The UFC will return to Brazil on January 14. Headlining the fight card will be a UFC featherweight title bout that will see Jose Aldo put his UFC gold on the line against the unbeaten Chad “Money” Mendes. Also on the card will be a middleweight scrap b…
The UFC will return to Brazil on January 14. Headlining the fight card will be a UFC featherweight title bout that will see Jose Aldo put his UFC gold on the line against the unbeaten Chad “Money” Mendes. Also on the card will be a middleweight scrap between Vitor Belfort and Anthony “Rumble” Johnson.
Below you will find the odds for the five fights that will be featured on the pay per view portion of the fight card. The pay per view will get under way at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. The five fight preliminary card will be broadcast on FX beginning at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.
Jose Aldo (-250) favorite over Chad Mendes (+200)
Vitor Belfort (-140) favorite over Anthony Johnson (+110)
Rousimar Palhares (-485) favorite over Mike Massenzio (+385)
Erick Siva (-485) favorite over Carlo Prater (+385)
Edson Barboza (-280) favorite over Terry Etim (+220)
Bleacher Report MMA will be your source for news, analysis and opinions on all the fights on the upcoming fight card.
Check back often as the fight card nears for all the UFC 142 information you need.
Chad Mendes watched his partner lose. Urijah Faber was not finished in the fight, but he did not look very good coming out of it. Featherweight champion Jose Aldo dominated Mendes’ friend and training partner for the full five rounds. In retainin…
Chad Mendes watched his partner lose.
Urijah Faber was not finished in the fight, but he did not look very good coming out of it. Featherweight champion Jose Aldo dominated Mendes’ friend and training partner for the full five rounds. In retaining the title, Aldo utilized a wide assortment of strikes, including vicious leg kicks, to retain the title.
Now, Mendes has a chance to succeed where Faber did not. On Jan. 14, in Aldo’s home country of Brazil, Mendes will go one-on-one with the UFC feather champion.
To prepare for the fight, Mendes will be watching the footage from the Faber-Aldo bout.
Faber is more than a training partner of Mendes. He is one the key people to make Mendes a successful mixed martial artist.
“It doesn’t make me nervous,” Mendes said to Bleacher Report’s Gary Herman when asked about watching the Aldo-Faber video.
“It really helps me out. We saw what his game plan would be against a wrestler.
“For me, it’s a way to pick Urijah’s brain to see where Aldo’s strengths are and where he thought Aldo was weak. It will help developing our camp and our game plan.”
Mendes’ first opportunity to compete for the UFC title almost took place a few months ago. Mendes was deemed the No. 1 contender, and he was just waiting for the fight to be announced.
However, when longtime lightweight star Kenny Florian announced he would be dropping to featherweight, plans quickly changed.
“I wasn’t too surprised,” Mendes said, when asked about the switch from himself to Florian.
“I kind of heard it coming down. If Florian won his first fight (over Diego Nunes), they were going to put him in. At first, I was a little upset, but Kenny has a huge following.”
As with Faber’s loss to Aldo, Mendes sees a bright spot in his being passed over in favor of Florian at UFC 136.
“Honestly, all it did was bring more recognition to us featherweights,” Mendes said.
“Plus, I was able to watch that fight and pick Aldo apart a little more.”
While this will be Mendes’ first shot at the title, former champion Faber has had three opportunities to win a UFC title since he first lost the featherweight title to Mike Brown. Faber had missed title opportunities against Brown, Aldo and bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz.
However, with all that big fight experience combined with his up-close knowledge of Mendes, Faber believes his training partner will do well in the fight.
“I think Chad’s unstoppable wrestling is going to really translate in the fight,” Faber said to Bleacher Report’s Gary Herman.
“Aldo has great conditioning. He’s a great athlete, but we’ve seen when he’s done more grappling he gets more tired. Chad will force some grappling on him, and Chad’s very tough.”
Like Mendes, Faber is watching the video from his prior Aldo fight to assist with preparation.
“I’m a durable guy, and Aldo pinpointed my leg and took it apart,” Faber said, referring to the vicious assault of leg kicks.
“Chad knows that, and he knows what he has to do.”
Mendes’ opportunity will be coming very early in his MMA career. While he is undefeated, Mendes has only had 11 prior fights.
“Three years into my career, I never thought I’d be doing this already,” Mendes said.
“I know he’s a very dangerous fighter. I got to be careful of those big knees, the kicks, and the big uppercuts.”
Even with the difference in experience compared to Aldo’s 21 fights, Mendes is confident.
“I think it’s a great fight for me,” the former collegiate wrestling standout said.
“My wrestling will definitely slow him down. Hopefully, we get in there I can take it where I want to take it.”
