Prediction: Jose Aldo via Decision
Zahabi is a frustrating opponent for most fighters because of his extremely low output, disciplined counter-heavy style, and his ability to drag opponents into awkward, inactive fights where nothing lands clean. He doesn’t give many openings, stays defensively responsible, and forces you to chase—then makes you pay when you overextend.
But Aldo doesn’t chase. He’s too seasoned, too poised, and too calculated for that. He’s fought the most dangerous counter-strikers in the sport and never once looked out of place. Aldo’s forward pressure is economical and deliberate. He cuts the cage off subtly rather than blitzing, and when he gets into range, his hand speed, timing, and precision make him one of the most efficient strikers . Zahabi relies on drawing opponents into his traps, but Aldo isn’t baitable in that way. He’ll stay behind his jab, touch the body, probe the defense, and pick his moments without overcommitting.
The key advantage here lies in Aldo’s layered striking. He’s not just headhunting. He rips the body—especially early—and that’s going to be a massive factor against someone like Zahabi who thrives on being comfortable and unpressured. Once Aldo starts investing to the body, the tempo changes. Zahabi will have to start reacting, and that’s when Aldo can find the head with clean hooks and uppercuts. Zahabi’s defense is tight, but he’s not unhittable—he just makes opponents second guess themselves. Aldo’s not the type to be mentally shut down by feints and inactivity. If anything, he becomes more dangerous in slower-paced fights where his shot selection and accuracy shine.
Then there’s the power and speed edge. Aldo is still one of the fastest and most explosive strikers at 135 even at this stage of his career. His ability to pull back just slightly out of range and then counter with speed and authority is exactly the kind of weapon needed to deal with Zahabi’s patient, wait-and-punish style. Zahabi may land a few clean counters, but Aldo’s chin, movement, and experience at the highest levels mean he’s unlikely to be rattled or drawn out of his game plan.
And if for any reason the striking gets stalemated—which is rare in Aldo fights—he’s still got other layers. The return of his leg kicks, even in small doses, would be a major tool in slowing Zahabi’s lateral movement. Aldo’s classic leg kick game was a terror, and even when used sparingly now, it demands respect and changes the opponent’s rhythm. Zahabi, who hasn’t dealt with a consistent kicking threat at Aldo’s level, would be forced to reset constantly.
Then there’s the grappling. Aldo has elite takedown defense, but offensively he’s a black belt with underrated top control. If he ever decided to switch gears, Zahabi likely wouldn’t have an answer. But Aldo rarely even needs to lean on that because his striking is so complete. Still, it’s another tool in the box that could come into play late if Aldo wants to seal a round or change the tempo.