aldo is an outstanding mixed martial artist, and he has every reason to be proud of his gutsy decision win on Saturday night.
However, Chad Mendes' pre-fight proclamation that while he had improved Aldo was largely the same fighter from their last encounter appears true.
Aldo brought little that we haven't seen before and, while this was still enough to squeeze past Mendes, may give hope to subsequent challengers.
To ever improving and dynamic potential opponents like Cub Swanson and, of course, Conor McGregor, the challenge may not appear so insurmountable as it once did.
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