FB TW IG YT VK TH
Search
MORE FROM OUR CHANNELS

Wrestlezone
FB TW IG YT VK TH

UFC 179 Results: ‘Aldo vs. Mendes 2’ Play-by-Play & Updates



Sherdog.com reports from the legendary Maracanazinho Gymnasium in Rio de Janeiro with live UFC 179 play-by-play.

Advertisement
Check out the MMA Forums to discuss the card or enter your comments and predictions below.

Tony Martin vs. Fabricio Camoes

Round 1

(+ Enlarge) | Photo: Gleidson Venga/Sherdog.com

Martin shocked a reeling Camoes.
Camoes tries to wade into range with looping left hands on the taller fighter, can’t find the mark and instead chops at Martin’s lead leg with a stiff kick. Martin changes levels to hit a takedown, extracts his head from a loose headlock and works to pass to advance past Camoes’ half guard on the right side. Camoes leans to the right and tries to secure Martin’s left arm for a kimura, but Martin sits up and goes to work on Camoes’ farside arm. They roll away from the fence, where Martin passes to the side and cranks the arm.

Camoes looks ready to tap before he gets a little relief from the pressure, but Martin is tenacious and continues to work the kimura while Camoes tries to throw knees to the body from his back. Martin wrenches the arm one last time, and Camoes grimaces and finally taps out.

The Official Result

Tony Martin def. Fabricio Camoes via Submission (Kimura) R1 4:16

Gilbert Burns vs. Christos Giagos

Round 1

(+ Enlarge) | Photo: G. Venga/Sherdog.com

Burns tapped Giagos with an armbar.
Seconds into the bout, Burns hits Giagos with an inside thigh kick high and on the cup. Giagos takes a few seconds to recover from the foul while the Brazilian fans jeer, and now the lightweights get back to business. Giagos catches “Durinho” ducking inside and pops him with a short left hook. Burns responds by changing levels and plowing Giagos to the canvas at the base of the fence with a powerful double-leg takedown. Giagos closes his guard and tries to restrain the Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace, while Burns postures up sporadically to drop body shots. Burns passes to full mount with two minutes left in the round, but Giagos uses butterfly guard to push him back out.

Giagos nearly turns over, then thinks better of it and rolls to his back, giving Burns full mount again. A few seconds later, Giagos turns, and Durinho wastes no time in attaching himself to the Californian’s back. Giagos stands and rolls through, trying to shake Burns, but he can’t. Burns looks to be setting up an arm-triangle from the back, but when he transitions to top position, he switches to an armbar on Giagos’s left limb. Giagos resists for a few seconds, but when Burns goes belly-down, Giagos is forced to submit.

The Official Result

Gilbert Burns def. Christos Giagos via Submission (Armbar) R1 4:57

Andre Fili vs. Felipe Arantes

Round 1

Arantes comes out flashing high kicks and lands a hard left hook before being taken to the mat by a Fili trip takedown. Fili tries to sit up and get some force behind his ground-and-pound, but Arantes drives forward to stand, shoves Fili against a cage post and trips him to the ground. “Sertanejo” moves straight into full mount and unleashes a couple of hellacious elbows that slice open Fili’s forehead. Fili scrambles out from underneath midway through the round, and now the American takes cross-side control on Arantes’ right. Arantes sits up against the cage, dodges a loose guillotine from Fili, and now the featherweights are back on their feet. Fili sends a hard high kick off Arantes’ glove as the Team Alpha Male fighter begins pushing the pace agains the suddently fading Brazilian. Fili grabs the Thai plum and drills Arantes with four or five hard knees. Arantes drops his hands to his sides with an angry look, hits Fili with a left hook to the body. Fili closes the round with one more takedown.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Fili
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Fili
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Fili

Round 2

(+ Enlarge) | Photo: G. Venga/Sherdog.com

Fili outpointed Arantes.
Arantes lands a takedown near the fence and works to pass from deep half guard to full mount, but he rides too high and gets swept by Fili. Now it’s Fili’s turn to drill Arantes with some hard elbows before Arantes sweeps back to the top. Arantes worsens the cut on Fili’s forehead with more nasty elbow shots, but the action is paused after Fili kicks Arantes away with a shot to the jaw. Arantes is checked by the cageside doctor, and referee Osiris Maia restarts the fight on the feet, where Fili hits a takedown to side control. The 145ers swap positions yet again as Arantes sits up and drives on Fili’s legs to set up in the American’s open guard.

