With Jimy Hettes forced out of the featherweight contest due to an injury, the promotion has signed undefeated Brazilian bantamweight Augusto Mendes, who will move up to 145 pounds for his first UFC bout against Rosa on Jan. 17, the promotion announced Tuesday.
Mendes (5-0), a multiple time jiu-jitsu champion, made his transition to MMA in 2014, scoring the first of his five finishes in mixed martial arts. "Tanquinho’s" most recent win came in July, when he stopped Donald Williams in the second round with a triangle choke.
Rosa (10-2) looks to bounce back to the win column after a split decision loss to Yair Rodriguez in June.