The original main event for this Saturday’s UFC 149 was to be a featherweight title bout between champion Jose Aldo and challenger Erik Koch. An injury to Aldo derailed that fight, but it looks like the bout is back on and scheduled to be the main event when the UFC returns to Brazil in October.
The fight, which is expected to take place at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, was confirmed by MMAWeekly.
The injury was the second time that Aldo (21-1) had to put off a UFC title fight. The first saw his UFC debut delayed for several months when a neck injury knocked him from the UFC 125 fight card.
When he did make his debut with the organization, he successfully defended the title and earned “Fight of the Night” honors by defeating Mark Hominick at UFC 129.
Since then, he has defended his title two additional times, defeating Kenny Florian and Chad Mendes. The victory over Mendes extended Aldo’s winning streak to 14 consecutive fights.
Koch (13-1) is in the midst of a four-fight winning streak, with two of those fights coming within the UFC. The title fight is a huge opportunity for Koch, who grabbed the bull by the horns when then top-ranked featherweight Hatsu Hioki passed on a shot at facing Aldo for the title.
UFC 153 will take place on October 13 and, at this time, also features what may be Quinton “Rampage” Jackson’s last fight in the UFC when he meets the highly touted Glover Teixeira.
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