Dana White: Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes II rescheduled for UFC 179 in Rio

SAN JOSE – Following Saturday’s UFC on FOX 12 card, UFC President Dana White announced a canceled rematch between featherweight champ Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes will headline UFC 179 on Oct. 25 in Rio de Janeiro.

The news comes after the promotion announced a quartet of Brazilian shows for the remainder of 2014, the second of which is the pay-per-view event, which takes place at Ginasio do Maracanazinho.

Aldo (24-1 MMA, 6-0 UFC) and Mendes (16-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) originally were scheduled to meet Aug. 2 at UFC 176 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, but Aldo was forced to withdraw from the event due to a neck and spine injury. The event subsequently was canceled despite reportedly solid ticket sales.

Officials said the champ’s injury would only keep him out of action for 45 days, yet a date for the rescheduled bout remained a mystery until White broke the news at the UFC on FOX 12 post-fight news conference at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif.

Aldo stopped Mendes with a knee when they first met more than two years ago at UFC 142 in a fight that also took place in Rio de Janeiro. Mendes subsequently won five straight to earn a rematch. Aldo, meanwhile, defended his title another three times in bouts against Frankie Edgar, Chan Sung Jung and Ricardo Lamas.

For more on UFC 179, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Jose Aldo)