UFC 179 Jose Aldo def. Chad Mendes R5

The UFC returned from a three week sabbatical with a dreary fight card in UFC 179. The event, which aired on pay-per-view live from Rio De Janeiro Brazil, featured the featherweight title fight rematch between challenger Chad Mendes and champion Jose Aldo. Marc Goddard is the referee. Both fighters are orthodox. Mendes is coming right at him and Aldo is getting out of the way. Several leg kicks land for Mendes. Aldo drills Mendes with a body shot, but Mendes drops Aldo with a left hook, albeit only for a split second. Outside leg kick for the champion lands. Mendes land a leg kick, but Aldo follows up with a kick to the body. One-two from Aldo pops Mendes' head back and the two exchange leg kicks. Mendes is on a shot, but can't get it. A groin strike on Aldo temporarily halts the action. The bout resumes. Body kick for Aldo scores and Mendes nearly catches it, but can't. The fighters exchange outside leg kicks. Outside leg kick and left hook combo finds the mark for Aldo. Mendes with his own two-punch combo finds the mark. Mendes whiffs on another takedown attempt, but lands a leg kick. Aldo is also jabbing Mendes consistently. Mendes ends the round with a nice left. Among the big winners on the preliminary card were Neil Magny, who tied a UFC record with his fifth win of the year, Jose Aldo’s Nova Uniao teammate, Yan Cabral, and Andre Fili, a training partner of Chad Mendes at Team Alpha Male. Aldo clocked Mendes with another right hand. With just one minute remaining, there was little action. Mendes jumped in with a punch and Aldo easily slipped it. A low leg kick was checked. Aldo countered with a left hand that hurt Mendes. He pushed ahead with more offense to close the frame and that was that on a thrilling title affair.