“Money” Mendes is set to return to the UFC in July.
Chad Mendes is back.
The former UFC featherweight title challenger is set to return to action against Myles Jury at UFC Fight Night 133 in July. UFC officials announced the news Monday afternoon.
Mendes was suspended two years by USADA, the UFC’s anti-doping partner, in June 2016 for a positive drug test. Per Mendes, the Team Alpha Male fighter used a cream to treat his psoriasis, a skin condition, but unbeknownst to him, it contained a banned substance.
Mendes opted not to fight his sanction and for the past two years has been focused on his hunting company.
Most recently, “Money” is coming off a first-round knockout loss to Frankie Edgar at The Ultimate Fighter 22 Finale in December 2015. Prior to that, he was stopped by Conor McGregor on short notice in an interim featherweight title bout.
Jury hasn’t been the most active as of late, either. He fought twice in 2017, defeating Mike De La Torre and Rick Glenn by knockout and decision, respectively. Prior to that, he hadn’t stepped foot in the Octagon since the end of 2015, when he was choked out by Charles Oliveira at UFC on FOX 17.
UFC Fight Night 133 takes place at CenturyLink Arena in Boise, Idaho on July 14. In the main event, former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos welcomes ex-WSOF titleholder Blagoy Ivanov to the Octagon for the first time.