Tag: UFC on Fox 7

Dan Hardy Injured; Jordan Mein Steps in to Face Matt Brown at UFC on Fox 7

A major change has been made to the upcoming UFC on Fox 7 card as UFC officials announced overnight that Dan Hardy fell to an injury during his training camp that will keep him from meeting Matt Brown on April 20 in San Jose as part of the next ma…

A major change has been made to the upcoming UFC on Fox 7 card as UFC officials announced overnight that Dan Hardy fell to an injury during his training camp that will keep him from meeting Matt Brown on April 20 in San Jose as part of the next major Fox card (via Yahoo Sports).

It didn’t take long, however, for UFC matchmaker Joe Silva to find a suitable replacement as former Strikeforce fighter Jordan Mein will step into Hardy’s shoes and face Brown at the upcoming event.

Mein just made his debut in the Octagon last weekend at UFC 158 where he brutalized former middleweight contender Dan Miller, finishing the fight in the first round.  It marked the first time in over 20 professional fights that Miller had been finished.

The win introduced Mein to the UFC audience in a big way, and at only 23 years of age, the young Canadian has already managed to rack up 35 professional fights with 27 victories.

A nasty striker who throws from all angles, Mein was considered one of the top prospects coming to the UFC by way of Strikeforce and he’s already defeated a list of former Octagon competitors.

Mein holds wins over names such as Joe Riggs, Forrest Petz and Josh Burkman and will look to make an even bigger splash for his next fight in the UFC.

It won’t be an easy task however, going up against former Ultimate Fighter competitor, Matt Brown. 

The long time UFC welterweight is currently riding a four-fight win streak in the UFC, including his devastating knockout over Ultimate Fighter season 1 cast member Mike Swick in his last match at UFC on Fox 5.

The Ohio native has been traveling and training at numerous locations for his upcoming fight, but now faces an entirely new opponent with Hardy out of the picture and being replaced by Mein.

As for Dan Hardy, UFC officials did not disclose the injury that the British-born fighter suffered or when he would be able to return to action.

Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report

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Darren Elkins Sees Chad Mendes as His “Fast Track” to Title Contention

Sometimes it’s all about being in the right place at the right time, and Darren Elkins now knows that all too well. At UFC 158 last weekend, Elkins wanted to make a statement while winning his fifth fight in a row at featherweight and he did that in dr…

Sometimes it’s all about being in the right place at the right time, and Darren Elkins now knows that all too well.

At UFC 158 last weekend, Elkins wanted to make a statement while winning his fifth fight in a row at featherweight and he did that in dramatic fashion with a first-round knockout over Antonio Carvalho. 

Typically after a fight, the competitors look forward to a little rest and relaxation, maybe even some unhealthy food just to move past the rigors of a long training camp, but before Elkins left Montreal he already had his next fight booked.

“It happened pretty much that night actually,” Elkins revealed when speaking to Bleacher Report on Tuesday.  “I knew Clay Guida was out, but I knew he was hurt and my manager talked to me and said ‘what do you think about fighting Chad Mendes?’.  We met up when we were down there (in Montreal), I was healthy, I’m in shape right now, and with the type of opponent they wanted to give Chad Mendes we’re tied up so it made sense.”

Elkins had been gunning for a top-ten opponent ever since he debuted at 145-pounds, but the problem recently has been none of those fighters were available or already booked in other fights.

When Elkins heard about the unfortunate injury to Clay Guida, he jumped at the chance to step in and face a former title contender like Chad Mendes.

“This is definitely what I’ve been looking for, this type of fight,” said Elkins. “This is a huge fight in front of me, a huge opportunity, and I’m in shape already.  It’s not as long of a camp as I would like, but all I’ll have to do is make adjustments for Chad Mendes.  That’s the big thing.”

Since losing a fight to featherweight champion Jose Aldo, Chad Mendes has turned into a wrecking machine.  His last two fights in a row have gone a combined 2 minutes and 26 seconds with knockouts ending both in a flash.

Elkins knows that Mendes is not going to be an easy problem to conquer, but if fights were easy everybody would be a champion.

“He’s tough, he’s getting better each fight; he’s got great wrestling, he’s got power on his hands, but I’m getting better, too.  It’s an exciting matchup,” Elkins stated.   “We’re both wrestlers, we’re both going to come out there swinging and we’re going to set a high pace and I think it’s going to be an awesome fight to watch.”

With five wins in a row at featherweight, Elkins would move to six with a victory over Mendes, but more importantly he would defeat one of the top contenders at 145-pounds.  Following his win on Saturday, Elkins was hoping for a top-ten fight. 

If he can get by Mendes, Elkins could be staring down a title shot by the end of the year.

“He’s on a tear obviously and he deserves to be right behind Jose Aldo. If I beat him, that’s a huge statement. That gets me ahead of a lot of people and that’s why I took the opportunity. I can’t wait,” said Elkins.

“It’s definitely my fast track and that’s how I look at it.”

Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and all quotes were obtained first hand unless otherwise noted.

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Darren Elkins Replaces Clay Guida, Meets Chad Mendes at UFC on FOX 7

Looks like UFC featherweight contender Chad Mendes’ streak of not fighting his scheduled opponent continues.After an undisclosed injury forced Clay Guida to withdraw from his April 20 fight with “Money” Mendes on Friday, surging 145-pound prospect Darr…

Looks like UFC featherweight contender Chad Mendes‘ streak of not fighting his scheduled opponent continues.

After an undisclosed injury forced Clay Guida to withdraw from his April 20 fight with “Money” Mendes on Friday, surging 145-pound prospect Darren Elkins has agreed to fill the void, MMA Junkie reports. 

“The Damage” has been on a tear ever since dropping down to featherweight, as a matter of fact, he is the only 145-pounder on the UFC roster to currently have a five-fight win streak. 

His most recent victory came at UFC 158 on Saturday, as he scored a controversial TKO over Antonio Carvalho on the preliminary card. This was his first stoppage victory in nearly three years. 

Afterwards, Elkins made it clear he wanted a top 10 opponent next and he certainly has one in Mendes, a former title challenger who is currently ranked the No. 1 featherweight in the UFC’s official rankings.

Mendes boasts a 4-1 record inside the Octagon, with his sole loss being a first-round knockout at the hands of divisional champion Jose Aldo at UFC 142 last January. 

Since then, he easily beat inferior competition in Cody McKenzie and Yaotzin Meza, knocking each opponent out in less than two minutes. 

Mendes, who most recently defeated Meza at UFC on FX 6 in December, was originally slated to fight Hacran Dias at the event but a late injury forced him out of the bout. 

Then, the Team Alpha Male standout was slated to take on Manny Gamburyan at UFC 157 last month, but the “Ultimate Fighter” alumnus pulled out of the fight due to a fractured elbow and broken thumb. 

Since Gamburyan‘s injury occurred just 15 days before his bout with Mendes, it was too late to find a substitute and Mendes was subsequently removed from the event. 

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After Winning Fifth-Straight Fight at UFC 158, Darren Elkins Makes Quick Turnaround to Face Chad Mendes at UFC on FOX 7


(“…and verily, Carvalho did’st invoke the accursed ‘What the fucketh is thy problem, good sir?‘ rule, but forsooth, it was all for naught.” / Photo via Getty Images)

When Clay Guida dropped out of UFC on FOX 7: Henderson vs. Melendez due to injury last week, it looked like Chad Mendes might be forced to beat up another outmatched palooka just to stay busy at the April 20th event in San Jose. (Such is his life — just body-shottin’ dudes who don’t deserve to be there, and collecting paychecks. It’s sad, really.) But Mendes’s latest replacement opponent could be an even tougher test than Guida was.

MMAJunkie reports that Darren Elkins — who just scored a first-round TKO over Antonio Carvalho during the UFC 158 prelims over the weekend — has gotten the call to step in against Mendes at UFC on FOX 7. Elkins’s latest victory increased his current win streak to 5-0 since dropping to featherweight in 2011, including previous wins over tough competitors like Diego Brandao and Michihiro Omigawa. If his name still isn’t ringing a bell, it’s probably because every single one of Elkins’s UFC fights have been relegated to the prelims; when somebody says that a fighter has “quietly amassed an impressive win streak,” this is exactly the kind of thing they’re talking about.

Unfortunately, Elkins’s match against Mendes likely won’t make the UFC on FOX 7 main card either — but a dominant win over a former title contender could change his fortunes significantly. Making that happen on a five-week layoff is easier said than done, of course. Your predictions?


(“…and verily, Carvalho did’st invoke the accursed ‘What the fucketh is thy problem, good sir?‘ rule, but forsooth, it was all for naught.” / Photo via Getty Images)

When Clay Guida dropped out of UFC on FOX 7: Henderson vs. Melendez due to injury last week, it looked like Chad Mendes might be forced to beat up another outmatched palooka just to stay busy at the April 20th event in San Jose. (Such is his life — just body-shottin’ dudes who don’t deserve to be there, and collecting paychecks. It’s sad, really.) But Mendes’s latest replacement opponent could be an even tougher test than Guida was.

MMAJunkie reports that Darren Elkins — who just scored a first-round TKO over Antonio Carvalho during the UFC 158 prelims over the weekend — has gotten the call to step in against Mendes at UFC on FOX 7. Elkins’s latest victory increased his current win streak to 5-0 since dropping to featherweight in 2011, including previous wins over tough competitors like Diego Brandao and Michihiro Omigawa. If his name still isn’t ringing a bell, it’s probably because every single one of Elkins’s UFC fights have been relegated to the prelims; when somebody says that a fighter has “quietly amassed an impressive win streak,” this is exactly the kind of thing they’re talking about.

