One of the most effective ways to prepare for an opponent is to bring in sparring partners who are able to mimic a particular style. We saw Shogun Rua reap the rewards of intelligent training when he knocked out Lyoto Machida at UFC 113 in 2010. Rua brought in seven-time karate champion João Gilherme Bendly to help prepare for the elusive style of Machida in the months leading up to the bout and it seems Jose Aldo is incorporating similar practices to help train for Conor McGregor.
The featherweight champion invited Jonas ‘Speed’ Bilharinho to the Nova União headquarters to imitate McGregor’s unorthodox fighting style. Bilharinho has conquered both the bantamweight and featherweight titles in Brazilian MMA and kickboxing promotion, Jungle Fight.
Bilharinho, a striking orientated fighter, can be seen emulating a wide variety of Conor McGregor’s dynamic kicks in front of an observant Jose Aldo. The Irishman is known for his dazzling array of kicks, but ‘The Notorious’ also stifles opponents with his savvy hands. Perhaps Aldo has other sparring partners mimicking McGregor’s boxing style.
Both Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor have just under four weeks to add the finishing touches to their game before they meet on July 11 for the blockbuster UFC 189 event.
About the author
