Three huge questions going into UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes

The first UFC event of 2012 hits us this weekend from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes is set to take place. It’s a card that’s flying under the radar, and was probably overshadowed by the hype of UFC 141. It’s a card that’s decent on paper, but I’m getting the feeling that many people are not interested in this event for whatever reason. There are a few fights on the card that could be fireworks and a couple of fights have some impact in a couple of weight classes. More importantly, there are three huge questions going into UFC 142 that we want to take a look at. Check it:

• Will the UFC’s second trip to Brazil in less than six months create the same buzz that the last event (UFC 134) did back in August 2011?

The UFC is planning on using Brazil to expand its global footprint southward just as they have used Canada to expand northward. The last event back in August had a huge amount of buzz and was able to generate 14,000 passionate fans in attendance that cheered for their native fighters on the card. This card is stacked with a large amount of Brazilians again and will be held at the same venue they used last time. It’ll be interesting to see the turnout for event. They have two popular Brazilians in Jose Aldo and Vitor Belfort in the main event and co-main event respectively. UFC 134 was able to generate a PPV buy rate near 335K and was seen by millions on Brazil’s Globo TV channel. I wonder if the numbers between these two events will be comparable. It should be noted that there was a sizable power outage along the east coast of the United States when UFC 134 aired, so it’s possible that the outage had an effect on the PPV buy rate.

• Can Anthony Johnson infuse some new blood in the UFC middleweight division?

Anderson Silva has pretty much cleaned out the UFC middleweight division as he has dispatched challenger after challenger since 2006. Anthony Johnson will be facing Vitor Belfort in the UFC 142 co-main event and will be making his debut as a middleweight after previously fighting in the welterweight division since joining the UFC roster. Johnson is a huge guy with good wrestling and powerful striking. He is a slight underdog to Belfort according to the odds makers. A win would be huge for Johnson (and the division) and would put him on the fast track towards a title shot against Anderson Silva as Belfort is only one fight removed from getting knocked out by Silva in February 2011.

•  Which fight on the UFC 142 card will be fight of the night?

The Cerrone vs. Diaz fight at the last UFC event was pretty easy to call, and there are a few fights that could make that claim for UFC 142. The Johnson/Belfort fight could certainly be fireworks as both fighters are capable of putting the other away in impressive fashion. The main event could be good as Jose Aldo will be taking on Chad Mendes, but I think most feel it’s going to be a dud due to the style of Mendes. The other contender for fight of the night is Terry Etim vs. Edson Barboza. You have two fighters here that put on exciting fights with Barboza being a pinpoint muay thai striker, and Etim being fairly well rounded with an aggressive style. There are six bonuses between both fighters with Barboza winning fight of the night twice and Etim winning submission of the night four times. What will be your fight of the night prediction?