Fili threatens with a few triangle attempts before again kicking Arantes away and scrambling to his feet. With just over 90 seconds left in the round, Fili brings Arantes back to the canvas. The pace slows a bit now, with Fili dodging a triangle from Arantes flattening “Sertanejo” from half guard.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Fili
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Fili
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Fili

Round 3

Fili initiates a clinch on the cage and tries a trip takedown which results in a scramble. Arantes stands and jumps guard with a guillotine that lasts only a few seconds, giving Fili top position less than one minute into the final frame. Fili socks Arantes with a couple short punches and elbows before passing to side control on the right. Arantes sweeps to top position again before the featherweights stand and clinch briefly against the fence. They separate with half a round remaining in the fight, and Fili changes levels for a takedown attempt. This time, Arantes thwarts it and reverses to shove “Touchy” against a cage post. Arantes completes a single-leg to Fili’s closed guard with 90 seconds to go. Fili catches Arantes’ left arm in an omoplata, so Arantes straddles Fili until he can free the limb and then hurries to his feet. Fili gives chase and puts Arantes back on the ground, then tries to drop a Randy Savage-style flying elbow at the horn but is blocked by Arantes’ outstretched legs.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Fili (30-27 Fili)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Fili (30-27 Fili)
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Arantes (29-28 Fili)

The Official Result

Andre Fili def. Felipe Arantes via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00

Scott Jorgensen vs. Wilson Reis

Round 1

(+ Enlarge) | Photo: G. Venga/Sherdog.com

Reis put away Jorgensen easily.
The southpaw Reis lands a short left but gets clipped by a hard counter right from Jorgensen at the same time, and the Brazilian drops to his back. Jorgensen follows to the ground, but Reis recovers almost immediately and powers back to up. Reis shoots a double-leg, gets sprawled on by Jorgensen, and the flyweights come back to their feet. Both guys are landing single punches as they dive in and out of range midway through the round. Reis lands a cracking body kick and attacks the stunned Jorgensen on the fence, hitting a takedown and smashing away with hammer fists.

Reis switches tacts, framing up an arm-triangle choke and passing to Jorgensen’s right side, which is nearly flush to the fence. Despite having little room to work, Reis bears down on the choke and forces Jorgensen to submit.

The Official Result

Wilson Reis def. Scott Jorgensen via Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) R1 3:28

Yan Cabral vs. Naoyuki Kotani

Round 1

Cabral inches southpaw Kotani toward the fence with pushing kicks and probing jabs, but it’s the Japanese fighter who clinches up and drags Cabral to the ground. Cabral slowly works back to his feet, but not before absorbing some short ground-and-pound. Kotani flicks out a low kick and falls to the ground, allowing Cabral to take top position. The former Zst champion grabs at Cabral’s legs, so Cabral lays a knee across his opponent’s throat and pops him with three or four quick punches. Cabral settles into Kotani’s half guard now, where Kotani tries to lock him down and negate the space. Kotani is bleeding from his mouth as the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Cabral
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Cabral
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Cabral

Round 2

(+ Enlarge) | Photo: G. Venga/Sherdog.com

Cabral caught Kotani with an RNC.
Cabral tries a takedown on the fence, but Kotani keeps a wide base and reverses as the lightweights hit the ground for a split second. They pop back up and Cabral continues digging for the takedown, then tries to jump on Kotani’s back but can’t hold the position. They fight off the fence but soon return to the clinch, where Cabral drags Kotani to the ground and sinks in both hooks to secure back-mount. The Nova Uniao fighter immediately begins working for a rear-naked choke, and once he snakes his right arm underneath his opponent’s chin, Kotani gives a quick tap.

