UFC 142 Aldo vs. Mendes Back in Brazil

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.