The younger and less experienced Brazilian "Indio" Erick Silva (right) needs an impressive finish over MMA veteran Carlo Prater to cement his status as a blue chip prospect in the UFC. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
This Saturday the UFC returns to the homeland of the most well-known MMA family in the world. Brazil, the proving grounds for the Gracie family, is welcoming back the world’s premier MMA promotion with open arms as it hosts UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes. Headlining the event in Rio de Janeiro is a championship match-up between former WEC and current UFC featherweight king “Junior” Jose Aldo (19-1) and undefeated Team Alpha Male wrestler “Money” Chad Mendes (11-0). Former UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion “The Phenom” Vitor Belfort (20-9) is fighting in front of his countrymen for the first time since 1998 now on the heels of a brutal KO over ”Sexyama” Yoshihiro Akiyama (14-5) in August. His opponent, wrestling powerhouse “Rumble” Anthony Johnson (10-3), is making his middleweight debut against the former world champion. “Toquinho” Rousimar Palhares (15-5) will look to extend his win streak and enter the top of the division but first he has to get past the war-ready Mike Massenzio (13-5) who is game to stand and bang or rip and roll with anyone. In the card’s opener English lightweight Terry Etim (15-3) takes on undefeated Edson Barboza (9-0). Etim wishes to create another impressive win streak while Barboza is looking to stay undefeated inside the UFC. In his UFC debut, MMA veteran “Neo” Carlo Prater (27-11) seeks his big break at the expense of “Indio” Erick Silva (8-2), a Brazilian submission enthusiast looking to put on another show for his hometown crowd. With both hunting an opportunity to emerge from mainstream obscurity and ascend the ranks of the welterweight division, the bout is sure to deliver.