While Mendes stopped short of predicting victory, Faber did not.
The world’s premier mixed martial arts organization will return to Brazil this Saturday, as UFC 142 will take place at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janiero with champion Jose Aldo looking to defend his title against the touted Chad Mendes.Though the 145-po…
The world’s premier mixed martial arts organization will return to Brazil this Saturday, as UFC 142 will take place at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janiero with champion Jose Aldo looking to defend his title against the touted Chad Mendes.
Though the 145-pound greats will be headlining the pay-per-view event, there are many other notable bouts and happenings that will occur this weekend that fans should tune in to.
The UFC will make its return to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on January 14 with a fight card that will be headlined by a featherweight title fight. UFC featherweight champion, Jose Aldo (20-1) will fight in front of a Brazilian crowd for the first time since…
The UFC will make its return to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on January 14 with a fight card that will be headlined by a featherweight title fight. UFC featherweight champion, Jose Aldo (20-1) will fight in front of a Brazilian crowd for the first time since 2007, when he defends his title against the unbeaten Chad Mendes (11-0).
The co-main event of the evening will feature a middleweight bout between Vitor Belfort and Anthony Johnson.
The only loss of Aldo’s career came in 2005 when he was stopped in the second round by a Luciano Azevedo rear naked choke. Since that loss, Aldo has gone on a 13-fight winning streak, capturing the WEC featherweight title by defeating Cub Swanson in June 2009. When the WEC folded, Aldo was named UFC champion. Since transitioning to the UFC Aldo has defended his title twice, defeating Mark Hominick and Kenny Florian.
Aldo’s opponent, Chad Mendes has compiled a 6-0 record while fighting under the Zuffa umbrella, with his last win coming against Rani Yahya at UFC 133, which took place in August 2011.
The middleweight co-main event will see Anthony Johnson compete in that weight division for the first time, as he moves up from the 170 pound division, a weight that he had struggled to make in the past. His opponent, UFC veteran Vitor Belfort, is looking to use a win over Johnson to launch his name into the mix for a shot at the middleweight title.
Bleacher Report MMA will be your source for news, analysis and opinions on all the fights on the upcoming fight card.
Check back often as the fight card nears for all the UFC 142 information you need.
Jose Aldo has been hearing it from fans lately that the once entertaining striker has played it safe now that he is in the UFC. Now the current UFC featherweight champion faces a huge test at UFC 142 in Chad Mendes.Mendes is much like his training…
Jose Aldo has been hearing it from fans lately that the once entertaining striker has played it safe now that he is in the UFC.
Now the current UFC featherweight champion faces a huge test at UFC 142 in Chad Mendes.
Mendes is much like his training partner, Urijah Faber, whom Aldo beat convincingly in 2010. Of course there is a difference between Mendes and Faber, though. Mendes is an improved version of the former WEC featherweight champion.
Mendes has the ability to bring the fight to Aldo and take him down with his powerful wrestling. Once there, it is only a matter of time before Aldo gets drained from being on the bottom.
Aldo has to bring his fight to Mendes and keep him away. In order for Aldo to win, the fight has to stay standing and he has to pick Mendes apart from the pocket. If he can do that it greatly improves his chances.
Aldo is a devastating striker and has the ability to knockout anyone in the 145-pound weight class. I don’t think anyone here can dispute that.
Here though, Aldo needs to be different. If he plays it safe and doesn’t push a fast tempo with crisp striking, Mendes will get him down.
Mendes is the one fighter Aldo can’t afford to sleep on as he is probably the best chance the featherweight division has at a new champion.
Aldo needs to work his leg kicks to wear out Mendes and then begin the striking clinic. Mendes is improving in his striking, but he isn’t at Aldo’s level.
If Aldo decides to play it safe, Mendes will make him pay.
At UFC 142, Jose Aldo will defend his featherweight title against Chad Mendes. At first glance, the bout is another classic “striker vs. grappler” matchup, but if we take a closer look, there’s a lot more coming into play.Aldo looked indestructible dur…
At UFC 142, Jose Aldo will defend his featherweight title against Chad Mendes. At first glance, the bout is another classic “striker vs. grappler” matchup, but if we take a closer look, there’s a lot more coming into play.
Aldo looked indestructible during his WEC run, demolishing anyone and everyone put in front of him. His aura of invincibility has disappeared somewhat following two lackluster performances in the UFC.
Mendes meanwhile has gone undefeated throughout his career, defeating a number of tough opponents like Erik Koch, Cub Swanson, and Rani Yahya, among others.
The battle for the featherweight title promises to be an interesting one as Mendes will look to impose his will on Aldo, but will need to find some success with his striking as well.
Chad Mendes watched his partner lose.