UFC 142: "Aldo vs Mendes" Live Play-By-Play & ResultsThe Ultimate Fighting Championship returned to the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil tonight for UFC 142: “Aldo vs Mendes.” The card featured a UFC Featherweight Championship matchup between champion José “Scarface” Aldo and unbeaten challenger Chad “Money” Mendes.

In the night’s co-main event, former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort faced Anthony “Rumble” Johnson in a bout that was changed to a catchweight after Johnson came in well above the 185-pound middleweight limit. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for UFC 142.

 

UFC Featherweight Championship

José “Scarface” Aldo vs Chad “Money” Mendes

Round 1:
Mendes opened the fight with inside leg kicks and lots of feints. Aldo landed a leg kick of his own and shrugged off a takedown attempt. He landed another hard leg kick and time was called after Aldo was kicked in the groin. The fight quickly resumed and Aldo landed a huge uppercut. Mendes dove for a takedown, but could not get it. Mendes began to switch stances to try to evade Aldo’s leg kicks.

He latched onto Aldo’s leg, but could not take him down. Aldo jabbed and Mendes returned to his early strategy of leg kicks. Aldo threw a one-two and a knee, but Mendes dragged him down for a split second. Aldo stood and grabbed the cage. He was warned and Mendes threw him down. Aldo stood again and Mendes threw knees to the thigh until just before the bell. He spun and landed a knee that floored Mendes right before the bell and landed three punches to end it.

Aldo then sprinted out of the cage and into the crowd, where he was mobbed by supporters.

Winner: José Aldo by KO (Knee & Punches) at 4:59 of round one. He improves to 21-1-0 and remains the UFC Featherweight Champion.

 

Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort vs Anthony “Rumble” Johnson

Round 1:
Johnson caught a head kick early on and slammed Belfort down on his face. He worked from Belfort’s guard, but had to stand to escape an omoplata attempt. Johnson dove back into Belfort’s guard with a right hand and the fighters were quickly stood up. Belfort’s right eye was already swollen, but he stuffed a takedown attempt. Belfort landed short punches and hammerfists until the fighters were separated.

Belfort unloaded with punches and Johnson tried to clinch for a takedown. Belfort landed a head kick, but Johnson took him down again. Referee Dan Miragliotta continued to stand the fighters up very quickly and he brought them back up once more. Belfort sprawled out of a takedown and landed punches, then took Johnson’s back. He worked for a rear-naked choke, then postured up and landed punches. Belfort secured the choke and Johnson tapped out.

Winner: Vitor Belfort by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 4:49 of round one. He improves to 21-9-0.

 

Rousimar “Toquinho” Palhares vs “The Master of Disaster” Mike Massenzio

Round 1:
Leg kicks were exchanged early on and time was called after Massenzio was kicked in the groin. Action resumed and Palhares landed a right hook. He tried for a takedown and pulled guard. Palhares locked on a heel hook and Massenzio quickly tapped out.

Winner: Rousimar Palhares by Submission (Heel Hook) at 1:03 of round one. He improves to 14-3-0.

 

Carlo “Neo” Prater vs Erick “Indio” Silva

Round 1:
Silva landed a right hook and a big knee to the body in the opening seconds and Prater fell to the mat. Silva unloaded with punches and the fight was stopped. Prater appeared to point to his neck or shoulder to indicate a possible injury. Following the bout, it was ruled that Silva had illegally struck the back of Prater’s head and Silva was disqualified. Replays indicated that only one punch hit the back of the head. Very questionable call by referee Mario Yamasaki.

Winner: Carlo Prater by DQ (Illegal Strikes) at 0:29 of round one. He improves to 30-10-1.

 

Edson Barboza vs Terry Etim

Round 1:
Etim jabbed his way into a clinch and tried for a takedown right away, but Barboza defended and stayed on his feet. Etim just missed with a head kick and took Barboza down, but Barboza immediately swept and stood up. Barboza landed his first leg kick of the fight and Etim countered with jabs. Another hard leg kick scored for Barboza and he threw more seconds after.

Etim connected with a lead left hook and Barboza fired right back with two right hands. He tried for a head kick and Etim blocked it. Barboza stuffed a takedown with a knee to the body and landed another leg kick. Etim jabbed and Barboza landed more kicks to the lead leg. He followed that with a combination and a spinning back kick to the body. 10-9 Barboza.

Round 2:
The second round began with more leg kicks from Barboza and Etim looked to counter with a leg kick, head kick combo. Barboza blocked it and continued to punish Etim’s lead leg. He landed a knee as Etim tried to close in for a takedown. Barboza alternated between jabs and leg kicks and he avoided most of Etim’s counters. A right hook scored for Barboza and he fired off a combo to the body and head.

Etim landed a leg kick of his own, but it lacked the power of Barboza’s kicks. Etim threw a head kick and a spinning back kick to the body. He picked up the pace and landed a right hook before driving for a takedown. Barboza sprung back to his feet and escaped the clinch. More kicks to the leg and body scored for Barboza as the final seconds ticked down. 10-9 Barboza.

Round 3:
The pace slowed in the final round as both fighters picked their shots with single strikes. Barboza continued to find success with his leg kicks as Etim circled on the outside. Barboza landed a spinning wheel kick to the face and Etim collapsed in a heap to the mat. Spectacular knockout for the unbeaten Brazilian.

Winner: Edson Barboza by KO (Spinning Wheel Kick) at 2:02 of round three. He improves to 10-0-0.

 

(Undercard results and play-by-play on Page Two.)