NITEROI, Brazil — They will meet again.
On Sunday, the UFC announced that Jose Aldo will defend his featherweight title against Chad Mendes at UFC 176 in Los Angeles on Aug. 2 at Staples Center. The news was first reported by the Los Angeles Times.
“We always try to relax after every fight because we train so hard, but I’m looking forward to fight again,” Aldo told MMAFighting.com.
“[Mendes] is the only one left,” he continued. “It was between Cub Swanson and Chad Mendes, but Cub signed to fight Jeremy Stephens.”
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Mendes’ first fight with Aldo, and UFC 142, ended with one second left in the first round, after Aldo landed a vicious knee to knock him out. The Team Alpha Male featherweight went 5-0 since with four finishes, but the champion doesn’t seem too bothered about Mendes’ evolution.
“We already know each other so there’s nothing to hide,” he said. “I just have to get ready for the fight. Every fight is a new fight. We will study his fights and see all the details, things that he may have evolved or not. We will study his game and get there to defend the title.
“Every fighter seeks evolution. If a fighter thinks he knows everything and stops trying to evolve, he’s lost. He may have evolved, but we are going to watch his fights and see.”
Aldo looks for his 10th title defense, including WEC fights in 2009-10, and wants to score another knockout.
“We will work hard (for the knockout),” he said. “I respect every opponent, but I will train hard to get that.”