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Looks like that Tatame article was right after all...

http://mmajunkie.com/news/25859/ufc-142 ... jan-14.mma

The Ultimate Fighting Championship won't wait long to return to spiritual home of mixed martial arts.

Following this past August's ultra-successful UFC 134 event, the UFC will return to Rio de Janeiro's HSBC Arena on Jan. 14 for an event expected to serve as UFC 142.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) today confirmed the booking with UFC officials.

The UFC has yet to make an official announcement regarding the event, and potential fight bookings for the card have yet to be revealed

This has got to be for Silva/Sonnen 2, doesn't it?

Wouldn't be surprised to see Aldo fight on this card since he missed out on the last one and the dates would line up fairly well. Especially since most of the other big name Brazilians (Wandy, Shogun, Machida, the Nogs) are already booked.

Belfort is a possibility (if not an absolute certainty), as I read he was targetting a return for UFC 141. I'm sure he'd be up for fighting in Brazil a few weeks later instead. Maybe vs. Stann or Okami?

Maia is another guy who missed out on the last one and probably wouldn't mind fighting in Brazil. Would love to see two of Maia, Jacare, and Palhares square off in Brazil.

As soon as I posted that I went back to the interwebs to see what people are saying about possible matchups and I see this.

http://www.tatame.com/2011/10/27/Jose-A ... le-on-2012

UFC featherweight champion will be back to the octagon in 2012, and he already knows who will be his opponent. Jose Aldo revealed today, during an event at Refinaria de Manguinhos, at Rio de Janeiro, that he’ll fight undefeated Chad Mendes on the beginning of the next year, but the date is not set yet. "It's not signed yet, though", Aldo added. Andre Pederneiras, his coach at Nova Uniao team, confirmed the news to TATAME. "It is it, unless the UFC changes the plans", Pederneiras said.

I'm thinking Belfort is a lock for this card. Maybe Damien Maia or Thiago Silva?

I don't think Brazil will get Silva/Sonnen 2. I'm thinking the Vegas/Superbowl weekend idea has more steam to it

hopefully Vitor is healthy for this card. I'd imagine we may see all the guys you mentioned and maybe nunes or oliveira.

Transistor wrote:I'm thinking Belfort is a lock for this card. Maybe Damien Maia or Thiago Silva?

I don't think Brazil will get Silva/Sonnen 2. I'm thinking the Vegas/Superbowl weekend idea has more steam to it

I don't know why they would go back so soon if its not for Silva/Sonnen.

I'm thinking that fight is in Brazil, and GSP/Condit goes to Super Bowl Weekend.

IDK Dana seemed adamant at the last presser that they wouldn't make Chael go to Brazil. But we all know Dana so maybe that means its actually now more likely to go to Brazil.

Imagine if Sonnen mouthed the crowd....he would get slaughtered.

If Sonnen beat Silva in Brazil, wow.
The crowd would go nuts.

I doubt the UFC makes it that card. Something bad could happen, and the UFC doesn't want negative press with the new Fox deal.

But with GSP vs Diaz at superbowl weekend, this fight seems like it should be in Jan. I guess it'll be March?

Belfort vs Rumble- http://middleeasy.com/index.php?option= ... anizations

BAM

Not that it wouldn't be cool, but none of that makes any sense.

Rumble top 3ish contender at WW, so he moves up to MW (especially after he's actually been making weight at WW)? I'd be begging for Condit if I were him.

TUF between guys who will not fight, etc.

REDDzone wrote:Not that it wouldn't be cool, but none of that makes any sense.

Rumble top 3ish contender at WW, so he moves up to MW (especially after he's actually been making weight at WW)? I'd be begging for Condit if I were him.

TUF between guys who will not fight, etc.

Vitor is a bigger name than Condit and I'm assuming that this fight will probably net him a larger purse. You could argue that Rumble could earn a title shot against the winner of Chael/Silva if he puts on a great performance and beats Vitor, so he's not really hurting himself in that respect. At the very least he would fight someone like Bisping for another big payday. Makes sense to me, great fight.

Only two fights confirmed for this card, but I already can't wait for it

I got my boy Rumble in that one. Younger, quicker and stronger.

singh_shady wrote:Vitor is a bigger name than Condit and I'm assuming that this fight will probably net him a larger purse. You could argue that Rumble could earn a title shot against the winner of Chael/Silva if he puts on a great performance and beats Vitor, so he's not really hurting himself in that respect. At the very least he would fight someone like Bisping for another big payday. Makes sense to me, great fight.

I agree with you...assuming he doesn't get the Condit fight for number one contender. If he can get that one, and I think he can if Dana doesn't like Ellenberger in that slot more, then I think he'd be crazy not to go for that.

Not to mention I think Vitor is a tough matchup for him.

Maybe Rumble decided that cutting 90 pounds per fight wasn't good for him in the long run. In that case, I'm all for it.

I think Rumble gets tooled in this fight, based on the fact that he shouldn't have such a large size advantage now.

love the fight.

The rumour floating around right now is the Belfort and Silva will coach the two teams on TUF Brazil.

Sonnen with another gem. (Applause)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKIoRJSw-nk&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

Headliner wrote:love the fight.

The rumour floating around right now is the Belfort and Silva will coach the two teams on TUF Brazil.

Dana already tweeted and squashed those rumors.

They should do Belfort and Wandy as coaches for TUF Brazil (though Wandy having to fight Belfort at the end might not be the best idea).

Not sure how I feel about this Rumble vs. Belfort fight. It's up on MMA Junkie as well, so I guess it's for real. It's a cool fight I guess, but I'm much more interested in seeing Rumble fight at WW than MW.

For what it's worth, Aldo vs. Mendes seems to be official for this card.

Gold Chain wrote:Sonnen with another gem. (Applause)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKIoRJSw-nk&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

Wow that interviewer is really terrible..