Chad Mendes UFC179 Championship battle!

The two best featherweight fighters in the UFC are days away from clashing in Rio de Janeiro this weekend at the re-scheduled UFC 179. Torque’s own Chad Mendes is peaked and ready for battle after already peaking for the earlier booked UFC 176 in Los Angeles Ca. Aldo was forced to pull out of the original fight due to a neck injury, and now Mendes must travel south of the Equator to bring the belt back to California.

With a rare two week UFC break the Octagon returns in championship fashion, with the featherweight title, the number 4 and 6 Light Heavyweights Phil Davis and Glover Teixeira, and a stacked under card. Prelims include Torque fighters Andre “Touchy” Fili, and Scott “Young Guns” Jorgensen both going to battle on Fox Sports 1.

There is no love lost between Team Alpha Male and Team Nova Uniao. Both camps have created some of the best fighters in the world, and naturally the rivalry has been heated starting as early as the WEC days. In the first matchup between Aldo and Mendes the champ snubbed a Mendes takedown that potentially changed the face of the match. Without Mendes on the ground Aldo was able to keep him along the fence and catch him with a quick knee that ended the fight. In the three years since that first match neither fighter has lost. Mendes re-focused took the rest of the featherweight division by storm. Mendes fired off 4 straight KO wins including one over Clay Guida who has never been knocked out, and a unanimous decision against the tough Nik lentz.

Jose has faced tough competition as well in Frankie Edgar and Ricardo Lamas both losing by decision. Aldo’s only other fight was a TKO win against the Korean Zombie which ended more from a separated shoulder than an Aldo KO. Aldo has an impressive 14 fight win streak going, but Mendes plans to recreate another Alpha Male take over. Tj Dillashaw faced a Rene Barao that had not lost in 27 straight…until TJ dismantled him. The stage is set and Mendes is a whole new fighter this time around. With the heated rematch coming on the heels of the “Aldo push” during UFC press in Brazil, Mendes is definitely in Aldo’s head. Mendes will be wearing his signature Torque Stars tee during walkout, and the Chad Mendes Camo Weigh-in tee for all other fight weekend events.

Andre Fili kicks things off Saturday night on the first fight on Fox Sports 1. Fili burst onto the UFC scene with an amazing performance against Jeremy Larsen. Taking the fight on short notice and coming in a few pounds heavy Fili landed a brutal series of knees in the clinch to Larsen’s forehead. Fili finish the deal with a flurry of punches and got the TKO win in the second round. Earlier this year Andre stepped in against Max Halloway. Fili got caught in Halloways Guillotine in the third round. Fili was supposed to face Sean Soriano at UFC Fight Night “Souza vs. Mousasi 2” but was forced to withdraw due to injury. Andre looks to get back into the win column and make a statement against Brazils, Felipe Arantes.

Scott Jorgensen broke through a string of frustrating losses and is now 1-2 since moving to the flyweight division. Scott was scheduled to fight at UFC 177 which had its fair share of issues. The day of weigh-ins Henry Cejudo dropped out due to complications from cutting weight. UFC made sure to get Scott his next fight quickly, and this Saturday he will face Brazilian Wilson Reis. Jorgensen has been winner of Fight of the Night bonus three times and Submission of the night once and always brings his “A” game to the Octagon. A wrestler by nature Jorgensen always pushes the pace and has an arsenal of submission technique that is not to be taken lightly.

With such a stacked card This weekend in Brazil make sure you tune in early to Fox Sports 1 . Weigh-ins start Friday at 2pm EST. All UFC179 the action starts Sat 8PM/5PM ET/PT.