UFC 179
| Industry | Mixed martial arts event promotion |
|---|---|
| Founded | October 25, 2014 |
| Headquarters | Rio de Janeiro , Brazil |
| Products | Mixed martial arts competition |
UFC 179: Aldo vs. Mendes 2 took place on October 25, 2014, at the Ginásio do Maracanãzinho venue located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, showcasing a mixed martial arts competition.
Background
The main event featured a rematch for the UFC Featherweight Championship between reigning champion José Aldo and leading contender Chad Mendes. Their initial encounter occurred at UFC 142 in Rio de Janeiro, where Aldo secured victory via a first-round knockout.
This matchup was originally planned for August 2, 2014, at UFC 176, but Aldo's withdrawal due to a neck injury led to the postponement of the bout. Consequently, UFC 176 was canceled, and the fight was rescheduled for UFC 179, with the pay-per-view sequence continuing as planned.
Jeremy Stephens was initially slated to compete against Lucas Martins, but Stephens' team declined the fight. As a result, Martins was matched with Darren Elkins instead.
Fabrício Camões was scheduled to face Josh Shockley, who pulled out because of injury; Anthony Rocco Martin stepped in as Shockley's replacement.
Alan Patrick was expected to battle Beneil Dariush but withdrew after suffering a broken jaw. Dariush then fought against Carlos Diego Ferreira.
During the weigh-ins, three fighters failed to meet weight requirements: Scott Jorgensen at 128 lb, Fabrício Camões at 158 lb, and Tony Martin at 157 lb. Jorgensen incurred a penalty of 20% of his fight purse; however, Camões and Martin were not fined despite missing weight in the same contest.
Bonus awards
Monetary bonuses of $50,000 were granted to:
- Fight of the Night: José Aldo vs. Chad Mendes
- Performance of the Night: Fábio Maldonado and Gilbert Burns