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UFC 156 headed for Las Vegas with Jose Aldo vs. Frankie Edgar main event

Preliminary details announced for annual Super Bowl weekend card

Jose Aldo wins

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Defending featherweight champion Jose Aldo, from Brazil, celebrates with fans after defeating Chad Mendes, from the US, in the first round during their featherweight title bout at UFC 142 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday Jan. 15, 2012.

As if local fight fans didn’t have enough to look forward to with December’s UFC 155, the world’s largest mixed martial arts promotion revealed details about the local pay-per-view card that will follow.

UFC 156 was officially announced on FUEL TV Tuesday night. The event is slated for Feb. 2 in Las Vegas, likely at Mandalay Bay Events Center, and will feature a re-booked super fight in the main event.

Featherweight champion Jose Aldo (21-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) will defend his title against former lightweight king Frankie Edgar (14-3-1 MMA, 9-3-1 UFC) in the headlining match of the annual Super Bowl weekend card.

“This is not only a world title fight but also a superfight that has long been a dream match for many fans,” UFC President Dana White said through UFC.com. “Aldo and Edgar are two fantastic fighters who are always part of the pound-for-pound debate.”

The two were slated to meet at UFC 153 earlier this month in Rio de Janeiro before Aldo injured himself in a motorcycle accident. Edgar won’t complain about the extra four months of preparation, as the Aldo showdown will mark his first fight in the 145-pound division.

Edgar dropped down a weight class after controversially losing a split decision to Benson Henderson at UFC 150 in a lightweight championship rematch. The vast majority of fans and media believed Edgar beat Henderson, but the judges disagreed.

Las Vegas will host two major title fights in 36 days after Junior dos Santos defends his heavyweight crown against Cain Velasquez in the main event of UFC 155 December 27 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.

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