(Video via YouTube.com/UFC)
Just five months after their last visit to the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the UFC returns with another card headlined by native heroes. In UFC 142‘s main event, featherweight champion Jose Aldo — who has now won ten straight fights in the WEC/UFC — looks to make another belt defense against undefeated Team Alpha Male wrestling specialist Chad “Money” Mendes, who will be hoping to put Aldo on his back as much as possible and score some revenge for Urijah Faber’s leg.
In the co-main event, middleweight contender Vitor Belfort returns from his latest injury layoff to welcome Anthony Johnson to the middleweight division, in a matchup that contains too much explosive athleticism for its own damn good.
All 11 fights on the “Aldo vs. Mendes” card feature at least one Brazilian, with Rousimar Palhares, Edson Barboza, and Gabriel Gonzaga making return appearances. The full UFC 142 lineup is after the jump…
MAIN CARD (PPV)
Jose Aldovs. Chad Mendes (for FW title)
Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson (MW)
Rousimar Palhares vs. Mike Massenzio (MW)
Erick Silva vs. Carlo Prater (WW)
Edson Barboza vs. Terry Etim (LW)
PRELIMINARY CARD (FX)
Thiago Tavares vs. Sam Stout (LW)
Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Edinaldo Oliveira (HW)
Yuri Alcantara vs. Michihiro Omigawa (FW)
Ricardo Funch vs. Mike Pyle (WW)
Fabio Maldonado vs. Caio Magalhaes (LHW)
Felipe Arantes vs. Antonio Carvalho (FW)