Arantes Returns to Rio for UFC 142, Faces Newcomer Carvalho

Antonio Carvalho is once again set for his UFC debut come January. | Photo: Al Quintero

Sherdog.com confirmed Wednesday with a source close to the bout that Arantes and Carvalho have agreed to meet at UFC 142, an event expected to take place Jan. 14 at the 16,000-seat HSBC Arena.

Arantes, 23, suffered his first loss in 10 bouts at UFC 134, falling by unanimous decision to countryman Yuri Alcantara. The Chute Boxe disciple has been stopped just once in 19 outings while finishing 10 opponents, eight inside the first round.

A former title contender in Japan’s Shooto organization, 32-year-old Carvalho will make his Octagon debut after nearly a decade as a professional. Since returning from a 21-month hiatus in March 2010, the Ontario native has rattled off wins over Douglas Evans, Juan Barrantes and Eddie Fyvie.

The burgeoning card for UFC 142 includes a featherweight title main attraction pitting divisional kingpin Jose Aldo against unbeaten challenger Chad Mendes, along with a middleweight tilt between Vitor Belfort and Anthony Johnson.