The Official Result

Yan Cabral def. Naoyuki Kotani via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) R2 3:06

Neil Magny vs. William Macario

Round 1

Magny checks a leg kick and tries to come over the top with punches early, but Macario backpedals to avoid strikes from the taller man. Magny ducks under a punch and clinches up, only to be reversed by Macario and shoved against the fence with underhooks. The welterweights fight off the fence, and Magny pops Macario with an uppercut on the split. A reaching right hand snaps back Macario’s head, but “Patolino” comes straight back with a hook of his own. Macario closes in on Magny near the fence. Magny paws his way out with long jabs, and now the 170-pounders meet in the center of the cage with 90 seconds on the clock. Not much clean offense to speak of here as the fighters throw single shots back and forth. Macario goes to the body with a left hand, then tries a single-leg but gets sprawled on and finishes the round with Magny punching him in the clinch.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Magny
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Magny
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Magny

Round 2

(+ Enlarge) | Photo: G. Venga/Sherdog.com

Mangy stopped his foe with punches.
Macario swings wide hooks and overhands, having difficulty landing shots against the taller fighter. Magny is staying on the outside and throwing the occasional shot but he’s not much more active than “Patolino” in the first 90 seconds of the round. Things heat up a bit now, Magny stalking forward angrily and decking Macario with a sweeping left hook. Macario scores with a left hook of his own against the fence, fakes a level change and then backs out. Magny dives for a takedown near the fence and winds up on his knees, dodging uppercuts. Macario connects with a punch or two before Magny drives forward and puts Macario on his back. It’s full mount for Magny now, chest-bumping Macario to try and create some space to strike in the final minute. Macario clings on from the bottom, dodging offense until the final 15 seconds, when Magny sits up and begins dropping heavy punches.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Magny
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Magny
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Magny

Round 3

Magny is starting to put together some combinations early in round three, mixing in some leg kicks with his stiff right hands. A three-punch combo sends Macario staggering backward to the fence, where Magny takes him to the ground and punches away with hammer fists, aided by a fence grab as he secures his top position. Magny switches to elbowing Macario’s body, then goes back to punching upstairs. Macario tries to kick him away, but there’s a steady stream of left hands coming from Magny as referee Eduardo Herdy tells “Patolino” to protect himself. Magny starts throwing with both hands now, and while the punches are partially blocked, there’s nothing coming in return from Macario, and Herdy steps in to wave off the fight.

The Official Result

Neil Magny def. William Macario via TKO (Punches) R3 2:40

Carlos Diego Ferreira vs. Beneil Dariush

Round 1

The southpaw Dariush works from the center of the cage, parrying jabs with Ferreira and then trading body kicks. Ferreira comes back to the center, greeted by a grazing head kick from Dariush, then a couple chops to the lead leg. Dariush keeps the leg kicks coming to the middle of the round while Ferreira switches stances. The Brazilian rushes Dariush against the fence, gets turned around, and now the lightweights separate. Ferreira rushes into the pocket to land an uppercut and a knee to the body, and Dariush quickly circles out. Dariush turns a body lock into a takedown, then stays heavy on top as Ferreira tries to elevate and sweep. Ferreira tries a kneebar in the closing seconds, allowing Dariush to whack him with some ground-and-pound to finish the frame.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Dariush
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Dariush
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Dariush

