Sherdog’s Top 10: Strongest Kickers

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2. Jose Aldo

Recent defeats by seemingly unbeatable stalwarts in some of the UFC’s divisions have put everyone on notice, even the 27-year-old Aldo. Due to his explosive core skills, the current featherweight champion has taken down just about everyone the sport has to offer, though everything revolves around his muay Thai-influenced kicks.

Early in his career, “Scarface” implored soccer kicks and head kicks to pick up three of his 24 victories, but lately the strike of choice has revolved around a reliance on breaking down the lower half of his opponents. Urijah Faber was the ultimate example of this approach, eating kick after kick to his lead leg at WEC 48, the assault leading to grotesque bruising that would make anyone’s stomach turn. More recently, a devotion to the tactic in a bout against Ricardo Lamas reminded those chasing the champion that you must have an answer for the leg kick if you desire to beat the incumbent.

A true test will come later this summer when Chad Mendes gets another shot at Aldo. Will “Money” have an answer to the move? His thigh sure hopes so.

Number 1 » Mirko Filipovic