Jose Aldo
The Ultimate Fighting Championship has rescheduled a featherweight title fight between champion Jose Aldo (21-1) and top contender Erik ‘New Breed’ Koch (13-1), naming the two opponents as the main event for UFC 153 in Brazil.
Also meeting at the event will be TUF 15 fighter Cristiano Marcello (12-4) and Reza ‘Mad Dog’ Madadi (12-2).
Officials made the two matches official at UFC.com on Thursday.
One of the pound-for-pound greats, Jose Aldo, enters the Octagon once more on October 13th in Rio de Janeiro to defend his featherweight crown. Taking on the jiu jitsu black belt/striking wrecking machine will be rising star Erik Koch, a fighter known for finishing opponents in dramatic fashion who’s looking to become one of the youngest UFC champions ever.
Both fighters have verbally agreed to the bout, which was originally booked for UFC 149 in July and postponed due to an injury sustained by Aldo.
In a lightweight bout, TUF Live BJJ ace Cristiano Marcello has verbally agreed to meet Sweden’s Reza “Mad Dog” Madadi.
UFC 153 is expected to occur on October 13, 2012 at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Aldo and Koch were to have met this weekend at UFC 149, but an injury to the champ forced the Brazilian to postpone the match.
Aldo has won thirteen matches in a row, including seven title matches involving the WEC and UFC titles. His last victory took place this past January at UFC 142, with a last second knockout victory over Chad Mendes.
Koch has won four straight, including two victories inside the Octagon. His last win took place in September of last year at UFN 25 with a decision over Jonathan Brookins. He was to fight at UFC 143 versus Dustin Poirier but withdrew due to injury.
Marcello was the fourth pick of Urijah Faber during the recent “TUF: Live” season and was eliminated in the first round. He debuted versus Sam Sicilia at the TUF 15 Finale last month, losing by second round knockout.
Madadi finally made his UFC debut at UFC Sweden last April, earning a second round submission win over Yoislandy Izquierdo to push ‘Mad Dog’s’ win streak to seven straight.