With UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo looking to return to the Octagon in the fall, #1 contender Chad ‘Money’ Mendes (10-0) has opted not to wait for the champ to return and will instead face Rani Yahya (16-6) at the upcoming UFC 133: Evans vs. Davis event in Pennsylvania.
“With featherweight champion Jose Aldo’s exact return date to the Octagon uncertain, #1 undefeated featherweight contender Chad Mendes looks to stay active by taking on the extremely dangerous submissions specialist Rani Yahya,” said Dana White. Mendes and Yahya have verbally agreed to an August 6th bout at UFC 133 in Philadelphia.
UFC 133: Evans vs. Davis is scheduled to take place on Aug. 6 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Penn. Headlining the event is a light heavyweight bout between former champ ‘Suga’ Rashad Evans, and the UFC’s ‘go-to-guy’ Phil ‘Mr. Wonderful’ Davis.
Following Aldo’s win over Mark Hominick at UFC 129, White talked about pitting Mendes against the 145 lb champ at a future event. Aldo and his camp have said that August is to soon of a date for the Brazillian to return, but will look at September or later for his next fight.
Mendes is undefeated in ten pro bouts, having earned five unanimous decision victories in his last six bouts. ‘Money’ made his UFC debut in February by earning a decision win over Michihiro Omigawa at UFC 126. The “Team Alpha Male” fighter fought four times under the WEC banner, last appearing at WEC 52 against Javier Vazuez.
Yahya had been scheduled to meet Dustin Poirier next month in Vancouver at UFC 131, but was forced to withdraw because of an injury. It appears the Brazilian will have made his recovery and be ready for August’s fight with Mendes. Yahya also made his UFC debut in his last bout, earning a unanimous decision over Mike Brown at UFC: Fight for the Troops 2 in January. The win ended a two fight losing skid after loses to Takeya Mizugaki and Joseph Benavidez while fighting in the WEC.