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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Chad Mendes is having a hard time holding onto opponents. After going through a bit of a shuffle for his last fight in December, it's happening again for the featherweight contender.
After getting moved off of UFC 157 when Manny Gamburyan suffered an injury, Mendes was booked against Clay Guida at next month's UFC on Fox 7 card. Now, he's in need of a new opponent once again, as Sherdog.com reports that Guida has suffered an injury, taking him out of that bout.
It would have been Guida's second fight in the featherweight division after a controversial split decision win over Hatsu Hioki in January, but his return will now be delayed. Mendes is expected to stay on the card, but the report suggests the UFC has had a tough time finding a replacement opponent.
The UFC on Fox 7 card takes place from San Jose on April 20, headlined by the UFC Lightweight Championship bout between Benson Henderson and Gilbert Melendez.
Penick's Analysis: Frankie Edgar wanted to return on the TUF 17 Finale against Cub Swanson, so if I were him and wanted a fight against a top flight competitor, I'd be stepping in against Mendes. At the same time, that fight with Guida would have been on the undercard, and Edgar isn't going to drop from headlining pay-per-views to being on the FX card. His next fight will be on a main card, so if anything, perhaps Mendes gets pushed back slightly to make that fight happen. But that's the fight I'd make right now.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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