Round 2

(+ Enlarge) | Photo: G. Venga/Sherdog.com

Dariush denied Ferreira.
Dariush lands a hard leg kick near the fence, then backs out of the way to avoid Ferreira’s counterpunches. Dariush comes back for a takedown, dragging Ferreira to the mat and trying to secure back mount. Ferreira struggles back to his feet before Dariush can get the position and disentangles himself to reset. Ferreira presses forward now, taking another hard kick to his lead leg. Dariush puts a kick on Ferreira’s ribs, blocks a return kick from the Brazilian up high. With two minutes left in the round, Dariush puts Ferreira on the ground again. Ferreira forces Dariush to stand with an omoplata-cum-straight armbar attempt, then Dariush comes back down to set up in Ferreira’s closed guard. Ferreira does well to tie up Dariush in the final half minute and avoid any ground-and-pound.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Dariush
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Dariush
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Dariush

Round 3

Ferreira opens the round with a solid flurry of punches, tagging Dariush with both hands near the fence before backing away. Dariush tries to grab the Thai plum and gets socked with more punches before the lightweights tumble to the ground. When they pop back up, Dariush keeps Ferreira against the fence and then floors him again with a double. Ferreira is lumped up and cut on the left side of his face but the damage doesn’t look too bad. With 2:00 on the clock, Dariush begins landing some elbows and punches, but Ferreira is doing well to negate the offense, as he has from his back for most of the fight. Ferreira gets to his knees near the fence but Dariush is still riding him, delivering some knees to the body and head while Ferreira tries to get back to his feet.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Dariush (30-27 Dariush)
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Dariush (30-27 Dariush)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Dariush (30-27 Dariush)

The Official Result

Beneil Dariush def. Carlos Diego Ferreira via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) R3 5:00

Lucas Martins vs. Darren Elkins

Round 1

Elkins gets a takedown 30 seconds into the round, but Martins quickly scoots over to the fence and works his way back to his feet, eating a couple left hands on the way. Elkins tries a high single-leg, can’t get it and switches to a double. When Martins threatens with a headlock, Elkins backs out and they meet in the center of the cage. Elkins tries another shot, can’t get it, and now Martins puts a right hand on Elkins’ cheek that raises a mouse. Over-unders for Elkins allow him to push Martins against the fence and work some knees to the Brazilian’s body. The featherweights separate with 1:45 remaining in the opening round. Elkins ducks under a punch to try another tie-up, but he wades back out of the pocket right away. An inside leg kick lands for Elkins, then a short left hook. Martins answers with a knee, blocks a high kick and then stuffs a takedown attempt. Elkins tries a single against the fence, can’t complete it and backpedals away. Referee Osiris Maia verbally warns Martins for grabbing the fence in the sequence. Martins finishes the round hugging Elkins against the fence.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Elkins
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Elkins
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Elkins

Round 2

(+ Enlarge) | Photo: G. Venga/Sherdog.com

Elkins earned a split decision againt Martins.
Elkins holds Martins against the fence for the first 80 seconds of the round, alternating short punches to the ribs and knees to the body while the restless Brazilian crowd jeers. They separate and Elkins picks at Martins’ legs with some kicks inside, then goes to the body before changing levels for a shot. Martins backs up to the fence to defend the takedown but can’t escape Elkins’ clutches, instead being trapped against the cage while Elkins grinds away with more short offense. Martins lands an uppercut that backs Elkins out of the clinch. Martins smacks Elkins with a right high kick and a couple follow-up punches on the fence, but instead of staying at range to strike, Martins clinches with Elkins on the fence. Elkins holds Martins in the Thai plum until he’s able to spin the Brazilian around and continue his fence work. Elkins finishes the round on the outside in the clinch.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Elkins
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Elkins
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Elkins

Round 3

Martins catches Elkins coming in for a shot at the beginning of the round and cracks him with a knee. Elkins pushes him against the fence and Martins repeats with another stiff knee. Elkins tries a single-leg, switches to a double, but Martins creates enough space to drill the American with another knee. Martins uses double underhooks to push Elkins away and get off the fence. Elkins soon closes the gap and puts Martins’ back against the fence once more. Short left hands land for Elkins as he keeps hold of the leg midway through the final frame. Martins hits him with another knee, and now referee Osiris Maia breaks up the fighters. It’s a matter of seconds before Elkins is back in the same position, much to the displeasure of the partisan crowd. Maia splits them up again with 90 seconds on the clock, and now Elkins pops Martins with a reaching left hook and a right straight. Martins tries to keep Elkins at bay with a push kick, with no success.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Martins (29-28 Elkins)
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Elkins (30-27 Elkins)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Martins (29-28 Elkins)