Unfortunately, Elkins’s match against Mendes likely won’t make the UFC on FOX 7 main card either — but a dominant win over a former title contender could change his fortunes significantly. Making that happen on a five-week layoff is easier said than done, of course. Your predictions?

For the Third Time in a Row, Chad Mendes Has Lost His Original Opponent Due to Injury [CURSED]


(Now that I’ve successfully taken out Guida via bear pit, I’m just a first round knockout over a late-replacement UFC newbie away from another 40k. BOOM BABY!) 

Chad Mendes, reader of the Necronomicon, personification of the injury curse of 2012, has just lost his third straight opponent to injury in the past few months. Since KOing Cody McKenzie with a body shot back at UFC 148, Mendes has been a cursed man. First, he was expected to face Hacran Dias at UFC on FX 6, until Dias hurt his shoulder and withdrew just days out from the event. Dias was replaced by UFC noob Yaotzin Meza, who was thrashed by Mendes inside of two minutes. Then, Mendes was set to fight Manny Gamburyan at UFC 157, until Manny blew off his thumb with a firecracker or some shit and the bout was cancelled altogether.

Then, Mendes was booked against Clay Guida in “The Carpenter’s” sophomore featherweight appearance at UFC on FOX 7, which goes down on April 20th. But wouldn’t you know it, the usually uninjurable (?) Guida has done injured hisself too (via Sherdog):

Chad Mendes is once again without an opponent, as Clay Guida has suffered an undisclosed injury and will be unable to compete at UFC on Fox 7.

Sherdog.com recently confirmed the development with sources close to the situation, who verified that Mendes is still expected to compete at the April 20 event from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., though the search for a new opponent has apparently not gone well.

A perennial top contender with recently developed KO power, it’s no shock that Mendes is strapped for opponents in the featherweight division, especially on short notice. Who would you like to see Mendes fight in Guida’s absence? Personally, I gotta go with Don Zimmer, who has been itching for a fight ever since Pedro Martinez backed out of the rematch.

–J. Jones


(Now that I’ve successfully taken out Guida via bear pit, I’m just a first round knockout over a late-replacement UFC newbie away from another 40k. BOOM BABY!) 

Chad Mendes, reader of the Necronomicon, personification of the injury curse of 2012, has just lost his third straight opponent to injury in the past few months. Since KOing Cody McKenzie with a body shot back at UFC 148, Mendes has been a cursed man. First, he was expected to face Hacran Dias at UFC on FX 6, until Dias hurt his shoulder and withdrew just days out from the event. Dias was replaced by UFC noob Yaotzin Meza, who was thrashed by Mendes inside of two minutes. Then, Mendes was set to fight Manny Gamburyan at UFC 157, until Manny blew off his thumb with a firecracker or some shit and the bout was cancelled altogether.

Then, Mendes was booked against Clay Guida in “The Carpenter’s” sophomore featherweight appearance at UFC on FOX 7, which goes down on April 20th. But wouldn’t you know it, the usually uninjurable (?) Guida has done injured hisself too (via Sherdog):

Chad Mendes is once again without an opponent, as Clay Guida has suffered an undisclosed injury and will be unable to compete at UFC on Fox 7.

Sherdog.com recently confirmed the development with sources close to the situation, who verified that Mendes is still expected to compete at the April 20 event from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., though the search for a new opponent has apparently not gone well.

A perennial top contender with recently developed KO power, it’s no shock that Mendes is strapped for opponents in the featherweight division, especially on short notice. Who would you like to see Mendes fight in Guida’s absence? Personally, I gotta go with Don Zimmer, who has been itching for a fight ever since Pedro Martinez backed out of the rematch.

–J. Jones

Joseph Benavidez Will Return Against Darren Uyenoyama at UFC on FOX 7

Joseph Benavidez isn’t getting another title shot as he likely hoped following his decision nod over Ian McCall at UFC 156. Rather, he’ll meet the crafty Darren Uyenoyama at UFC on FOX 7.Benavidez will carry a 4-1 promotional record into th…

Joseph Benavidez isn’t getting another title shot as he likely hoped following his decision nod over Ian McCall at UFC 156. Rather, he’ll meet the crafty Darren Uyenoyama at UFC on FOX 7.

Benavidez will carry a 4-1 promotional record into the Octagon on April 20. His lone defeat came in a failed title bid with current flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson at UFC 152. It’s a loss he’s itching to avenge, and a win over Uyenoyama might align another title shot for the Team Alpha Male standout.

Uyenoyama is still undefeated while competing under the Zuffa-owned UFC banner. He upset the former top-ranked Norifumi Yamamoto at UFC on FOX 1 and followed that up with a second-round submission of Phil Harris at UFC on FX 5.

A win won’t likely ensure any title talk for Uyenoyama, but Benavidez is sure to be back in the mix should he secure a convincing victory.

UFC on FOX 7 is headlined by a lightweight championship fight between promotional ace Benson Henderson and the highly touted Strikeforce champ, Gilbert Melendez. The HP Pavilion in San Jose, California will host the event.

 

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