Aldo and Mendes face each other at a promotional event for UFC 179. Photo: Reproduction/YouTube
The rivalry between José Aldo e Chad Mendes, who are in the main fight of UFC Rio 5 in October, caught fire this Tuesday (26), when the Brazilian and the North American participated in the event's first promotional event, held at the Maracanã stadium. The first time they were placed face to face, Aldo and Mendes had a tense confrontation.
In a video released by the UFC's official Brazilian channel in Brazil, it is even possible to hear requests for the athletes not to come to blows. “Don’t push, don’t push, don’t push…” says a voice behind the cameras while the athletes are face to face, making a positive gesture with their heads in a sign of defiance.
Despite being insistent, the requests were in vain. In a second confrontation, a few meters from the first, the athletes got even closer, touched noses, the Brazilian pushed the challenger and the pair had to be restrained by security guards. Such images, however, were not released by the organization.
Check out the video below of the first, and tense, face to face between José Aldo e Chad Mendes: