Pros Pick: Aldo vs. Mendes 2

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No current Ultimate Fighting Championship titleholder has held promotional gold longer than Jose Aldo, who will have reigned over the UFC’s featherweight division for more than 1,400 days by the time he next enters the cage.

Aldo will defend the 145-pound crown against Team Alpha Male’s Chad Mendes in the UFC 179 main event on Saturday at Maracanazinho Gymnasium in Rio de Janeiro. The world’s top two featherweights met once previously, as Aldo knocked out “Money” with a first-round knee strike at UFC 142 in January 2012.

Sherdog.com touched base with a number of professional fighters and trainers to gauge their opinions on the UFC 179 headliner:

Javier Vazquez: Mendes has looked good but is still not technically on Aldo’s level. Aldo gets tired, and if he does, Mendes doesn’t need to be on his technical level; his speed and power will make up the difference. I’m leaning with Aldo starting off quickly and Mendes getting stronger as the fight goes on. If Aldo finishes him, it will be in round one or two. I’m picking Aldo in a tough five-round decision.

J.J. Ambrose: Mendes is awesome, a great fighter, but I’m going with Aldo on this one.

Jeff Hougland: I’m going to go with Mendes to upset Aldo, take the title and then have his first title defense against Conor McGregor in Ireland.

Mike Richman: Aldo wins. He’s faster, more powerful, smarter and more well-rounded.

Ray Elbe: Aldo is an amazing representative of Brazil and is going to be too much for Mendes in the rematch. Aldo wins via TKO.

Mitch Clarke: I want to pick Mendes, but my gut is saying Aldo by split decision.

Igor Araujo: Mendes is good and has improved a lot since that first fight, but the result will be the same. Aldo wins by KO in the first round.

Keith Berry: Aldo wins by decision.

Ricardo Liborio: Aldo wins, but this won’t be as easy as the other one.

Alan Jouban: This is the title fight that everyone seems to want right now, as Mendes will get his second crack at it. Since the last fight between them, Mendes has made the most improvements between the two. He has shown much more impressive striking in his five wins since the loss. Look for this to be a very closely contested fight in the early going, until Aldo finds his range and rhythm against Mendes. From there, I see Aldo breaking away, with Mendes having a strong last round because of his better cardio and being behind on the scorecards. I see Aldo taking this again -- by decision. Whoever the winner of this fight is, look for a number of top-five contenders to make their pleas for why they deserve the next title shot.

Jason Dent: I have to go with Aldo to win again in this rematch. I know Team Alpha Male has been on fire of late, but Jose is a finisher. While Mendes may get a few good rounds in, I think a 25-minute title fight works against him here. Jose will win this fight by cut, TKO or KO. I just don’t see it going the distance.

Joe Duarte: I have to go with Aldo. He’s a beast.

Cody Gibson: I’m biased, as I always root for the Americans, and I always root for the wrestlers. Obviously Aldo has the striking skills to put anyone away, but I think Mendes has developed his striking and will get the job done this time around. Regardless, I heard some Irish guy is just waiting around for his title anyway.

Jim Alers: I’m going to have to go with Mendes on this one. I felt he was winning the last fight until he got kneed. His wrestling is the best in the division and his standup is getting better and better. He has been knocking everyone out with the help of Duane Ludwig. Chad is becoming too well-rounded, and Aldo has lost that killer instinct he once had.

Tom DeBlass: Aldo wins by KO in the third round.

Anthony Birchak: I have Aldo defending the title. I think the Nova Uniao fighter has a few bones to pick with Alfalfa Male, and Aldo’s going to come with it.

Eddie Gordon: Team Alpha Male has all the momentum going for them right now. The first fight was very close, until Aldo landed that knockout knee right before the bell. I feel like if Mendes can push the pace he can wear Aldo down and win the later rounds. With that said, I have to go with Aldo. He is the champ, and I think he is one of the best if he comes in focused and looking for the finish. Plus, he’s going to be at home. I can’t see him losing there, especially by decision. Aldo is going to have to keep his range, pick “Money” apart, mix in those devastating leg kicks and land some power shots to retain his belt. It’s going to be a barnburner.

James Vick: Aldo wins by unanimous decision.

Travis Lutter: I have Jose winning this one. Chad is really tough, but I think Jose will win this one again.

Colton Smith: This is a very intriguing matchup. If my memory serves me correctly, the tide of their first engagement in the Octagon was suddenly turned after Aldo illegally grabbed the fence and reversed the position, leading to the knee-strike finish. Mendes has shown promise in his last outings since. I see the Team Alpha Male representative taking Aldo into deep water en route to a five-round unanimous decision victory.

Jim Hettes: I’ve got Mendes on this one. I think he learned his lesson from the first fight, and I see him taking the belt.

Kyle Kingsbury: I would love to see Mendes do it. I can’t pick fights for s---, though. Aldo wins, but I’m rooting for Mendes.

Mark Bocek: Aldo wins by decision.

Eric Prindle: Aldo will knock out Mendes. He starts with leg kicks.

Nam Phan: I’ve always got to root for my Team Alpha Male brother. Mendes wins.

Robert Drysdale: Aldo wins. He’s too hard to take down and has better standup.

Wilson Reis: I have Also winning by unanimous decision. I believe he will outstrike Mendes and push the pace.

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THE FINAL TALLY

Pros Picking Aldo: 21
Pros Picking Mendes: 6