Aldo-Mendes Featherweight Title Bout Slated for UFC 142 in Rio

In a Monday interview with FoxSports.com, UFC President Dana White revealed that Mendes will challenge for Aldo’s 145-pound belt on Jan. 14 as part of UFC 142.

Though not yet confirmed by the promotion, the event expected to take place at HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, the site of August’s UFC 134. No other matchups have been announced for the card.

The featherweights were rumored to meet at UFC 133 in August, but injuries sidelined Aldo (Pictured) before the bout could be made and Mendes instead took on Rani Yahya at the event. Once healed, Aldo retained his belt in an Oct. 8 bout against Kenny Florian.

Widely regarded as one of the MMA world’s pound-for-pound finest, Aldo has not fought in his home country since May 2007. The 25-year-old native of Manaus, Amazonas, has since reeled off 10 straight wins (seven via knockout) and claimed the featherweight titles of the UFC and WEC in the process. Aldo twice defended his UFC strap in 2011, earning five-round unanimous decisions over top contenders Florian and Mark Hominick.

A former standout wrestler at California Polytechnic State University, “Money” Mendes has been flawless through 11 fights since turning to MMA in September 2008. Like Aldo, Mendes in 2-0 his Octagon career, having ground out wins against Yahya and Michihiro Omigawa. The Team Alpha Male product has gone the distance in five of his six fights under the Zuffa banner.