MMA: Aldo-Mendes, Rumble-Belfort, TUF 15 Tryouts and the Week's Biggest News

Despite a busy stretch of four events in four weeks, a number of fights for upcoming UFC cards in 2012 have been revealed.

Most notably, the promotion will return to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in January, with featherweight title holder Jose Aldo battling Chad Mendes.

Also on the card, Anthony "Rumble" Johnson moves to middleweight to take on Vitor Belfort.

Equally as important, the promotion's first season of The Ultimate Fighter since moving to Fox will hold tryouts in December.

Rob Tatum is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA. You can also find Rob’s work at TheMMACorner.com.  For anything related to MMA, you can follow Rob on Twitter @RobTatumMMA.

UFC 142 Gets Aldo vs. Mendes

The UFC is expected to return to the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Jan. 14, the promotion announced earlier this week.

On the card, current No.1 contender, Chad Mendes will put his undefeated record on the line against featherweight divisional kingpin Jose Aldo.  The dangerous Brazilian has won 13 straight fights, including five title defenses spanning back to the WEC.

The title tilt is likely to be the headlining bout of the event.

Source: Fox Sports

Johnson Moves to Middleweight

Anthony "Rumble" Johnson is headed to the middleweight division.

The former welterweight will make the jump to the 185-pound class to take on former UFC champion Vitor Belfort at UFC 142.

Both fighters are coming off recent knockout wins.  Belfort dispatched of Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 133, while Johnson finished off Charlie Brenneman at UFC Live 6.

The fight will be featured on the main card as the UFC returns to Brazil for the second time in six months.

Source: UFC

The Ultimate Fighter 15 Tryouts Take Place on Dec. 5

Even with the UFC leaving Spike TV for Fox in 2012, the promotion's famed reality show, The Ultimate Fighter, must continue.

The promotion will hold open tryouts for the show's revamped 15th season on Dec. 5 in Las Vegas.

Tryouts are open to fighters in both the lightweight and welterweight divisions.  All fighters must have at least three professional fights to attend.

Source: UFC

UFC 141 Features Cerrone-Diaz, Nunes-Gamburyan, and Assuncao-Pearson

The UFC 141 card slated for Dec. 30 at the MGM Grand has a co-main event.

Fresh off dominant, first-round submission wins, lightweights Donald Cerrone and Nate Diaz will collide in Las Vegas.

Also added to the card is a featherweight bout between Diego Nunes and Manny Gamburyan, which was originally scheduled for UFC 135.

Finally, another featherweight matchup between Junior Assuncao and Ross Pearson will also grace the card.

A heavyweight war between Alistair Overeem and Brock Lesnar headlines.

Source: UFC

UFC on Fox Will Only Broadcast One Fight

Regardless of how long the heavyweight title fight between champ Cain Velasquez and challenger Junior Dos Santos lasts, it will be the only bout to air on the live Fox broadcast.

The full card is 10 fights, with nine undercard fights streaming on both Facebook and Fox.com.

UFC President Dana White revealed the news on the conference call promoting the Nov. 12 event, which takes place from the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

Source: Bleacher Report

Paul Taylor Injured, out of UFC 138

British lightweight Paul Taylor was involved in a traffic accident this week and has been forced off the UFC 138 card.

Taylor suffered whiplash and is unable to fight at the Nov. 5 event.

Additionally, his opponent, Anthony Njokuani, has also been pulled from the card.

Replacing the fight on the televised Spike TV broadcast will be a light heavyweight bout between Cyrille Diabate and Anthony Perosh.

UFC 138 takes place from the LG Arena in Birmingham, England.

Source: UFC

M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Monson to Be Shown on Pay-Per-View

Former Pride champion Fedor Emelianenko's upcoming fight with Jeff Monson will air live from Moscow, Russia on Nov. 20.

The catch?  It will cost $29.95 and air at 7:30 a.m. ET.

The Russian heavyweight has dropped three straight fights under the Strikeforce banner.  The MMA legend will look to get back on track under the M-1 Global banner.

Source: MMAJunkie

Brian Foster Signs with Bellator

Victorious in five of his last six fights, welterweight Brian Foster has inked a deal with Bellator Fighting Championships.

The UFC veteran has reeled off four straight, including his last two under the UFC banner.  Foster has finished all 18 of his wins, 10 by submission and eight by knockout.

Like all other fighters who sign with the promotion, Foster will have to win the next tournament to get a crack at title holder Ben Askren.

Source: Bellator

Strikeforce Challengers 20 Adds More Fights

The Nov. 18 Strikeforce Challengers 20 event has added two undercard bouts.

Keith Berry will welcome Andreas Spang to the promotion, while Strikeforce vets Bobby Green and Isaac Vallie-Flagg collide.

The event will take place from The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

The card is headlined by light heavyweights Antwain Britt and Lumumba Sayers and airs on Showtime.

Source: Strikeforce

Bellator 57 Headlined by Alexander Shlemenko vs. Vitor Vianna

Bellator's middleweight tournament will conclude at Bellator 57, as Russian Alexander Shlemenko faces off with Brazilian Vitor Vianna.

Both fighters scored knockout victories in the semifinals to earn their spots in the final.  The winner will earn a title shot against current champ Hector Lombard.

The event takes place on Nov. 12 from the Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada.  The welterweight tournament will also conclude as Ben Saunders battles Douglas Lima.

Source: Bellator