UFC 194: TJ Dillashaw, Dominick Cruz Give McGregor-Aldo Predictions

TJ Dillashaw and Dominick Cruz will battle in the Octagon at TD Garden in January for the UFC’s bantamweight title as part of UFC Fight Night 81.

It’s the first much-anticipated title bout in the New Year, but before we turn the calendar to 2016, mixed-martial arts fans will be treated to an amazing fight between Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor for the featherweight title at UFC 194 on Saturday in Las Vegas.

Cruz, in an exclusive interview with NESN.com last month, pointed out a few reasons why McGregor poses a difficult challenge for Aldo.

“It’s going to be a tough fight — the biggest reason is McGregor’s bigger than Aldo, he also hits as hard as Aldo, which Aldo hasn’t really faced anyone as powerful as him, in my opinion, and he’s a southpaw,” Cruz said.

“Those three things alone cause a whole array of problems for a style like Jose Aldo. He depends a lot on his jab and depends a lot on his low kick. Both those tools are taken away by a southpaw. It’s going to be an interesting fight.”

McGregor is perhaps the most confident fighter in the UFC, and Cruz believes Aldo must challenge that confidence to improve his chances of winning.

“It’s going to come down to mindset on that night. Right now, McGregor’s mindset is at the top. He believes in himself,” Cruz said. “No one’s really challenged him in the sense of his belief in himself. That’s going to be the first key, can Aldo make (McGregor) second guess himself in that first round? That’s who’s going to take the fight.”

Dillashaw is picking Aldo to win the fight, but like Cruz, the reigning bantamweight champ also believes McGregor is the type of fighter who can exploit some of Aldo’s weaknesses.

“When the fight was first announced, I was in real favor of Aldo, and I still think Aldo’s going to squeak it out,” Dillashaw said. “But it might be a little closer than I thought. McGregor is getting in Aldo’s head and it’s going to be a competitive fight. McGregor’s got the right kind of style to give Aldo a hard look.”