The Official Result

Darren Elkins def. Lucas Martins via Split Decision (30-27, 30-27, 27-30) R3 5:00

Fabio Maldonado vs. Hans Stringer

Round 1

Stringer hits an instant takedown and begins grinding on Maldonado’s face with short elbows from half guard. Maldonado blocks Stringer’s attempts to mount, so Stringer bears down on Maldonado’s face with his shoulder. Stringer isn’t doing much offensively but he is heavy on top, not allowing Maldonado an inch of space. Two minutes into the round, Stringer gets busy with short elbows and punches, though he’s having trouble finding a damaging angle. Inside the two-minute mark, Maldonado attempts to push forward and stand, but Stringer is all over him. Maldonado looks to slip out the back door, and he does succeed in getting to his feet for a brief moment, but Stringer drags him straight back to the canvas. Stringer’s ground-and-pound has cut Maldonado along his hairline, but the bleeding isn’t too bad as the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Stringer
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Stringer
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Stringer

Round 2

(+ Enlarge) | Photo: G. Venga/Sherdog.com

Maldonado punched out Stringer.
Stringer moves to the clinch to start round two, muscling Maldonado against the fence, but he’s not able to brings the Brazilian to the ground this time. They separate after a minute of inside fighting, and Stringer puts a right hand on Maldonado’s cheek. Maldonado answers by pumping his jab in Stringer’s face, then changes levels and spins Maldonado to the ground with just over three minutes remaining. Maldonado works back to his feet near the fence, then thwarts a takedown attempt by tripping Stringer head-first to the mat. Maldonado pounces and takes top position, then stands and punches while standing over the Dutchman, causing stringer to cover up. Stringer is in pure defensive mode, both hands over his face while Maldonado unloads with both hands, alternating between body and head shots. After a series of 12 or more unanswered shots to the face, referee Marc Goddard steps in to prevent Stringer from taking any further punishment.

The Official Result

Fabio Maldonado def. Hans Stringer via TKO (Punches) R2 4:06

Glover Teixeira vs. Phil Davis

Round 1

Davis goes straight after Teixeira’s legs, diving for a takedown, but the Brazilian sprawls on the shot and the fighters reset in the center. Davis pushes Teixeira against the fence, but Teixeira pushes right back and they separate again. Teixeira lunges at the wrestlers with some heavy hooks, but Davis circles away and evades the power punches. Davis clips Teixeira with a front kick, ducks under a punch to attempt a single-leg and winds up holding Teixeira on the fence again. Teixeira reverses to take the outside position, but Davis keeps hold of the leg and switches right back. Teixeira tries to pull guard with a guillotine and winds up on his back with 2:00 remaining in the round. As Teixeira gets to his knees with his left side against the fence, Davis rides and sits up to crack the veteran with hard right hands. Teixeira eats a dozen or so before he gets back to his feet, still held on the fence by Davis, who quickly drags his man back to the ground. Teixeira is warned for grabbing the cage by referee Mario Yamasaki, but the grab doesn’t prevent Davis from ripping him off the fence to finish the round with more right hands.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Davis
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Davis
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Davis

Round 2

(+ Enlarge) | Photo: G. Venga/Sherdog.com

Davis bested a sloppy Teixeira.
Teixeira defends a takedown and tags Davis with a left hook in the opening minute of the round, but shortly thereafter, he succumbs to another shot from “Mr. Wonderful.” Teixeira kneels near the fence and quickly turns into Davis to shove him to his knees. Davis stays on his knees and dodges a front headlock from Teixeira until he’s able to jump back to his feet. As in round one, Teixeira tries to pull guard with a guillotine and winds up losing the choke on the way down. Away from the fence, Teixeira gets to his knees again, and Davis continues to ride while landing right hands under the armpit. The fighters come back to their feet, Teixeira now sporting a small cut on the outside of his right eye. Davis catches Teixeira with a finger to the eye, but Teixeira recovers quickly and the fight resumes with about 70 seconds to go. Davis evades Teixeira’s strikes for most of the rest of the round, landing a body kick of his own and one last takedown in the final 15 seconds.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Davis
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Davis
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Davis

