Five reasons to watch UFC 278 with Aldo, Borrachinha and Usman

J. Aldo (left), P. Borrachinha (right) and K. Usman (right) are highlighted in the UFC 278. Photo: SUPER FIGHTS montage

The big moment has arrived. This Saturday (20), in Salt Lake City (USA), the long-awaited UFC 278, an event that ends the month of August and gives fans a spectacle with 12 fights scheduled. On the Brazilian side, the highlights are José Aldo e Paulo borrachinha, which wage decisive confrontations. The main clash marks the rematch between the champion Kamaru Usman e Leon edwards, for the welterweight belt (up to 77kg.).

The last fight of the event marks the new presentation of Kamaru Usman. At the weekend, the Nigerian meets again Leon edwards, a fighter surpassed by the athlete in 2015. In case of victory, the welterweight 'king' will reach the mark of six title defenses.

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In the co-main fight, Paulo borrachinha You have an important commitment in your career. In his last performance under his current contract with Ultimate, the Minas Gerais native needs to put on a show against Luke Rockhold and thus end a sequence of two consecutive defeats.

MMA legend, José Aldo He fights his first fight in the 2022 season. Standing out in the bantamweight category (up to 61,2kg), the 'People's Champion' measures strength with Merab Dvalishvili in a clash that could guarantee the Brazilian a new title fight in the category.

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In addition to Borrachinha and Aldo, Brazil has three more representatives, all on the preliminary card. Leo Santos, Francisco Figueredo e Daniel Miojo they will be responsible for taking the yellow-green to the octagon in the first half of the show.

To get in the mood, the team at SUPER FIGHTS selected five reasons to follow the UFC 278. Check out:

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1) Kamaru Usman x Leon Edwards

K. Usman (left) faces L. Edwards (right) in the UFC 278. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

At the top of the welterweight division since 2019, Kamaru Usman has become an expert in revenges. After passing through twice Colby covington e Jorge masvidal in his recent retrospect, the Nigerian will have a new reunion this weekend.

The current opponent will be Leon edwards, a highlight of the category that was surpassed by the 'king' in 2015, when the combatant had not yet worn the belt. In the first meeting, victory for Usman by the judges' decision.

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Since then, much has changed. Kamaru continued his journey towards the top of the division and, little by little, began to assume the status of a 'candidate for legend' in the organization. Since the first confrontation against Edwards, the Nigerian has accumulated 13 victories, collecting victims from event to event.

The challenger is not far behind. The setback for Usman represented a fresh start for the Englishman. After the setback in 2015, the fighter never lost again. There are nine commitments without defeat, crowned with the status of challenger for the title.

With clear progress on both sides, the expectation is that both will stage an exciting confrontation for spectators.

2) Kamaru Usman can match Anderson Silva's mark

K. Usman can equal A. Silva's record in UFC 278 (Photo: Montage/SUPER FIGHTS)

Leader in the UFC weight-for-pound rankings, Kamaru Usman has left good impressions with each commitment in the organization. Treated by Dana White, president of Ultimate, as one of the best fighters of all time, the Nigerian will have the opportunity to match the mark of a true MMA legend.

This Saturday, if Usman achieves another victory, the fighter will reach the mark of 16 consecutive victories in the company. The milestone, to date, has only been achieved by Anderson Silva, who, for years, reigned supreme in the UFC middleweight division.

In addition to the chance to get closer to the legacy of 'Spider', Usman can also 'lean in' with the expressive brand of Georges St-Pierre, a true icon not only of the organization, but of MMA as a whole. A reference in the welterweight division, the Canadian has nine title defenses, while Kamaru is looking for his sixth.

3) Paulo Borrachinha x Luke Rockhold

P. Borrachinha and L. Rockhold facing each other before the UFC 278 (Photo: Instagram/UFC)

Inserted in the co-main fight of UFC 278, Paulo borrachinha is back. Former challenger for the middleweight belt, the Minas Gerais native will make his debut in the 2022 season and will have an old friend in front of him.

Willing to end a sequence – hitherto unprecedented in his career – of two consecutive defeats, the Brazilian is looking for the show against Luke Rockhold. Faced with the former champion of the category, the Tupiniquim team needs to show their service and seek their dream redemption in the division.

While Borrachinha makes his first fight of the year, Rockhold fans had to wait much longer to see the North American in action. Leader of the group between 2015 and 2016, the veteran has not performed for more than three years, when he was severely knocked out by Jan Blachowicz in his failed test at light heavyweight (up to 93kg.).

The clash could be definitive for both Paulo and Luke. The former champion's situation, however, could become unsustainable in the company, as, in recent months, the athlete has publicly criticized the organization, in addition to not winning a fight since 2017.

4) José Aldo x Merab Dvalishvili

Considered by many to be the best featherweight (up to 65,7kg) of all time, José Aldo returns to the octagon for another chapter of his journey towards the rooster throne. In a big moment, Manauara is tested again and, after beating the talented Rob font in December, he is committed to facing a new promise from the organization.

This weekend, Aldo took on the challenge of facing an opponent who is outside the top 5. The Brazilian, who had already received a challenge from the current group champion, aljamain sterling, he returned to show his old disposition and seeks to expand his great phase in the category.

If he overcomes the Georgian, the 'People's Champion' can get his passport stamped to face the winner of 'Sterling x TJ Dillashaw', who will face off in October, for the throne of the category. To win, the manauara will need to nullify the pragmatic game of his opponent, who does not shy away from using grappling and taking the victory in the judges' decision.

5) Ultimatum for Borrachinha and Aldo

P. Borrachinha (left) and J. Aldo (right) are highlighted in the UFC 278. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

The combat in UFC 278 marks the last fight on his current contract. Paulo borrachinha with the UFC. Coming from two consecutive stumbles and in the search for a more financially pleasant agreement, the Tupiniquim knows it needs to put on a show against Luke Rockhold, and that an error could mean that your relationship with the company will not be renewed.

In order not to run the risk of being placed on the dreaded layoff list, Minas Gerais needs to use their best conditioning and physical strength. Even with a successful track record in mixed martial arts, the North American has proven to have lower resistance to attacks. The proof is that, in all his setbacks, Luke was overcome by knockout.

Aldo's ultimatum will depend on the fighter himself. With deserved prestige with the organization, achieved over years of victories, achievements and good performances, the Brazilian admitted, in a recent interview with 'Combate', that he intends to hang up his gloves at the age of 35, and with the bantamweight belt.

With the affirmation of the Tupiniquim, who is irreducible about extending his career a little further, the 'People's Champion' cannot think about losing the challenge against Dvalishvili. If they are overcome, Manauara will take a step back and will need new positive results to get closer to a new title fight.

According to Aldo's planning, the end of his career should happen in the 2023 season.