7. Ricardo Lamas at UFC 169
Despite a submission of Cub Swanson and a TKO victory over a middle-of-the-line Matt Grice, Ricardo Lamas didn’t truly separate himself from the featherweight pack leading into his title shot with Aldo at UFC 169.
As a product of a mediocre four-fight win streak, “The Bully” was drastically underrated leading up to fight night, which may have contributed to his performance.
Through five rounds, Aldo eluded the power of Lamas by keeping him at bay with leg kicks and opening up for takedowns when the opportunity presented itself. The champ finished by out-striking his opponent 62 to 41.
Despite giving up a big takedown late in the fight, offering Lamas a chance to land some ground-and-pound, Aldo did what he needed to do to retain his title in yet another unanimous decision win.