Round 3

After a short clinch on the fence with Davis on the outside, the fighters come back to the middle, where Davis changes levels and plows Teixeira to the ground. Teixeira gets to his knees and the familiar pattern resumes, with Davis using his left arm to wrap up the Brazilian’s waist while his right hand punches away at the head. Teixeira is back on his feet in the final 90 seconds and then extracts himself from Davis’ clinch on the cage. Teixeira lands an overhand right, stuffs a tired single-leg shot from Davis, but then gets caught turning around and brought back to the ground. Teixeira finishes the fight on his knees, shrugging to the crowd while Davis lands right hands to the his face.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Davis (30-27 Davis)
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Davis (30-27 Davis)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Davis (30-27 Davis)

The Official Result

Phil Davis def. Glover Teixeira via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) R3 5:00

UFC Featherweight Championship:
Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes

Round 1

Marc Goddard is the referee for tonight’s main event, with judges Richard Bertrand, Marco Aurelio Borges and Guilherme Bravo scoring at cageside. A touch of gloves and Mendes lands the first strike of the fight a kick to the outside of Aldo’s lead leg. Aldo is on his back foot early, but Mendes catches up and adds another kick. A left hook to the body scores for Aldo, then one upstairs. Both men land right hooks in the pocket, then a left hook from Mendes puts Aldo on his posterior. The champ jumps right back to his feet, resets and sticks a stiff jab in the face of the incoming challenger. Aldo splits Mendes’ guard with a straight left, digs to the body with a right hook. Mendes answers with a leg kick, so Aldo hits him with a kick to the gut. Midway through the opening round now, Mendes has Aldo backed up near the fence, sticking out jabs which the Brazilian is evading with good head movement. Mendes connects with a left hook but immediately has to step back as Aldo jacks his jaw with a right straight. Mendes counters a body kick with a left hook, then taps Aldo’s face with a snappy three-piece combo. Aldo takes a finger to his left eye from Mendes’ outstretched hand, and now referee Goddard pauses the action. The cageside doctor clears Aldo,who resumes the fight with a cut on the right side of his nose. Mendes tags Aldo with another combination on the restart, but Aldo hurts him with a step-in knee. A takedown for Mendes doesn’t last long, as Aldo pops back to his feet and floors his challenger with a left hook to the temple. Aldo pounces but Mendes appears to have recovered quickly. Aldo gets full mount with 20 seconds to go, but Mendes slips out the back door. Aldo finishes the round with another left hook, an uppercut and a right straight. Aldo lands a borderline left at the end of the round, then knocks down Mendes with a right hand to the chin which clearly comes after the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Aldo
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Aldo
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Aldo

Round 2

Mendes backs up Aldo with a body kick, but Aldo clips him with a left hook as the fighters meet back in the center. Aldo stuffs a single-leg takedown but takes the foot end of a knee to the cup on the exit, and the Rio crowd boos as the champ drops to his knees. Aldo recovers after 30 seconds or so and the fight resumes. Mendes catches a body kick on the left side but can’t keep hold. He whiffs on a high kick but gets back to his feet before Aldo can capitalize. Mendes checks a kick and wags his finger at Aldo, drawing a smile from “Scarface.” Now it’s Aldo’s turn to check a leg kick, and he gives Mendes a push kick in the breadbasket. Mendes is taking some stiff jabs from Aldo, but the Team Alpha Male fighter gives the champ a kick to the gut. Aldo goes to Mendes’ body with a hook, stalks his challenger near the fence and ducks under Mendes’ wild overhand right. Aldo digs another right hook to the body and has a whipping right high kick blocked by Mendes’ left glove. Mendes’ best offense in the final minute of the round consists of a series of leg kicks.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Aldo
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Aldo
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Aldo

