UFC: Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes scheduled for Rio de Janeiro
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The postponed Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight title fight between champion Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes has been rescheduled for Oct. 25 in Rio de Janeiro, not Staples Center.
UFC Chairman Lorenzo Fertitta told The Times on Thursday that Aldo has recovered from a neck injury that caused his scheduled Aug. 2 defense against Mendes to be delayed.
Aldo (24-1) beat Mendes (16-1) by first-round knockout on Jan. 14, 2012, in Rio de Janeiro. Mendes has responded with five consecutive victories, four by knockout.
Although Staples Center has an open date Oct. 25, Fertitta said he was obligated to place a major UFC fight in Brazil for the UFC’s broadcast partner in that country, Globo.
“Staples is at the top of our list,” Fertitta said. “We love being at Staples. It’s a priority for us. We’re going to try and get back at Staples within a year.”
Fertitta said he sought to bring the Jan. 31 Anderson Silva-Nick Diaz middleweight fight to Staples Center but was told it was booked.
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