Chad Mendes‘ bad luck continues.
The world-ranked featherweight contender can’t seem to get a fight against anyone of his caliber, again losing out on a quality opponent when his scheduled UFC 157 fight with Manny Gamburyan fell apart.
Gamburyan suffered a broken thumb and fractured elbow, forcing him to withdraw from the fight, and rather than offer Mendes a second-rate opponent at the Feb. 23 show, the UFC has elected to pull him off the card completely.
Mendes confirmed his removal on Twitter.
Before confirming he was out, Mendes (13-1) had attempted to lure surging contender Ricardo Lamas into a bout, but Lamas indicated he had already verbally accepted another fight that will take place in May.
Mendes had the same problem recently. In December, he had been scheduled to fight Hacran Dias, but just days before the event, Dias, the owner of a nine-fight win streak, injured his shoulder and was forced out.
Instead, the 27-year-old Mendes faced the newly signed Yaotzin Meza on short-notice, and he won in just 1:55 with a knockout.
It was his second-straight dominant victory. A few months earlier, he crushed Cody McKenzie, knocking him out in just 31 seconds.
Overall, Mendes is 2-0 since losing in his attempt to wrest the title from Jose Aldo, but it’s been slow going in earning quality wins and getting back to a position where he can once again offer himself up as a viable challenger.
Meanwhile, with the scratch of Mendes-Gamburyan, the UFC 157 card will go off in Anaheim, California with 11 bouts.