Round 3

Twenty seconds into the round, Aldo gets another poke from Mendes’ outstretched hand, this time to the right eye. Referee Goddard warns Mendes that another foul will cost him a point. Aldo is cleared to continue, and Mendes greets him with a left hand to the mush when they resume. Aldo responds with a cracking jab and a fast body-head combination that backs up “Money” momentarily. Aldo sends Mendes stumbling with a left hook to the jaw, then comes forward to attack the American with sweeping hooks near the fence. A jab snaps back Mendes’ head,and now the challenger is leaking blood from his nose. Mendes sticks a jab of his own, then blasts Aldo with a huge right uppercut. Mendes gives chase with a hard left hook, misses with another uppercut and then nearly has his legs taken out with an Aldo right hook to the temple. Mendes manages to stay standing and shoots for a takedown, but Aldo sprawls all over it and stands Mendes up to crack him with another left hook. Mendes grabs a rear waist lock and holds Aldo against the cage inside the final minute, stomping on the Brazilian’s feet while referee Goddard calls for action. Aldo turns around and the fighters jaw at one another before Mendes lays a forearm across Aldo’s throat. The round ends with Mendes socking Aldo out of the clinch with a left hook.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Mendes
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Mendes
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Mendes

Round 4

Not much action through the first minute of the championship rounds as both men feint and fake around the cage. Aldo absorbs a low kick and a right hand, then dodges an uppercut and seems to motion that Mendes hit him with a head butt in the exchange. Another right hand drills Aldo, whose left eye is a bloody mess now. Again, the champ indicates that there was a head butt, but referee Goddard does not agree. With 1:50 on the clock, Mendes comes away from an exchange holding his eye, but Goddard says no and tells the featherweights to fight on. Mendes scores with a lead uppercut-right hook combo, steps backward to dodge a few jabs from Aldo. Inside the final 20 seconds of the round, Aldo lands a two-punch combo but misses as he sails at Mendes with a flying knee.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Mendes
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Mendes
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Mendes

Round 5

The fighters slap hands to begin the final round, and Mendes opens the striking with a pair of hard left hooks. Aldo gives him one back with a right straight. Mendes hits a power double-leg and keeps control of the legs as Aldo sits up against the fence. Referee Goddard tells Mendes to get busy, but Mendes just clings to the double and Aldo gets back to his feet with just over three minutes left in the fight. Aldo lands a straight right that sends Mendes shooting, and the champ hits him with a knee on the way in. Mendes goes to the ground, where Aldo tries to take his kneeling opponent’s back, but the wrestler is able to get back up before Aldo can secure the position. Mendes lands an uppercut, eats a straight right that sends him staggering backward. With 90 seconds left, Mendes pops Aldo with a lead left and then tries a takedown, but Aldo denies it and shoves Mendes backward. Aldo complains that Mendes hit him with a knee to the groin on the way out; referee Goddard says no. Aldo puts a straight right on Mendes’ body, evades an uppercut and takes a body kick. Aldo checks a leg kick in the last 15 seconds, hits Mendes with a left hook and takes a right in return. Aldo finishes the fight chasing after Mendes with a leaping body kick, then grabs the fence and throws one more before the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Aldo (48-47 Aldo)
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Mendes (48-47 Mendes)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Aldo (48-47 Aldo)

The Official Result

Jose Aldo def. Chad Mendes via Unanimous Decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46) R5 5:00
Related Articles

Subscribe to our Newsletter

* indicates required
Latest News

POLL

Which fight are you most looking forward to this week?

FIGHT FINDER


FIGHTER OF THE WEEK

Regian Eersel

TOP TRENDING FIGHTERS


+ FIND MORE