Chad Mendes won’t get the chance to compete at next weekend’s UFC 157, but he finally gets his shot at a top-named opponent as he now faces Clay Guida at UFC on Fox 7 in April.
The two featherweights have agreed to face off as part of the upcoming show landing in San Jose on April 20.
USA Today reported the fight with confirmation from UFC President Dana White, and additionally, representatives from Mendes‘ camp confirmed the bout to Bleacher Report Tuesday.
Mendes has not had an easy time finding fights lately with several opponents dropping out due to injury, while others have just flat out turned down the fight with him when offered.
“We’ve tried to set up a few fights, my last three fights, and people have either said just straight up no or stuff has fallen through, injuries have happened, the list goes on. Who knows what’s really happening, but this is our job. This is what we train to do, this is what we get paid to do. I don’t know why any of these guys would not want to fight. That’s how we make money,” Mendes told Bleacher Report prior to the fight announcement.
Mendes will get a chance to face a proven contender now with a former 155-pound title challenger stepping up to face him at UFC on Fox 7.
Following a long career as an undersized lightweight, Guida made the move down to featherweight with his last fight at UFC on Fox 6, where he took on perennial top-10 fighter Hatsu Hioki.
The fight was a back-and-forth affair and closely contested throughout, but when it was over, Guida won a decision thus kicking off his featherweight run on a good note.
Throughout his UFC career, Guida has faced some of the stiffest competition the lightweight division could throw at him and it appears there will be no difference when it comes to his time as a featherweight.
Guida faces Mendes with a chance to jump right into the deep waters of the featherweight title race with both fighters eyeing a potential shot at the gold in the next 12 months.
Damon Martin is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report and all quotes were obtained first hand unless otherwise noted.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com