Darren Elkins
Coming off a quick TKO victory this past weekend in Montreal, UFC featherweight Darren ‘The Damage’ Elkins (16-2) will step back into action fairly quickly as he’s agreed to meet Chad ‘Money’ Mendes (13-1) next month at UFC on FOX 7.
Elkins will replace injured fighter Clay Guida who was forced off the Fox event due to injury.
The news was first announced this morning by MMAjunkie.com and later confirmed by UFC officials (@UFC).
UFC on FOX: Henderson vs. Melendez (aka UFC on Fox 7) is expected to take place on April 20, 2013 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. The event will see UFC lightweight champ Bensen Henderson welcome the final Strikeforce 155-lbs champion Gilbert Melendez to the UFC.
The match has yet to be confirmed by UFC officials at time of writing. A bout between Mendes and Elkins will either headline the FX broadcasted prelim card or open the Fox television broadcast.
Elkins earned his fifth straight victory competing at featherweight since dropping down to 145-lbs in June 2011. At last weekends UFC 158 event Elkins finished opponent Antonio Carvalho by first round TKO. His four previous wins were all by decision.
Mendes looks to climb back into title contention after winning two straight since losing to division champ Jose Aldo one year ago at UFC 142. ‘Money’ has earned two straight knockouts with wins over Yaotzin Meza at UFC on FX 6 and Cody McKenzie at UFC 148.