• UFC 142

Aldo seeks secret weapon to defeat Mendes

ESPN staff
November 26, 2011
Jose Aldo does not want to be on his back against Chad Mendes at UFC 142 © Getty Images
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Gray Maynard could hold the key to Jose Aldo's next featherweight title defence against Chad Mendes, after the Brazilian revealed he wants the lightweight to join his training camp.

Aldo takes on Mendes at UFC 142 in Brazil, in what is expected to be the most difficult examination of his championship credentials to date. Mendes is the best wrestler Aldo will have faced, and even though he boasts exceptional takedown defence himself, Aldo was troubled in that department by both Kenny Florian and more significantly Mark Hominick.

Maynard recently parted ways with Xtreme Couture following his loss to Frankie Edgar, but he is arguably the best wrestler in the lightweight division. Talks have been held over a link-up, and Aldo is hoping a partnership comes to fruition.

"We have a big interest in bringing Maynard to train with me," Aldo told Sherdog. "He has such strong wrestling and we want people that [have] the same game Chad Mendes does.

"Mendes is a competitive and hard guy to fight. Me and Maynard have been in touch since UFC 136, and he also said it's his will to train with us at Nova Uniao, but nothing is confirmed thus far, especially because of the Thanksgiving holiday.

"I'm waiting for the answer."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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