Alexander Volkanovski will have a chance to break into the featherweight top ten when he faces Chad Mendes at UFC 232.
UFC 232 has had another big fight attached to the card. On Tuesday, the UFC added Chad Mendes vs. Alexander Volkanovski to the event’s official line-up. The PPV show represent’s the promotion’s final event of the year, and is its annual New Year’s Eve date, albeit a few days early. Mendes vs. Volkanovski is expected to air on the PPV portion of the card.
Chad Mendes (18-4) returned from a two-year USADA suspension in July, where he earned a fierce first round knockout of Myles Jury at UFC Boise. The win was a thunderous statement from Mendes, who not only sat out two years, but who had also been on a two fight losing streak, to Frankie Edgar and Conor McGregor.
The McGregor fight, mind you, was a short notice bout that saw Mendes step in for Jose Aldo at UFC 189. Mendes was finished by McGregor in the second round of what was an interim featherweight title fight.
Mendes is currently ranked 5th in the UFC’s 145lb weight class. Alexander Volkanovski (18-1), meanwhile, is ranked 11th. He’ll have a great chance to break into the top ten with a win over Mendes. Last time out, Volkanovski earned a unanimous decision over Darren Elkins. Prior to that, Alexander ‘The Great’ had finished Canada’s Jeremy Kennedy. He remains undefeated in the UFC, having won all five of his octagon appearances to date.
UFC 232 takes place December 29 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The card is topped by the returning Jon Jones taking on Alexander Gustafsson. A women’s super-fight is also on the docket, as featherweight champ Cris Cyborg defends her title against bantamweight queen Amanda Nunes.
