UFC
Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes II heading to Brazil in October, per Dana White
Jul 27, 2014 - 10:05:03 AM Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes II heading to Brazil in October, per Dana White

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

As expected, the delayed Featherweight Championship rematch between Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes has been rescheduled for this October in Brazil.

UFC President Dana White made the announcement at the tail end of the UFC on Fox 12 post-fight press conference on Saturday night.

Aldo's manager and trainer Andre Pederneiras had said last week that it was too early to commit to that timetable for return, but it appears that changed in a short period of time.

The two featherweights first met in January of 2012, with Aldo scoring a knockout in the final seconds of the first round. Mendes had his back standing, he held onto the challenger's wrist, and as he spun around he cracked him with a knee to the face that sent Mendes crashing to the ground.

Since that fight, Mendes has won five straight fights, a stretch that included four straight (T)KO victories before a decision over Nik Lentz in December. As for Aldo, the Champ has defended his belt three more times, defeating Frankie Edgar, "The Korean Zombie" Chan Sung Jung, and Ricardo Lamas.

The rematch was supposed to happen this coming Saturday in Los Angeles at UFC 176, an event which has since been canceled due to Aldo's injury removal. Instead, it shifts back to Brazil - against the challenger's wishes - on Oct. 25 at UFC 179 in Rio de Janeiro.

Penick's Analysis: It's the date and location that make the most sense for the fight, even if it's not necessarily fair to make Mendes head back to Brazil for that title fight. Then again, no matter where the fight takes place, the fact is simply that he has to find a way to win anyway. The odds are stacked a little more against him, but he remains the most dangerous challenger to Aldo at the moment, and it's going to be a very good Championship fight.