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Quoteworthy:

“He’s very tough, a good striker who’s been going right through people. He’s been knocking people out so quickly that it’s hard to see what his complete game is like, but his striking is good. My advantages over him are strength, punching power and wrestling. On the ground it’s kind of an unknown. I mean, he’s a black belt, but there are very different calibers of black belts. I can’t say that I wouldn’t get caught because great jiu-jitsu guys still get caught in submissions. I mean, Wagnney Fabiano just got caught in a triangle. Who would have thought that? But I can definitely say I’ve improved to the point where now I think submission grappling is my strong suit. I don’t like to make predictions, and I know the possibility of losing is always there. But I’m very confident in my abilities and I think I’m going to go out there and win the fight.”

WEC Featherweight Champion Mike Brown sounds off on his upcoming title defense against the electric Jose Aldo at WEC 44 from “The Pearl” at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada on Nov. 18. It certainly won’t be an easy task because the 15-1 “Junior” has been sensational in his tenure with the WEC, stopping all five of his fights by way of (T)KO. But if anyone can do it it’s Brown — he’s been an absolute juggernaut since usurping the crown from Urijah Faber at WEC 36. Will Aldo be able to keep it upright or will Brown neutralize his stand-up with takedowns and punishing ground and pound? Predictions please, Maniacs.

Props: Terra Magazine

Quoteworthy:

“First of all, I hope to make a good fight. I want to impose my game and what I’m training. For sure I expect to knockout. Brown has a very strong wrestling. All my opponents were dangerous up to now but he is champion and I think he is the most dangerous fighter WEC put in front of me. I think Brown is going to try the ground and pound and trade some punches too. He will start striking to feel the fight and after he will take me down. I’m well trained everywhere to fight five rounds but I want to knockout. If I become the WEC champion, who knows I will go to UFC some day?”

Undefeated (in the WEC) Brazilian smashing machine, Jose Aldo, will look to make it six straight (technical) knockout victories when he goes toe-to-toe with WEC Featherweight Champion, Mike Brown, at WEC 44 from “The Pearl” at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada on Nov. 18. It certainly won’t be easy because Brown is as tough as they come. But if anyone can do it is Aldo — he is absolutely ferocious on his feet. Will he be able to keep it upright or will Brown be able to neutralize his stand up with takedowns and punishing ground and pound. Predictions please, Maniacs.

WEC 44: “Brown vs. Aldo” has been officially announced by the promotion, emanating from “The Pearl” at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada on Nov. 18. The televised main card will air live on the Versus network at 9 p.m. ET on fight night.

The featured bout on the card will be a featherweight title defense for Mike Thomas Brown as the WEC 145-pound champion puts his title on the line for the third time when he goes up against perhaps the most skilled and dangerous opponent he’s faced yet, Jose Aldo.

Brown burst onto the scene at WEC 36 as the number one contender to face Urijah Faber in what was at the time the ex-world champion’s sixth title defense. The American Top Team powerhouse shocked many by stopping the seemingly unbeatable Faber in the first round with a brutal barrage of strikes.

The newly crowned champion then cemented his status as one of the best at 145-pounds four months later by successfully defending that title with a first round submission win over Greg Jackson product Leonard Garcia at WEC 39.

“The California Kid” attempted to reclaim his title at WEC 41 back in June, but Brown rebuked him with five rounds of punishment — on the same card that saw Aldo win in just eight seconds over a talented Cub Swanson.

The promotion’s 145-pound division has recently skyrocketed with talent. And the line of contenders is growing longer as each event passes. Still, it’s hard to imagine anyone more deserving than Aldo.

The Brazilian smashing machine is now undefeated (5-0) in the WEC with five straight (technical) knockout victories. He recently scored a crushing win over Cub Swanson at WEC 41, ending the fight before it even got started with a slick skin-splitting flying knee.

This bout — which could be the champ’s toughest test to date — has fireworks written all over it.

Manny Gamburyan, Leonard Garcia, “Razor” Rob McCullough, L.C. Davis, Diego Nunes, Cub Swanson and others have also been rumored to be competing in “Sin City” on Nov. 18.

Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more on the developing WEC 44 fight card.