Gray Maynard thinks Aldo is one of the most complete fighters he ever worked with, and Chad Mendes is not ready

“I’ve talked to him backstage at the UFC’s and [the UFC 136] press conference in Houston. [He] really seemed like a humble, nice guy. So, I wanted to reach out to him to help… I knew he was good, but I had no idea he was as good as he is in every area. Really unbelievable, especially his takedown defense. That goes for all of Aldo's home gym also. He’s really one of the most, if not the most complete fighter I’ve ever worked with. I think Mendes is a tough kid, but I think it’s too early for him to fight Jose Aldo.”

Chad Mendes: I don’t shoot; I blast people of their feet with my takedowns.

“I believe in my skills and knew that if I trained hard and fought right, things would work out for me and they did. These guys that have black belts in jiu-jitsu, I’ve pretty much just shut them down basically because of my athleticism and my strength. I think it’s going to be tough for him to throw any kind of submission when I’m on top punching him in the face. I don’t think he’s got this big advantage on the ground. Jose Aldo is a great champion, but I don’t think he’s fought anybody with the athleticism, the strength, and the wrestling background that I have. I don’t shoot; I blast people of their feet with my takedowns. I’m going to go to Brazil and I’m going to take that belt from Aldo. I’m the next featherweight champion of the world. It happens for me this Saturday and it is time to prove myself.”

Jose Aldo to defend his title against Chad Mendes

Jose Aldo is expected to defend his featherweight title on Jan 14th in UFC 142 Rio