The Sports Informant

By Patrick Ibarra
Editor

Jose Aldo dominated hometown hero Urijah Faber in a five-round fight on Saturday night at Arco Arena in Sacramento, as the two headlined World Extreme Cagefighting’s first-ever pay-per-view-event in WEC 48: Aldo vs. Faber.

While much has been written about Aldo’s mastery since the fight, little round-by-round analysis has been provided for readers to experience the destruction the talented Featherweight champion was able to cause. The rest of this article does just that.

Jose Aldo, left, lands a vicious leg kick to Urijah Faber's body. (Photo courtesy WEC)

Round 1

Faber attacks first with a straight kick to the chest that misses, then a few punches and a head kick. All were checked or missed. Aldo throws a low kick that misses. Faber advances with punches, but Aldo backs up. Aldo is focused on the leg kick, as one trips Faber up and he falls, but bounces right back up.

A flying knee by Faber misses. A body shot by Aldo and a leg kick both land. Faber goes for a takedown and fails. A Faber front kick grazes Aldo’s chest. Faber misses with a punch combination and then a front kick. Aldo stalks Faber with 1:50 left. Faber grazes Aldo on left cheek with punch. Faber attacks and Aldo lands a knee to stomach which stings Faber, who backs up.

A left leg kick lands for Aldo. A left to the body and a right to the face lands for Faber. Aldo lands a flying knee to Faber’s body and knocks Faber down. Faber bounces back up. A roundhouse by Aldo misses. Punches by Faber miss.

Round 2

Faber pumps a leg then charges in with punches, but Aldo retreats in time twice. A left leg kick to the body by Aldo lands, as does a right low kick. Faber nearly fell.

Right and left hooks by Aldo miss. A left jab by Faber lands on the chin of Aldo, who staggers but recovers. A right uppercut by Aldo grazes Faber but a following left straight lands solidly on the face of Faber.

Aldo ducks in and out, throwing low right leg kick which keeps Faber from advancing in. Aldo tries a flying knee, but Faber catches the leg and lets go. Faber tries for a takedown but Aldo escapes back. Aldo lands another leg kick to Faber’s shin, and avoids another takedown, then lands another leg kick to the shin, and another. Another leg kick by Aldo nearly chops Faber down. Faber takes another leg kick to his left leg and limps back, hobbling in pain. Faber limps back to his corner after the round.

Round 3

Faber avoids a few leg kicks, but just over a minute into the round, Aldo lands one solid on Faber’s left leg. Faber spins around with the impact but can’t attack as he hobbles forward, then limps backward in pain. Aldo keeps coming forward with the right leg kick.

Faber switches stances to protect the left leg, but leg kicks start going to his gut instead now, which is open. Faber takes a kick to the gut and winces in pain, then staggers toward Aldo to try to grab for a takedown. Aldo pushes him away.

Faber takes another leg kick to his left leg, but as he’s falling to the ground he grabs Aldo and takes him down. A fresh Aldo bounces right back up, though.

Worried about the leg kick, Faber drops his hands and lifts his leg. Aldo kicks the leg, then lands a right and a left to the head of Faber, which sets up a right head kick. The kick lands square on Faber’s jaw, who is instantly stunned and nearly falls to the mat. Aldo attacks immediately, landing two left hooks to the body and then multiple combinations to a covered up face of Faber. Faber waits for an opportunity and comes out swinging himself, which makes Aldo back off.

Aldo methodically moves back in, lands a leg kick to the injured leg of Faber and then goes for a kick to the face, which nearly lands. Aldo lands a solid leg kick low and Faber tries to catch the leg, but can’t, then winces in pain and limps back.

A left hook to Faber’s body by Aldo is followed by a right hook to the face, and Faber backs off quickly. With less than 10 seconds in the round, Aldo kicks Faber’s left leg again, and Faber goes down in pain. Aldo jumps on top with six seconds left to do some ground and pound, but Faber holds on tight.

When the round ends, Faber is carried back to his corner by his trainer Master Thong.

Round 4

Faber avoids a few leg kicks, but eventually takes one to his damaged leg and wobbles slowly back against the cage. Aldo seems hesitant to go after the finish on Faber, so he waits and goes for more leg kicks.

Aldo throws a left leg kick instead, which trips up Faber. Faber takes down Aldo on his way down, but Aldo escapes and ends up on top of Faber with nearly four minutes left in the round. The two roll around until Aldo ends up in full mount on Faber. Faber rolls over and gives Aldo his back instead, eating Aldo’s punches while trying to avoid a rear-naked choke.

Faber maneuvers his way out and up to his feet again.

Aldo again takes Faber down with a leg kick and jumps on top of him in Faber’s guard. Aldo passes guard and gets to side control, putting Faber in the crucifix position, raining down punches on Faber’s face. Aldo drops elbows over and over again to Faber’s face. Faber tries to block the blows with his hand, but elbows continuously sneak through the left side of his face.

Faber survives the rest of the round taking such elbows and punches, unable to escape from the bad position.

The fight should be over, but Faber says he’s alright.

Round 5

Faber tries to attack early in the round, then avoids a leg kick. After some feeling out, Faber goes for a single-leg takedown, grabs an ankle and tries to drag Aldo to the ground. Aldo drags Faber around a bit, then escapes, leaving Faber on the ground.

Aldo stands over Faber for several seconds as neither attack.

After being stood up, Faber throws a kick to the stomach of Aldo. It lands but not with enough power. Faber goes for a takedown but fails. Aldo throws a leg kick to Faber’s body, which is blocked. Faber goes for back-to-back takedowns and they are stuffed by Aldo, who then throws a left hook to Faber’s body and lands it solidly.

Faber goes for a takedown and fails, ending up on his back while Aldo stands over him and threatens to rain down punches for the rest of the round.

Judges score the fight 49-45, 49-45, 50-45 in favor of the champion Aldo.

Aldo vs. Faber slideshow

(Photos courtesy the WEC)