UFC 163 lineup finalized with 13 bouts, including Aldo vs. Pettis title fight

The fight card is set for UFC 163, which marks the UFC’s return to Rio de Janeiro and Brazilian champion Jose Aldo‘s next featherweight title defense, against former lightweight Anthony Pettis.

UFC 163 takes place Aug. 3 at HSBC Arena. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FX and Facebook.

Although the bout order isn’t official, the fight card now features 13 fights.

A ticket pre-sale began Tuesday, and they’re on sale to the general public today. They range from R$145 to R$1,600 ($68 to $750).

The headliner sees top lightweight contender Pettis (16-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) drop a weight class as he hopes to keep Aldo (22-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) from claiming his 16th straight win and seventh consecutive WEC/UFC title defense. If victories, Aldo will move up to lightweight, and as MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) recently reported, he’s been promised an immediate title shot.

The event also has some firsts. In the co-headliner, Brazilian light heavyweight and former champ Lyoto Machida (19-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC) fights for the UFC for the first time in his home country when he takes on fellow contender Phil Davis (11-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC). It’s a both with potential title implications.

Additionally, Brazil gets its first women’s UFC bout as Brazilian Amanda Nunes (7-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) takes on fellow bantamweight Sheila Gaff (10-5-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC).

The full UFC 163 card includes:

• Champ Jose Aldo vs. Anthony Pettis – for featherweight title
• Phil Davis vs. Lyoto Machida
• Josh Koscheck vs. Demian Maia
• Cezar Ferreira vs. Clint Hester
• Vinny Magalhaes vs. Anthony Perosh
• Sheila Gaff vs. Amanda Nunes
• Neil Magny vs. Sergio Moraes
• Thales Leites vs. Tom Watson
• Josh Clopton vs. Rani Yahya
• Robert Drysdale vs. Ednaldo Oliveira
• Ian McCall vs. Iliarde Santos
• John Lineker vs. Phil Harris
• Viscardi Andrade vs. Bristol Marunde

For more on UFC 163, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Anthony Pettis)