Fabio Maldonado, who was left without an opponent for the UFC 142 pay-per-view (PPV), has been rebooked to face Octagon newcomer Caio Magalhaes, who steps in on short notice for the Visa-challenged Stanislav Nedkov.
"Aldo vs. Mendes" emanates from the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Jan. 14, 2012.
Maldonado battered the belly of Kyle Kingsbury at The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 13 Finale nearly six months ago, landing brutal body blows throughout their 15-minute bout. However, it wasn't enough as Maldonado went on to lose a disappointing unanimous decision.
In his only other fight for the promotion, the former professional boxer finished James McSweeney via technical knockout at UFC 120 in Oct. 2010.
Magalhaes, meanwhile, is undefeated in five professional fights. "Hellboy" was last seen squeaking past Ismael de Jesus via split decision at Shooto: "Brazil 27" earlier this month.
It's a major step up in competition for the young Brazilian, but an upset win would undoubtedly put the rest of the light heavyweight hopefuls on notice.
UFC 142 will feature featherweight champion Jose Aldo, defending his 145-pound title against undefeated wrestler Chad Mendes. In addition, Vitor Belfort will strap on the gloves to try and ruin Anthony Johnson's debut at middleweight.
To check out the latest UFC 142 fight card and rumors click here. For our comprehensive UFC 142 event archive click here.
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